Indicates installation failure(inappropriately)

tommy · Unread post by **tommy** » 2024-11-05, 18:08

Operating system: windows 7
Browser version:33.4.0.1 32bit
32-bit or 64-bit browser?:32 bit
Problem URL: none
Browser theme (if not default):
Installed add-ons:
Adblock Latitude 5.0.9
FEBE 10.4
Quick Passwords 3.11
Web Developers Toolbox 1.1.2
Installed plugins: (about:plugins):
Adobe Flash

File: NPSWF32_25_0_0_148.dll
Path: C:\Windows\system32\Macromed\Flash\NPSWF32_25_0_0_148.dll
Version: 25.0.0.148
State: Disabled
Shockwave Flash 25.0 r0
If possible, please include the output of help->troubleshooting information (as text):

tommy · Unread post by **tommy** » 2024-11-05, 18:12

Window on initial start of Pale Moon:
Software update failed
The update could not be installed. Please make sure there are no other copies of Pale Moon running on your computer, and then restart Pale Moon to try again.

The update seems to have installed properly as noted in HELP>about.
The window will go away after clicking to dismiss, and all goes well after(AFAIK).
I do not know if this is the place. I am no longer a 'software developer/Unix SysAdmin' and don't keep up with fine details, so if it should be
zapped and turned to discontinuous atoms, so be it.
tom

Pentium4User · Unread post by **Pentium4User** » 2024-11-05, 18:52

Try the SSE2 builds:
ftp://ftp.palemoon.org/avx/

According to the info your processor doesn't support AVX. Which processor do you have?

Unread post by **Moonchild** » 2024-11-05, 18:56

No, SSE2 isn't the issue here (it's the 32-bit version!). The issue is that Pale Moon was still running and didn't close down quickly enough for the updater to do its work.
Try restarting your PC and going through the update process again from a fresh start of the browser, if it still shows 33.4.0.1 as version.

tommy · Unread post by **tommy** » 2024-11-09, 15:09

The very FIRST update seemed to work, BUT at first use, it displayed everything incorrectly, images were distorted, text 'different', and I decided to do a second
update. I looked on my HD, and after a casual search found no install image, so down loaded palemoon-33.4.0.1.win32.installer.exe, which is what is in use
now. I just ran it from the download directory.
That is when it indicated the installation had failed due to another instance running.

I had forgotten it had failed prior.

Every time it is run, it indicates the installation has failed due to another instance of Pale Moon running.(which is not the case)

After re-boot, running Pale Moon, click on profile, help, check for updates, the message box appears as shown.
It appears to be doing nothing. The message box will not go away of its own accord.

In short,
PM notes installation failed
PM stalls on 'check for updates'

I think PM must have a 'lock' file indicating installation is in progress, causing the 'fail' message box. A wild guess.
I have no clue as to why it tries without fail to check for updates.

Sorry for the incoherent verbiate.
tom

Unread post by **Moonchild** » 2024-11-09, 17:14

Are you using any "internet security" suite or antivirus software on your system? If so, it may be interfering here.

tommy · Unread post by **tommy** » 2024-11-10, 20:44

Process Explorer list jpg attached. Edge and Chrome lists un-expanded.
Windows warns
"find an antivirus program"
and
"turn on Windows Firewall(important)"
So, AFAIK, nothing running security related.
I will poke around in the 'AppData' and 'windows\Downloaded Installations' | 'Downloaded Program Files'
looking for leftovers that could be indicating 'something in process that has not completed'.
Is there an installation or update log file that would be indicative?
tom

Unread post by **Moonchild** » 2024-11-10, 22:46

Alright. try the following:

Make note of these steps
Shut down Pale Moon
Verify in process explorer that it has shut down completely (this may take a few moments)
Go to your Windows user folder (usually c:\Users\{{your username}}) and in it go into AppData\Local (Appdata is a hidden folder. If you doin't see it you need to have explorer show hidden files and folders. this article may help). Important: you need Local, not Roaming!
In that folder go into "Moonchild Productions" then "Pale Moon"
There should be 2 folders there, one is "Profiles", the other is "palemoon". Inspect the contents of the "palemoon" folder - it should have some updates xml files in it and one or more updates folders. if so you are in the right place.
Go back up one level (to "Moonchild Productions\Pale Moon") and delete the entire "palemoon" folder.
Start the browser again.

See if that helps.

tommy · Unread post by **tommy** » 2024-11-11, 15:07

I followed the directory tree to:

user\AppData\Local\Moonchild Productions\Pale Moon

I have Pale Moon and palemoon directories.. palemoon is dated in August... Pale Moon is dated November.

I deleted 'Pale Moon', restarted, and no more complaint of 'cannot update'.

While perusing, last-update.log had multiple lines:

PATCH DIRECTORY C:\Users\tmwalsh\AppData\Local\Moonchild Productions\Pale Moon\Pale Moon\updates\0
INSTALLATION DIRECTORY C:\Program Files\Pale Moon
WORKING DIRECTORY C:\Program Files\Pale Moon
NS_main: callback app file open attempt 1 failed. File: C:\Program Files\Pale Moon\palemoon.exe.

The above repeated multiple times.

Checked Help>Check for Updates

It connected, and notified of the 33.4.1 availability.

Back to normal.
Thank you for your assistance.
tom

tommy · Unread post by **tommy** » 2024-11-12, 13:58

Got notice of 33.4.1 availability, clicked download. Clicked 'Restart Later' Closed PM.
Booted this AM. Opened PM. Got the notice again of inability to install release, another instance of PM running causing failure.
Checked Help>About 33.4.0.1
Checked palemoon.exe in PrgramFIles 33.4.0.1
'last-update.log':
PATCH DIRECTORY C:\Users\tmwalsh\AppData\Local\Moonchild Productions\Pale Moon\Pale Moon\updates\0
INSTALLATION DIRECTORY C:\Program Files\Pale Moon
WORKING DIRECTORY C:\Program Files\Pale Moon
NS_main: callback app file open attempt 1 failed. File: C:\Program Files\Pale Moon\palemoon.exe. Last error: 5
NS_main: callback app file open attempt 2 failed. File: C:\Program Files\Pale Moon\palemoon.exe. Last error: 5
NS_main: callback app file open attempt 3 failed. File: C:\Program Files\Pale Moon\palemoon.exe. Last error: 5
NS_main: callback app file open attempt 4 failed. File: C:\Program Files\Pale Moon\palemoon.exe. Last error: 5
NS_main: callback app file open attempt 5 failed. File: C:\Program Files\Pale Moon\palemoon.exe. Last error: 5
NS_main: callback app file open attempt 6 failed. File: C:\Program Files\Pale Moon\palemoon.exe. Last error: 5
NS_main: callback app file open attempt 7 failed. File: C:\Program Files\Pale Moon\palemoon.exe. Last error: 5
NS_main: callback app file open attempt 8 failed. File: C:\Program Files\Pale Moon\palemoon.exe. Last error: 5
NS_main: callback app file open attempt 9 failed. File: C:\Program Files\Pale Moon\palemoon.exe. Last error: 5
NS_main: callback app file open attempt 10 failed. File: C:\Program Files\Pale Moon\palemoon.exe. Last error: 5
NS_main: callback app file in use, failed to exclusively open executable file: C:\Program Files\Pale Moon\palemoon.exe

Will delete the 'Pale Moon' subdirectory again, and see what happens.
I will exit PM, delete, re-open PM, 'check for updates', restart...

tommy · Unread post by **tommy** » 2024-11-12, 14:15

Well, that did not go well. Closed PM. Deleted subdirectory. Opened PM. Check for updates. Download & install. Restart Now.
Got update fail message.
Checked sudirectory and had same error file re Palemoon.exe :
NS_main: callback app file open attempt 1 failed. File: C:\Program Files\Pale Moon\palemoon.exe. Last error: 5
repeated 10X.
Process Explorer indicated no instance of PM.exe running.
Help>about indicates 33.4.0.1
Check for updates does not connect.

Will close PM, delete subdirectory, check Process Explorer for PM running, restart PM, Check for updates, download.
Exit PM. Restart PM.

tommy · Unread post by **tommy** » 2024-11-12, 14:19

Closed PM. Checked for running copy. Deleted subdirectory. Start PM. Check for updates. Got new version. Restart later. Exit PM.
Check Process Explorer, not running. Start PM. Got 'update failed message'.
Will try again, running PM as Administrator.

tommy · Unread post by **tommy** » 2024-11-12, 14:25

Administrator privilege did the trick.
Now up to 33.4.1
Updates folder empty.
AFAIK, installs were not done in the past using Admin privilege.
Will exit & re-start PM just because.

tommy · Unread post by **tommy** » 2024-12-09, 16:48

Got the notification of new release. Clicked to download, and got the query to restart now, or restart later.
I chose later.
Exited(minimized the app window) and selected shutdown. Rebooted the next day.
Got the original warning that the update had not completed as the .EXE was busy, more or less.
Clicked to close the notification, and got the normal window.
Looked in the AppData subdirectories, and palemoon was there as before.
Deleted the subdirectory and contents.
Booted today with no message about installation failure, and things are working as normal.
Not sure why the 'install later' option does not clean up after doing the install, but that seems to be the case.
Memory says if I do the update immediately by restarting the program and do not delay, it works.
I will check that at the next update.
tom

tommy · Unread post by **tommy** » 2024-12-09, 18:02

Just now got the notification about the new release.
Download and update now.
PM started and gave the indication the update could not be done.
Took pics of the subdir tree and the update data was still there.
Checked 'help about' and it indicates 33.4.1 ...
Check for updates opened the checking window... and failed to connectm actually just sat there with no progress on the progress bar.
Stopped and restarted PM. Pop up indicating unable to update. CLosed.
Help About shows 33.4.1
Will delete the subdir after closing PM.
No indication of update failure on restart after deletion.
Help About indicates 33.4.1
Will check for updates. Update available.
Got the 33.5.0
"Update ready to install"
"The update will be installed the next time Pale Moon starts.
You can restart Pale Moon now, or continue working and restart later"
I will try restart now.
Got the update could not be installed. make sure no other copies of PM.
Had ProcessExplorer open, and at the bottom of the list, there was
a second instance of Palemoon running. It cleared after a few seconds.
Will OK the "Software Update Failed" popup.
PM reloaded the windows open at the time of update.
Help About shows 33.4.1.
So back to the same error message, but the version does not update and deleting the Pale Moon
subdirectory allows PM to load and run, but the version stays as 33.4.1.
Now I have no clue.

tommy · Unread post by **tommy** » 2024-12-10, 19:00

Having forgotten the solution last time, it took a while.
Deleting the subdir, and running PM as Administrator, it worked.
The possibility that the EXE that is complained as being in use needs to have its permissions loosened.
More likely it has something to do with 'install for one user' or 'install for all users'. Or not.
Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.
tom

Unread post by **Moonchild** » 2024-12-11, 11:10

If you try to install in a protected folder with a limited account, then that doesn't work for updating.

You either have to install with an elevated account (and update from an elevated account or one that can UAC elevate) or you will indeed run into permissions errors. This is Windows 7's permission system doing exactly what it is supposed to be doing: Protected folders (like C:\Program Files) can only be written to by administrative or elevated accounts. Limited accounts will not have permission to replace the browser with an update.

Possible solutions:

Always only use an elevated account to update or install the browser in its standard application folder, OR
Install Pale Moon into a user area folder (e.g. a "My Applications" folder in your user area next to My Documents etc.)

There is no easy way for the updater to detect if your account can elevate through UAC or not.

therube · Unread post by **therube** » 2024-12-11, 16:15

AFAIK, installs were not done in the past using Admin privilege.

Have you disabled UAC ?

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