Cannot update, cannot uninstall

Audacity Help Forum Windows
1

I have a file created by version 3.6.1 (Windows 10). It cannot be opened by 3.3.3 (Windows 11), I tried to update to 3.6.1. The setup was unable to close some applications. Then I tried to uninstall 3.3.3, it says Windows cannot find c:\Program Files\Audacity\unins000.exe

2

3.6.1 can open projects from older versions - but not vice-versa.

3.6.1 (and I think also 3.5.x) uses a single file for a project, earlier versions use a file and a similarly named folder which need to be in the same directory.

“The setup was unable to close some applications.” means what? Is there an error message, and if so, what does it exactly tell you?

3

Message while preparing to install:
The following applications are using files to be updated by setup. It is recommended that you allow Setup to automatically close these applications…
Audacity® Cross-Platform Sound Editor
Audacity® Cross-Platform Sound Editor
crashpad_handler.exe
crashpad_handler.exe
(I did tick the box to automatically close the application)
I continued, then error message: Setup was unable to automatically close all applications. It is recommended that you close all applications using files that need to be updated by Setup before continuing.
(There was nothing opened)

4

I created a file in 3.6.1 and I can’t open it in 3. 3. 3, even after resetting configuration.

I think this would be a terrific time to do a Windows Clean Shutdown. You may have too much trash hanging around in the background.

I think a version of this works in Windows 11, too.

Also see:
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/full-clean-windows-1011-shutdown/e26a3ee2-cf82-4395-ada3-f46c1f7ed555

Koz

5

Note both of these shutdowns will take longer. Fast Startup is default in Windows when people got tired of waiting so long for The Real Thing. So Windows leaves pieces of the machine running even though you think you shut it down. That can work really well until you have damage or something broken.

Koz

6

I shut down, still can’t update. I tried to uninstall. Error message saying Access is denied. Audacity icon disappeared and I can’t find Audacity in the APP list any more. The error message is as follows.
Error writing to registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Audacity_is1
RegSetValueEx failed; code 5.
Access is denied.

7

We should wait for an actual Windows Elf.

Meanwhile, there are Registry Cleaners.

Koz

8

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