The VideoLAN Forums

VLC 2.0.5 FAILS to install

My PC is Windows 7 64bit Ultimate. Executing "vlc-2.0.5-win32.exe" (22,916,830 Bytes) starts, duly stops and uninstalls VLC 2.0.4, starts to install VLC 2.0.5, then unexpectedly stops with:

"Error opening file for writing: C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoLAN\VLC\vlc.exe"

I tried a couple times with downloading from http://www.videolan.org/vlc/index.html or from http://download.cnet.com/VLC-Media-Play ... 67151.html , same "result" (or absence of).

I had to reinstall VLC 2.0.4, that installs and works properly.

Versailles, Sun 23 Dec 2012 16:19:00 +0100

Sound like VLC may still be running. Try uninstalling VLC 2.0.4 first, then install VLC 2.0.5. When you run the new installer it should normally ask if you want to uninstall an old version first (if so do).

Also always get the installer from the official VideoLAN website, http://www.videolan.org/vlc/index.html like you posted.

Arite.

Try uninstalling VLC 2.0.4 first

Try reading first : « Executing "vlc-2.0.5-win32.exe"... duly stops and uninstalls VLC 2.0.4... »

This is, as long as it is not fixed, a major problem, so I think hurrying to fix it is more important than quibbling and trying to dump the cause on its victims.

Versailles, Sun 23 Dec 2012 20:47:00 +0100

Try reading first : « Executing "vlc-2.0.5-win32.exe"... duly stops and uninstalls VLC 2.0.4... »

OK, missed the "uninstalls VLC 2.0.4" bit .

If you try it again it should just work. The reason that happened is probably because vlc.exe was still running when you uninstalled it. Because it was running, vlc.exe and a few other dll's will not have been removed. When the new installer is run it tries to replace the old vlc.exe which is write protected, so it fails.

Try installing VLC 2.0.5 again when VLC isn't running and it should hopefully work. To confirm vlc.exe is gone you can go to "C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoLAN\VLC" and see if it exists (the whole VideoLAN directory should be gone though).

This is, as long as it is not fixed, a major problem, so I think hurrying to fix it is more important than quibbling and trying to dump the cause on its victims.

If the issue was that vlc.exe was still running then it's not really a bug. This could be improved by adding a error message when uninstall.exe fails to delete a file such as vlc.exe. It currently fails to delete silently, hence when it comes to installing a new version the error comes up.

Cheers, Arite.

Dear VideoLAN
I too had problems installing VLC 2.0.5 this evening after being prompted to update.
Just wanted to confirm the reports of other users here. Guess there'll be no pr0n for me tonight, eh? :^(

Add my voice to those who cannot install vlc 2.0.5. I have three XP machines and two running Win7 64-bit. The 2.0.5 update installs okay on 32-bit XP but fails on Win7 64-bit. I have had to reinstall 2.0.1 on those 64-bit Win 7 machines to get VLC back again.

(Mon 24 Dec 2012 01:13:44 GMT)
...it's not really a bug.

Even if I had brought that "bug" word (which I didn't, YOU alone did), your comment could already look patronizing or irrelevant. Especially right after quoting me ("hurrying to fix it is more important than quibbling and trying to dump the cause on its victims"). So, once more, please try quibbling less and working more.

Versailles, Mon 28 Jan 2013 20:12:00 +0100

I suggest you ponder the meaning of the quote in your signature.

Arite is spending a lot of free time thanklessly helping users like you. You are in no in a position to tell him -or any other VideoLAN volunteer- to work more. As the French proverb goes, there is no better service than self-service.

I suggest you ponder the meaning of the quote in your signature.

I doubt you "pondered" it yourself. More generally I suggest you demand from yourself as much as you are demanding from others. A project like VLC, while good, can still improve, provided in good ambiance, which implies first to respect visitors. Implying your visitors were so low under yourselves that you couldn't learn anything from them is ignoring the reality and offending at the same time your visitors and your own project.

Right now the problem reported in this thread, while solved in my case, is apparently not in general, hence still needs some work. Denying this and insisting on quibbling is counter-productive.

BTW I have written large, particularly friendly, accurate, reliable, fast and efficient apps and modules in math and engineering (high speed infrastructure layout, finite element modeling, numerical analysis, etc) under all systems and languages in 1970-95, which I never would have achieved if I hadn't been respectful to users, including the youngest, most inexperienced and low-instructed technicians and designers.

Versailles, Mon 28 Jan 2013 21:36:20 +0100

Hello, I have windows 7 64 and the same problem almost. I don't even get the error's window, it just start and stops.
Et même si on n'est jamais si bien servi que par soi même, est-ce que vous pourriez m'aider svp?

Thanks.

VLC 2.1.5 FAILS to install!
VLC 2.1.5 will not install on my win 8.1 machine in the 32-or 64- version. The installation process just will not start.
I even have to re-boot the machine to get out of the eternal wait for something to happen.
I un-installed 2.1.2 and tried to install 2.1.3 and now 2.1.5 and neither will install.
I again installed 2.1.2 and all runs fine. Does anyone also have this installation problem?
Am I condemned to rune 2.1.2 forever??

Kill the whole VLC process tree in Task Manager

(Sun 10 Aug 2014 18:54:05 GMT)
VLC 2.1.5 will not install on my win 8.1 machine...

I have no more the case at hands, but IIRC you could try kill the entire VLC tree in the Windows processes. To do this in Windows XP or 7 (should be similar in W8.1), Right-click in an empty space on the Taskbar and choose "Start Task Manager", click the "Processes" tab, click the "Image name" column header, find the "vlc.exe" line (or "vlc.exe *32" or whatever), Right-click it and choose "End Process Tree". Ignore if necessary the frightening message(s) and go on.

The reason for this: you may have opened multiple instances of VLC. The VLC installer, when saying it is uninstalling VLC, is NOT: in facts it only uninstalls ONE instance (or group of processes) of VLC, thus lets the other ones continue running.

Versailles, Mon 11 Aug 2014 10:06:20 +0200

Thanks for the quick reply.

Sorry, but in my Task Manager there is NO reference anywhere to VLC or similar terms. (At the present VLC is not open).

Also before re-installing my latest copy of 2.1.2, I had used an Uninstaller program that eliminated all traces of VLC from my machine. Yet, version 2.1.3 or 2.1.5 would still NOT install, but 2.1.2 does!!
The machine just was no longer responsive and required a reboot.

Thank yo9y very much for your attention to my problem
Sincerely
Roland Klaus
.