Windows installer only results in critical failures

Help
1

I couldn’t find this exact install issue in the forum or a help page about it, but this bug occurs on each attempt on my Windows 10.0.19045 PC laptop (x64 based, x86 capable). Note that I am (trying to be) a new user and have never installed or used Obsidian at all, let alone this computer, which is important context for the error types.

Steps to reproduce

  1. Download any Windows Universal installer from the Download page or from Git, from Obsidian version from 1.7.7 to 1.8.7
  2. Run the executable installer

Did you follow the troubleshooting guide?
Yes, I followed the installation guide and searched within the forum. I couldn’t find this exact issue or any very similar to it.

Expected result:
The installer fully installs Obsidian in a operational condition (can be ran/opened and used) along with its uninstaller.

Actual result:
(after pressing next for install folder selection, during installation progress)
Popup #1 by Obsidian Setup:
“Obsidian cannot be closed. Please close it manually and click retry to continue.”

Result after clicking Retry is the following popup:

Popup #2 by Obsidian Setup:
“Error opening file for writing:
C:\Program Files\Obsidian\Uninstall Obsidian.exe
Click Abort to stop the installation, Retry to try again, or Ignore to skip this file”

IF CLICK Retry: Infinite popups repeating the same
IF CLICK Abort: Popup closes to an infinitely stalling installer, must click Cancel.
IF CLICK Ignore: Software installs in broken form without uninstaller, can’t be ran.

Final result: Software doesn’t install or broken software must be manually uninstalled.

Environment:
No debug or error codes produced. Ctrl+P is a print page shortcut, not applicable to the desktop or installer (nothing happens when pressed). No special conditions or known conflicts.

Additional information:

  1. First popup seems to hallucinate another instance of Obsidian running, preventing the installation.
  2. Second popup seems to suggest that all files/data required to install the software aren’t available in/to the installer
  3. The above speculation doesn’t appear to be common for anyone, suggesting neither are true.

If any more contextual information or tests can be helpful to properly install Obsidian, I’ll happy provide/perform it! After researching many similar types of software, Obsidian seems to be the best fit for me, so I believe it’s worth attempting seeking help here before opting for a different software.
Thanks in advance!

2

I think you may have a corrupted installation that you have to clean up manually or may also have user permission problem on this computer.

3

Thank you for your quick reply! I appreciate it and have resolved the issue for myself, and note that will pose issues for other users with needs different from mine. I have successfully installed Obsidian now, and have determined that the installer fails when permissions are set to “only me/default” even when using the default/admin account. I am the only user of this computer and no other user profiles are created, so permission issues shouldn’t have occurred. Below, I describe the steps and context of how I successfully installed Obsidian:

Important context:
• This installation error occurred on the first and every subsequent attempt, having never previously installed or used Obsidian. This means that the first instance of this issue cannot be due to a corrupted installation already on the computer. Files and folders removed mentioned below were present only after these failed install attempts.
• For every previous attempt, I had only selected the install to apply to the default/admin users as no others exist except for a possible “guest” profile which I’ve never used. This new attempt selects “all users” in the installation permissions.

Preparation Steps:

  1. Uninstalled Obsidian with Windows
    1a. The “new” add/remove programs setting by Windows failed to uninstall due to no uninstaller
    1b. The “old” add/remove program setting partially uninstalled Obsidian

  2. Manual deletion of remaining files and folders (from Downloads, Program Files, Start Menu, and AppData)

  3. Duel search for remaining files produced none
    3a. Windows toolbar search produced no results
    3b. More comprehensive FluentSearch produced no results

  4. Third-party uninstaller programs (Glary Utilities Uninstaller and Revo Uninstaller) confirmed Obsidian is not present on the computer.

Steps for All Users Install:

  1. Downloaded fresh Windows Universal installer file (latest, 1.8.7)

  2. After running installer, I selected “all users” permissions

  3. Installation completed successfully

  4. Obsidian launched successfully
    4a. I successfully created a vault at a specified location in Documents
    4b. I created a folder and note inside of it with no issue
    4c. I closed the program and relaunched it successfully with the expected folder and note present

I have not tried to create a new user profile to test if Obsidian or the note mentioned are available.