Audacity Forum

Under Windows 7 I do not think that a program has permission to write to any folder in the location C:Program Files (x86). I thought this was all taken care of using a normal install of Audacity. The Temp file must be in:
C:Users<user>AppDataRoamingAudacity
(or some other place that is not restricted).

Grizzly will need to edit the Audacity configuration file (which is located in C:Users<user>AppDataRoamingAudacity) and look for the lines:
[Directories]
TempDir=D:\audio\Audacity\Temp

Change "TempDir=D:\audio\Audacity\Temp" so that it reads:
TempDir=C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Audacity\Temp
or something else appropriate (note the double backslashes). Grizzly will also need to create the Temp directory to which the above configuration line points.

Ok I read your notes, now comes the other bit, by going into that file "C:Users<user>AppDataRoamingAudacity" that file/folder aint there & if I do a search for AppDAta nothing shows up? but I have 2 folders of Audacity & Audacity 1.3(Beta)in x86?

I have been experimenting but it will only create the data if we create a project first.

Since my last reply 1/2 hr ago I did a Google search & found a every one else had a similar problem with AppData, any having now found the folder there are only 2 sub folders under AppData/Roaming, AutoSave & presets & in those there is no mention of the path & both folders are empty??

Grizzly,

From your previous two replies it is clear that your Audacity installation is "challenged" <grin>! Is it possible that you have tried to install Audacity 1.2 on your Windows 7 machine? If so, that might be part of the problem; Audacity 1.2's installation writes information to the Windows Registry, Audacity 1.3 does not write to the Windows Registry but if Audacity 1.2 registry information is there it will try to use it.

Regardless, I think it's time to start over from scratch uninstalling all versions of Audacity on your machine and checking the Registry to ensure that there is no left over entries related to Audacity. If you feel uncomfortable editing the Registry you might want to get some help with that part– the important first step is to make a backup copy of the Registry before you do any editing!

Make sure to get your Audacity 1.3.13 beta installer from the only recommended source:
http://audacityteam.org/download/

Thank you for sticking with us on this!

Yes I have both Versions installed so I will do as you suggest & keep everything crossed, I'll be back in an hour. Once I find the path no problem I can fix it, but not seeing the path is the crux!

By George I think we've got it! Having reinstalled 1.3 (minus everything else) we can record & do a straight export as a .wav file, the sound waves are all there & works.
Just one thing not that it's going to be a problem now, BUT you cannot put Audacity into program files X86 it will not work!

But having put it into C:users(user)AppDataRoamingAudacity 1.3 Beta (2 folders auto created Audacity & Audacity 1.3 Beta) this will work nicely & i can play through windows Media.

Thanks most gratefully

Thanks very much George and Ed.

Edgar wrote:Under Windows 7 I do not think that a program has permission to write to any folder in the location C:Program Files (x86).

@Edgar,
would it also be possible to fix this issue by changing the temp folder location using "Edit > Preferences > Directories > Location" ?
On XP, if the path is changed here to a writeable folder that does not exist, Audacity offers to create it.

steve wrote:

Edgar wrote:Under Windows 7 I do not think that a program has permission to write to any folder in the location C:Program Files (x86).

@Edgar,
would it also be possible to fix this issue by changing the temp folder location using "Edit > Preferences > Directories > Location" ?
On XP, if the path is changed here to a writeable folder that does not exist, Audacity offers to create it.

The answer is murky! Win7 allows the creation of folders in "C:Program Files (x86)" but apps do not generally have write permission to create or edit files in "C:Program Files (x86)". So, the Audacity Preference editor will allow you to create and set the temp directory there but you will still not be able to record.

The general way of solving this in a system with 2 drives is to put all non-OS related apps (and their active folders) on the non-OS drive. Some apps know how to properly install to the OS-drive's "C:Program Files (x86)" and put their written data in C:Users<user>AppDataRoaming [or] Local which works for a single drive system. Lately Win7 has tightened up permissions so much that making an installer work right like that is getting messy. Google Chrome has chosen to go the route of putting the entire app in C:Users<user>AppDataLocal. AppData has three sub-folders -- they are Local, LocalLow and Roaming. I am sure MS has a whitepaper out on what to put where but I don't know which is what!