XYplorer won't start because of TEMP folder permission

[Caz]

Hi,
I've been using XYplorer (Pro) at work for a bit more than a year without any problem.
Since last week XYplorer won't start anymore. I have done some testing and it seems it is because of the %TEMP% (%TMP% ?) system variables.
There might have been a change in our overly secured network or McAfee might prevent writing in the temp folder.
If I launch XYplorer from the Windows command line after having "re-set" the TEMP and TMP system variables to another location, XYplorer will start and works fine.
But it can only be a temporary fix because the TEMP folder is also changed for every other programs and this is not a viable solution.
I was surprised that XYplorer writes in the TEMP folder as I thought it was truly portable.
I cannot ask IT to give me any access on my computer (I would be afraid they would completely prevent XYplorer from launching)
Is there a way to set the temp folder for XYplorer only ? Can I set the temp folder XYplorer uses from the command line as an option ?
Thanks for your help.

[highend]

Try to use a batch file to start XY?

start_xy.bat in XYplorers folder:

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@ECHO OFF
CD /D "%~dp0"
REM SET TEMP_FOLDER=<some path>
SET TEMP_FOLDER=C:\Temp
SET TEMP=%TEMP_FOLDER%
SET TMP=%TEMP_FOLDER%
START "" "%CD%\XYplorer.exe"

When you execute the .bat file and then in XY: Menu - Help - Environment Variables
you'll see that %TEMP% and %TMP% are set to "C:\Temp"...

[Caz]

Thanks for your reply highend.
This is exactly what I am doing for now.
But if I look at my temp_folder at the of the day I see that there other programs that write into this folder.
It seems that programs launched from XYplorer are passed this variables and write into this temp_folder. I can understand this behavior (but would prefered to have the option not to use the environment of XYplorer).
But it also seems that other programs not launched by XYplorer are also writing in this temp_folder (to be confirmed as it is a relative new issue) and I don't want to change the temp folder for my whole system.

[admin]

Since last week XYplorer won't start anymore. I have done some testing and it seems it is because of the %TEMP% (%TMP% ?) system variables.

XYplorer does not do anything with the %TEMP% folder on startup (it's rarely used at all). I don't see any connection. Are you getting any error message, or error log file (in the app data path = where XYplorer stores XYplorer.ini)?

I was surprised that XYplorer writes in the TEMP folder as I thought it was truly portable.

Good point! I will change that.

[highend]

It seems that programs launched from XYplorer are passed this variables and write into this temp_folder.

That's normal OS behavior, the environment is inherited.

I can understand this behavior (but would prefered to have the option not to use the environment of XYplorer)

Afaik not possible

But it also seems that other programs not launched by XYplorer are also writing in this temp_folder

I doubt that. Programs not started by / through XYplorer inherit the normal OS environment and that includes the normal temp directories

[Caz]

XYplorer does not do anything with the %TEMP% folder on startup. I don't see any connection. Are you getting any error message, or error log file (in the app data path = where XYplorer stores XYplorer.ini)?

There is no error message or log file. The process is started (can see it in the process list) but no window appears.

I was surprised that XYplorer writes in the TEMP folder as I thought it was truly portable.

Good point! I will change that.

Great, thanks !

[Caz]

But it also seems that other programs not launched by XYplorer are also writing in this temp_folder

I doubt that. Programs not started by / through XYplorer inherit the normal OS environment and that includes the normal temp directories

That's what I thought. I have to perform more test but I launch so many programs from XYplorer that it will not be an easy task !

[Caz]

Hi all.
Back with the same problem (so I think).
The IT team may have change something else and I don't know what.
Now I am back to the point where XYplorer won't start and I have no workaround to make it work.
Hope you can help because I cannot imagine going back to Windows Explorer

Some infos.

• I don't have admin rights and cannot ask anything to the IT team.
• If I launch XYplorer, the processus shows up in the process list "XYplorer.exe *32" but no window appear on screen and the pinned taskbar icon don't "light".
• If I launch XYplorer through the command line after setting new temp folders, same results (workaround that used to work for a few weeks so maybe it is not the real problem).
• Interesting enough, if I launch an old free version, I got a window on screen to inform me that I am using an old version then after agreeing back to the same results. If I launch an unregistered version, I got a window on screen to inform me of the remaining trial days then after agreeing back to the same results. Meaning that XYplorer is not totally blocked and can show a window on screen.

Any ideas how to find what is causing this behavior ? Anh how to trick it ?
NB: All my other portable apps work without any problems.
Thanks.

[admin]

Try to run XY with the /fresh switch:

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XYplorer.exe /fresh

[Caz]

I managed to start it again after rebooting and clearing caches in Windows Appdata folder. I don’t know if it is related or not.
I also waited way longer to let it start. Usually after a few seconds I killed the process. Maybe that the first launch is taking more time because it is being analyzed by the security tools installed on my computer. I suspect Bromium vSentry tool to be the culprit. But I am not sure either.
Nevertheless, thanks for the support.

[admin]

After it has started you can check what happened during startup using this script in the address bar:

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text <get loadtimes>, 800, 800;

[Caz]

I have re-started XYplorer several times since my computer reboot.
The mean starting time is around 2 seconds.
But the relevant one is the first launch after reboot. I'll test after next reboot.

[tedy]

Check if you have some tab opened on a drive or network path that is slow to respond. I sometimes have similar behavior when I "forget" a tab in the F: drive which lies in a WD Blue and while being rarely used, it parks its heads and when I access it (or start a file manager with tabs in it), it takes 1-2 seconds to wake up.
With a particular xyplorer configuration I had this with network paths also. I have disabled all "check availability" and so in options and whenever I open a tab with a network share, it opens instantly without checking if it really exists or not.

[Caz]

After it has started you can check what happened during startup using this script in the address bar:

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text <get loadtimes>, 800, 800;

Hi all,
Fresh monday reboot : loading time 1min13s from click on icon to the main window showing on screen.

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XY ver: 	XYplorer 19.00.0100
OS:     	Windows 7 Enterprise (Service Pack 1), 64-bit
Loaded: 	2018-11-12 08:10:52 in 58 848 ms

     0 ms:     791 ms - Start Load
   791 ms:      35 ms - Init Language
   826 ms:     473 ms - Load Language
 1 299 ms:   1 280 ms - Load Settings
 2 579 ms:   1 982 ms - Init Custom File Icons
 4 561 ms:      42 ms - Init Controls
 4 603 ms:      57 ms - Init Graphics
 4 660 ms:     184 ms - Init Tabs
 4 844 ms:      27 ms - Create Info Panel
 4 871 ms:      24 ms - Set Interface Font
 4 895 ms:     411 ms - Init Panes
 5 306 ms:       0 ms - Init Tree
 5 306 ms:       0 ms - Add Spec Folders
 5 306 ms:       0 ms - Add Links Folder
 5 306 ms:       0 ms - Add Desktop Folder
 5 306 ms:       0 ms - Add Documents Folder
 5 306 ms:       0 ms - Add Downloads Folder
 5 306 ms:       0 ms - Add User Folder
 5 306 ms:       6 ms - Drives To Array
 5 312 ms:       0 ms - Exist Drive D:\
 5 312 ms:       3 ms - Exist Drive E:\
 5 315 ms:      90 ms - Add Drives
 5 405 ms:       1 ms - Init Start Path
 5 406 ms:       3 ms - Tab Icons
 5 409 ms:     134 ms - Load Catalog
 5 543 ms:     488 ms - Load Tags
 6 031 ms:   3 064 ms - Go Start Path Expanded: C:\Users\****\Documents
 9 095 ms:  19 797 ms - Init Custom Toolbar Buttons
28 892 ms:     136 ms - Init UDC and KS
29 028 ms:     333 ms - Load This Pane
29 361 ms:      12 ms - Load Other Pane
29 373 ms:       0 ms - Exist Drive D:\
29 373 ms:     667 ms - Exist Drive E:\
30 040 ms:       2 ms - Layout Window
30 042 ms:  26 972 ms - Layout Catalog
57 014 ms:   1 088 ms - Layout List
58 102 ms:     104 ms - Show Window
58 206 ms:      31 ms - Layout Catalog
58 237 ms:     380 ms - Layout List
58 617 ms:     231 ms - Init Menus
58 848 ms:            - Load Done

MaxiTree: Rows=67, Nodes=67, Expanded=6, Mapped Drives=1
Icon Overlays: Yes
Pane 1: Items=15/15, Pane 2: Items=3/3, Catalog: Items=76

The next launch is much quicker.

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XY ver: 	XYplorer 19.00.0100
OS:     	Windows 7 Enterprise (Service Pack 1), 64-bit
Loaded: 	2018-11-12 08:12:48 in 1 793 ms

     0 ms:     146 ms - Start Load
   146 ms:     132 ms - Init Language
   278 ms:      72 ms - Load Language
   350 ms:      21 ms - Load Settings
   371 ms:     104 ms - Init Custom File Icons
   475 ms:      12 ms - Init Controls
   487 ms:      47 ms - Init Graphics
   534 ms:       7 ms - Init Tabs
   541 ms:      21 ms - Create Info Panel
   562 ms:      29 ms - Set Interface Font
   591 ms:      26 ms - Init Panes
   617 ms:       0 ms - Init Tree
   617 ms:       0 ms - Add Spec Folders
   617 ms:       0 ms - Add Links Folder
   617 ms:       0 ms - Add Desktop Folder
   617 ms:       0 ms - Add Documents Folder
   617 ms:       0 ms - Add Downloads Folder
   617 ms:       0 ms - Add User Folder
   617 ms:       6 ms - Drives To Array
   623 ms:       0 ms - Exist Drive D:\
   623 ms:       2 ms - Exist Drive E:\
   625 ms:     352 ms - Add Drives
   977 ms:       0 ms - Init Start Path
   977 ms:       2 ms - Tab Icons
   979 ms:      13 ms - Load Catalog
   992 ms:       4 ms - Load Tags
   996 ms:     232 ms - Go Start Path Expanded: C:\Users\******\Documents\
 1 228 ms:     239 ms - Init Custom Toolbar Buttons
 1 467 ms:       8 ms - Init UDC and KS
 1 475 ms:      15 ms - Load This Pane
 1 490 ms:       9 ms - Load Other Pane
 1 499 ms:       1 ms - Exist Drive D:\
 1 500 ms:      13 ms - Exist Drive E:\
 1 513 ms:       1 ms - Layout Window
 1 514 ms:     103 ms - Layout Catalog
 1 617 ms:      66 ms - Layout List
 1 683 ms:      26 ms - Show Window
 1 709 ms:      16 ms - Layout Catalog
 1 725 ms:      58 ms - Layout List
 1 783 ms:      10 ms - Init Menus
 1 793 ms:            - Load Done

MaxiTree: Rows=67, Nodes=67, Expanded=6, Mapped Drives=1
Icon Overlays: Yes
Pane 1: Items=15/15, Pane 2: Items=3/3, Catalog: Items=76

XYplorer opens with a single tab on my personal folder.
I suspect the security tools on my computer to create such long load times because it happens also on other softwares.
I thought there was a problem with XYplorer (TEMP folder for example) but it doesn't seem so.
In fact I used to kill the process before it had time to fully load because I couldn't imagine it took more than a minute.
Thanks to everybody for your help.

[admin]

Did you see this post by tedy?: viewtopic.php?p=163877#p163877