"PathNotFoundException" while trying to start Pieces OS

[Grayson-code]

Software

Pieces OS

Operating System

Windows

Your Pieces OS Version

v8.1.0

Kindly describe the bug and include as much detail as possible on what you were doing so we can reproduce the bug.

I have encountered this error when I tried to install Pieces Suite. I have reinstalled the entire suite and still have encountered this error.

[Grayson-code]

Edition Windows 10 Pro
Version 22H2
OS build 19045.4170
Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.19054.1000.0

[rivlin132]

i got this error

[lior102]

I got the same error

[mark-at-pieces]

Hey @lior102 @rivlin132 @Grayson-code if you all restart your machine and attempt to open PiecesOS again are you still getting this issue?

we are thinking this is some sort of permission refresh issue that is not properly getting propagated(until restart), however if this is not the case would love to dig a bit deeper to get yall up and running

[lior102]

Yes, it still happens I tried restarting the computer and it didn't work I also tried deleting and re-downloading I still encountered this problem I would appreciate it if you could check why this is happening

[mark-at-pieces]

@lior102 would you mind send your exact error?
does the path include "Admin" as well?

[mark-at-pieces]

also can you double check that you have a

'com.pieces.os' folder in your

C:\Users\{YOUR_USER}\Documents

[lior102]

@lior102אכפת לך לשלוח את השגיאה המדויקת שלך? האם הנתיב כולל גם "אדמין"?

This is the full message I get: PathNotFoundException: Creation failed, path = 'C:\Users\Admin\Documents\com.pieces.os\production\Pieces\Formats' (OS Error: The system cannot find the file specified. ermo = 2

[lior102]

גם אתה יכול לבדוק שוב שיש לך א

'com.pieces.os' בתיקייה שלך

C:\Users\{YOUR_USER}\Documents

And yes I have such a folder

[mark-at-pieces]

@lior102 Very interesting, is your UserName on this User "Admin" as well where your com.pieces.os folder is located?

[lior102]

This is where my folder is located
C:\Users\Admin\Documents

[mark-at-pieces]

I'm thinking this is is permissions related to the user account on your windows machine, is this by any changes a Work computer or a personal device?

Question: have you attempted to run PiecesOS as administrator?(not sure if this even possible)

[lior102]

I didn't make any changes and I checked that PiecesOS has all the necessary permissions and it still didn't work for me

[nathan-courtney-pieces]

Do you have this permission enabled within your settings app?

[lior102]

This is what I see:

[nathan-courtney-pieces]

Interesting... Within the com.pieces.os folder, do you see any files within com.pieces.os\production\Pieces or do you have a bunch of directories with no files in them?

[mark-at-pieces]

would you mind ziping up the com.pieces.os directory and sending us a copy to [email protected] and [email protected]?

[lior102]

מעניין... בתוך התיקיה com.pieces.os, האם אתה רואה קבצים כלשהם בתוך com.pieces.os\production\Pieces או שיש לך חבורה של ספריות ללא קבצים?

[lior102]

האם אכפת לך לדחוס את ספריית com.pieces.os ולשלוח לנו עותק אל [email protected] ו- [email protected] ?

I'll send just a moment

[lior102]

I sent you both

[nathan-courtney-pieces]

After you send that over, try deleting the entire com.pieces.os folder, and then relaunch Pieces OS. you may have to kill Pieces OS in task manager if it is already running

[lior102]

After you send that over, try deleting the entire com.pieces.os folder, and then relaunch Pieces OS. you may have to kill Pieces OS in task manager if it is already running

I tried now the same error happened

[nathan-courtney-pieces]

Actually i should clarify, close down the Pieces Suite installer, delete the com.pieces.os folder, do not repopen the Pieces Suite Installer, and launch Pieces OS from navigating to the list of applications on your machine and click the Pieces OS icon to launch it

[nathan-courtney-pieces]

@lior102 Could you right-click your Documents folder and select "Properties" from the menu list and send a screenshot?

You should see something like this:

Wouldn't hurt to send a screenshot of the security tab as well with your user account selected (or what you are signed in with)

[lior102]

[nathan-courtney-pieces]

@lior102 Thanks for sending that over. What I find odd is that your username is "lior" but your file path is \Users\Admin for your user directory. Do you know why that is? Do you have a directory on your machine at \Users\lior ?

[lior102]

@nathan-courtney-pieces No, I don't have such a library

[mark-at-pieces]

nathan is trying to reproduce this in a VM rn

[lior102]

@mark-at-pieces Okay, let us know that there is an answer

[mark-at-pieces]

we are going to get to the bottom of this

[nathan-courtney-pieces]

@lior102 , Can you send over screenshots of the the Documents "properties" window of the other two accounts on your securities tab?

You sent over one of them by highlighting "SYSTEM". I'd like to see what these two are saying

[mark-at-pieces]

hey @lior102 Nathan and I are still looking into this however might be easier if we could hop on a chat would you mind scheduling some time on my calendar and we will get you booted up, and then post the final solution in here so we can ensure that no one has this issue again!

https://calendar.app.google/FKCAdBW6VSuCoTN67

[lior102]

@nathan-courtney-pieces Yeah sure, here it is:

[lior102]

@mark-at-pieces Yes, I made an appointment for today

[mark-at-pieces]

We found the solution: will be putting an extensive write up in here within the next couple of hours.

Basically Windows defender was blocking our app(s)

Both PiecesOS && PiecesDesktop from writing to the FileSystem

here are a couple screen shots and be sure to allow for this (will also need to do this for both pieces_for_x.exe as well as for os_server.exe

[mark-at-pieces]

Note: if you click into

"Controlled folder access setting"

then "allowed application"

you will need to ensure that both PiecesOS and PiecesDesktop are allowed

[mark-at-pieces]

still an ongoing issue: solution is posted above.

we will have better write up here, as well as a long term solution for this issue here shortly

[mason-at-pieces]

still an ongoing issue: solution is posted above.

Yes, sorry. Was a mistake on my part but has been corrected 👍

[nathan-courtney-pieces]

We believe we have a solution for this and it will be going out in the next update

[Grayson-code]

Thanks for the support. The temporary solution has worked.
IG let the issue stay open till this is resolved permanently.

[Grayson-code]

Thank you to @rivlin132 and @lior102 for your cooperation.

[xperiandri]

After I went to the Defender history as above and allowed pieces_for_x.exe access. Now it works

[mark-at-pieces]

hey super solid thanks all for the help!

we have added some additional in app messaging (in the case of a failure) pointing to this specific solution.

In the mean time, we continue looking for a better long term solution.

Thanks again for all the help here!

Cheers 🍻

&& Happy Coding!

[mark-at-pieces]

9.0.2, with ^^ these changes, is now live

[jimbobbennett]

Closing as the changes to help resolve this are now live.