Deltachat-desktop: Delta doesn't start on Windows 7

Created on 8 Jan 2020 · 52Comments · Source: deltachat/deltachat-desktop

Platform (linux/mac/windows): windows 7
Delta Chat Desktop Version: 0.901.0 (setup.exe)
Expected behavior: Delta Chat starts
Actual behavior: The process exits after a few seconds.
Steps to reproduce the problem: Start the desktop client (no matter which way)
Screenshots:

windows screenshot

Logs:

console output:

C:\Users\mike>AppData\Local\Programs\deltachat-desktop\DeltaChat.exe

C:\Users\mike>
 Logfile: C:\Users\mike\AppData\Local\DeltaChat\logs\2020-01-08-19-08-11.log.tsv

C:\Users\mike\AppData\Local\Programs\deltachat-desktop\resources\app.asar.unpacked\node_modules\deltachat-node\prebuilds\win32-x64\node.napi.node
    at process.module.(anonymous function) [as dlopen] (ELECTRON_ASAR.js:160:31)

    at Object.Module._extensions..node (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:722:18)
    at Object.module.(anonymous function) [as .node] (as .node] (ELECTRON_ASAR.js:169:18)
    at Module.load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:602:32)
    at tryModuleLoad (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:541:12)
    at Function.Module._load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:533:3)
    at Module.require (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:640:17)
    at require (internal/modules/cjs/helpers.js:20:18)
    at load (C:\Users\mike\AppData\Local\Programs\deltachat-desktop\resources}app.asar\mode_modules\node-gyp-build\index.js:20:10)
    at Object.<anonymous> (C:\Users\mike\AppData\Local\Programs\deltachat-desktop\resources\app.asar\node_modules\deltachat-node\binding.js:1:198)

the logfile at C:\Users\mike\AppData\Local\DeltaChat\logs\2020-01-08-19-08-11.log.tsv is empty.

bug windows

Source

missytake

All 52 comments

Exactly the same error appears when the file "deltachat.dll" is not present in "%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Programs\deltachat-desktop\resources\app.asar.unpacked\node_modules\deltachat-node\prebuilds\win32-x64":

Logfile: C:\Users\PC_USER\AppData\Local\DeltaChat\logs\2020-01-08-21-58-59.log.tsv
C:\Users\PC_USER\AppData\Local\Programs\deltachat-desktop\resources\app.asarsrc\main\index.js:30
throw err
^

Error: The specified module could not be found.
\?\C:\Users\PC_USER\AppData\Local\Programs\deltachat-desktop\resources\app.asar.unpacked\node_modules\deltachat-node\prebuilds\win32-x64\node.napi.node
at process.module.(anonymous function) [as dlopen] (ELECTRON_ASAR.js:160:31)
at Object.Module._extensions..node (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:722:18)
at Object.module.(anonymous function) [as .node] (ELECTRON_ASAR.js:169:18)
at Module.load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:602:32)
at tryModuleLoad (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:541:12)
at Function.Module._load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:533:3)
at Module.require (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:640:17)
at require (internal/modules/cjs/helpers.js:20:18)
at load (C:\Users\PC_USER\AppData\Local\Programs\deltachat-desktop\resources\app.asar\node_modules\node-gyp-build\index.js:20:10)
at Object. (C:\Users\PC_USER\AppData\Local\Programs\deltachat-desktop\resources\app.asar\node_modules\deltachat-node\binding.js:1:198)

Does that file exist in there?

Also please see https://github.com/deltachat/deltachat-desktop/issues/1269 .

gerryfrancis on 8 Jan 2020

@missytake @gerryfrancis Can you try out this portable build from this pr https://github.com/deltachat/deltachat-desktop/pull/1349 if this bug still happens?

https://download.delta.chat/desktop/preview/deltachat-desktop-1349.exe
Mirror in case pr got merged:
https://transfer.sh/b8FRj/deltachat-desktop-1349.exe

The portable build will not find your existing configuration so you need to setup again.

Jikstra on 14 Jan 2020

Unfortunately it still doesn't start. (Can't say anything about the portable folder.)

I don't know if it is still the same traceback, as the traceback only appears with setup.exe versions o.0

missytake on 14 Jan 2020

Do you run it in a vm? The portable.exe is heavily compressed so it can take some time until it's unpacked. To know if it's the same traceback would be very helpful :)

Jikstra on 14 Jan 2020

@Jikstra Actually I have not tested Delta Chat on Windows 7, but I think I can grab an appropriate PC system to find out. (So far, Delta Chat runs just fine with Windows 8.1 Pro.) I have thought that the "deltachat.dll" file might not be installed on Windows 7 (properly). I will check that as soon as I can.
@missytake Could your antivirus software block "deltachat.dll"?

gerryfrancis on 15 Jan 2020

I might be having the same issue on a Windows 10 machine. When I try to start Delta, I get the little blue circle for about a second and then nothing. Nothing opens. I'm not sure how to get log files, but willing to help. I'm on a Microsoft Surface:
surface

Axehaft on 16 Jan 2020

@Axehaft Have you installed Delta Chat by running setup.exe before, or are you trying to run the portable release?

gerryfrancis on 16 Jan 2020

I used the setup file: DeltaChat Setup 0.901.0

Axehaft on 16 Jan 2020

@Axehaft And have you installed Delta Chat already but the app itself does not run? Or does the setup itself not start?

gerryfrancis on 16 Jan 2020

Ahhh sorry. I was not clear. I installed Delta Chat. Everything shows that it installed OK. When I click on the shortcut for the app itself, that is when I get the blue circle for a second and then nothing.

Axehaft on 16 Jan 2020

@Axehaft Never mind. Please check the recent log file located in path "C:\Users\YourUserProfile\AppData\Local\DeltaChat\logs". ("YourUserProfile" is a placeholder for the name of your Windows user profile.) If there is a crash, it should be logged there.

gerryfrancis on 16 Jan 2020

A log is created, but it is empty.
log
When I open the file, there is nothing there.

Axehaft on 16 Jan 2020

@Axehaft Please look for entries of the source "Application Error" in the Application log (by running Windows Event Viewer).

gerryfrancis on 16 Jan 2020

Not seeing anything show up there. This is what I'm seeing ... maybe I'm not looking in the right place?
log_001

Axehaft on 16 Jan 2020

@Jikstra

You requested further information on my Windows version, path to .exe, and username in a private chat:

Windows Version 6.1 (Build 7600)
.exe Path: C:\Users\mike\Downloads\DeltaChat0.901.0.exe
Username: mike

missytake on 16 Jan 2020

@Axehaft The place is correct. Actually I am out of ideas... :/

gerryfrancis on 16 Jan 2020

@Axehaft You are running the setup version, not the portable version, right?

Can you open cmd.exe (with the windows+R key combination), and execute AppData\Local\Programs\deltachat-desktop\DeltaChat.exe? This gave me a traceback earlier when I tried it.

missytake on 16 Jan 2020

@missytake Cool! Thanks. Yes - setup version. Looks like the same as what you had:
log_002

Axehaft on 16 Jan 2020

@Axehaft @missytake Please check if the file "deltachat.dll" is present in "%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Programs\deltachat-desktop\resources\app.asar.unpacked\node_modules\deltachat-node\prebuilds\win32-x64". It should be there. If it is not, probably an antivirus software might have scanned the file, detected a false positive, and maybe deleted the file.

gerryfrancis on 16 Jan 2020

deltachat.dll is there, and I don't have antivirus software

missytake on 16 Jan 2020

deletachat.dll is there for me too. I don't have antivirus software and I disabled Windows Defender.

Axehaft on 16 Jan 2020

Thanks for reporting. At least we can rule out antivirus software, and the issue is not limited to Windows 7...

gerryfrancis on 16 Jan 2020

One more thing. The moduel that the log says can't be found seems to be there:
log_003

Axehaft on 16 Jan 2020

@missytake @gerryfrancis Can you try out this portable build from this pr #1349 if this bug still happens?

https://download.delta.chat/desktop/preview/deltachat-desktop-1349.exe
Mirror in case pr got merged:
https://transfer.sh/b8FRj/deltachat-desktop-1349.exe

The portable build will not find your existing configuration so you need to setup again.

After a Windows Update which also fixed my C++ Redistributable issue, this build suddenly works for me. Seems it was a problem with my Windows installation... @Axehaft can you install the latest Windows Updates and try again?

missytake on 17 Jan 2020

Ok. Everything is completely up to date on my Surface, still no go = little blue wheel for a second or so and then nothing. I deleted and reinstalled again as well.

Axehaft on 20 Jan 2020

_A friend installed it on win10 (1903) 64bit and it worked fine for them._

Simon-Laux on 21 Jan 2020

Yes. I works fine on my wifes laptop and my desktop machines, all which are Windows 10. Just not my Microsoft Surface which is Windows 10 Pro. Without logs. there seems to be no way of knowing why it wont work.

Axehaft on 21 Jan 2020

@Axehaft The Surface models feature displays with very high resolutions. Which do you run on your three systems? (The Surface might have the highest one.) (Just a shot in the dark...)

gerryfrancis on 21 Jan 2020

Can you open the exe with cmd.exe or powershell? maybe you get an error in there

Simon-Laux on 21 Jan 2020

@Simon-Laux Already did that. Posted above: https://github.com/deltachat/deltachat-desktop/issues/1323#issuecomment-575218988

Axehaft on 21 Jan 2020

👍1

@Axehaft, can you extract the mentioned app.asar? I think 7zip can do it, otherwise there's an npm module for it too. I would like to know if the node_modules/deltachat-node/prebuilds/win32-x64/node.napi.node is actually in that archive or not.

Jikstra on 21 Jan 2020

@Jikstra I think I understand what you want me to do, but I need a bit more instruction how to do it. I need to open something with 7zip ... what file should I open?

Axehaft on 22 Jan 2020

I just came accross a very similiar error when working on deltachat-node on windows. Basically what can cause this error is that some dependencies (read some .dll files) are missing. One way to figure out WHICH .dll are missing, is this:

Instruction:

locate the node.napi.node file (@Axehaft you have it in the screenshot here https://github.com/deltachat/deltachat-desktop/issues/1323#issuecomment-575234892)
Download the dependencies tool. It lists all .dll files required by a file. You can download it here: https://github.com/lucasg/Dependencies/releases
Extract the .zip and run the DependenciesGui.exe file.
Go to file -> open -> select the node.napi.node file
Report back the output of the tool. We can also do an audio/video call to sort this out :)

Jikstra on 22 Jan 2020

The same behavior occurs when the file "vcruntime140.dll", which is part of the "Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2019 Redistributable", is not present in the path "C:\Windows\System32\".
@Axehaft Could you please check if the file "vcruntime140.dll" exists in "C:\Windows\System32\"?

gerryfrancis on 23 Jan 2020

@Axehaft will close this issue for now, please reopen it if it's still happening to you with the latest desktop version (0.999.1)

Jikstra on 4 Feb 2020

Having the very same problem with installing version 1.1.1 on Windows 10: install works smooth, then the stopping with missing module,

Error: The specified module could not be found.
\\?\C:\Users\xxxxxxx\AppData\Local\Programs\deltachat-desktop\resources\app.asar.unpacked\node_modules\deltachat-node\prebuilds\win32-x64\node.napi.node
    at process.func (electron/js2c/asar.js:138:31)
    at process.func [as dlopen] (electron/js2c/asar.js:138:31)
    at Object.Module._extensions..node (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:828:18)
    at Object.func (electron/js2c/asar.js:138:31)
    at Object.func [as .node] (electron/js2c/asar.js:147:18)
    at Module.load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:645:32)
    at Function.Module._load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:560:12)
    at Module.require (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:685:19)
    at require (internal/modules/cjs/helpers.js:16:16)
    at load (C:\Users\xxxxxxx\AppData\Local\Programs\deltachat-desktop\resources\app.asar\node_modules\node-gyp-build\index.js:21:10)

Could not determine from the comments above how to actively solve this.
Did I miss some prerequisites which need to be installed?

Tried the previews 1495 and 1472 - there not even the install process seems to start. :-(
The portable version does nothing - started from a cmd shell, just make HDD flash for some seconds and the cmd prompt is back.

TheOtherDoctor on 25 Mar 2020

Do you have a 32 or 64bit system?

Am 25. März 2020 02:16:17 MEZ schrieb TheOtherDoctor notifications@github.com:

Having the very same problem with installing version 1.1.1 on Windows
10: install works smooth, then the stopping with missing module,
Error: The specified module could not be found.
\\?\C:\Users\xxxxxxx\AppData\Local\Programs\deltachat-desktop\resources\app.asar.unpacked\node_modules\deltachat-node\prebuilds\win32-x64\node.napi.node
   at process.func (electron/js2c/asar.js:138:31)
   at process.func [as dlopen] (electron/js2c/asar.js:138:31)
at Object.Module._extensions..node
(internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:828:18)
   at Object.func (electron/js2c/asar.js:138:31)
   at Object.func [as .node] (electron/js2c/asar.js:147:18)
   at Module.load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:645:32)
   at Function.Module._load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:560:12)
   at Module.require (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:685:19)
   at require (internal/modules/cjs/helpers.js:16:16)
at load
(C:\Users\xxxxxxx\AppData\Local\Programs\deltachat-desktop\resources\app.asar\node_modules\node-gyp-build\index.js:21:10)
Could not determine from the comments above how to actively solve this.

Did I miss some prerequisites which need to be installed?

Tried the previews 1495 and 1472 - there not even the install process
seems to start. :-(
Did not try the portable version yet.

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Reply to this email directly or view it on GitHub:
https://github.com/deltachat/deltachat-desktop/issues/1323#issuecomment-603586644

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Simon-Laux on 25 Mar 2020

64bit. Win 10 home, Version 1909, Build 18363.720, on a Lenovo T400.
No devel tools or the like installed, as I am preparing a rollout for a non-techie person.

TheOtherDoctor on 25 Mar 2020

I installed the mentioned Dependencies tool, opened the file - and cannot understand what I see. :-(

The vcruntime, which has also been mentioned above, "vcruntime140.dll" exists in "C:\Windows\System32", is called vcruntime140_clr0400.dll on my system.

Anything else I could do?

TheOtherDoctor on 25 Mar 2020

@TheOtherDoctor, can you you give us a screenshot from the output of the dependencies tool? :)

Jikstra on 29 Mar 2020

So this is the file I throw into the DepTool...
DepTool_filepick
...and this is what I see then:
DepTool_filedeps

As mentioned before, the vcruntime has a different name, I guess that means it does not match the requirement and I'd have to install some vc_redist separately?
Thus I just installed the latest from https://support.microsoft.com/de-de/help/2977003/the-latest-supported-visual-c-downloads and the DeltaChat desktop GUI starts, great. Should have come that that conclusion earlier. ;-)

Remaining question: I have to assert this manually whenever I install the desktop app on a Win10 PC, or should that have been handled during installation?

TheOtherDoctor on 31 Mar 2020

As mentioned before, the vcruntime has a different name, I guess that means it does not match the requirement and I'd have to install some vc_redist separately?

I don't know too much about windows, but I guess this is the problem. We need to try it out and see if it helps. If it helps it's maybe possible to bundle that .dll with deltachat-desktop, but that would be a next step.

Remaining question: I have to assert this manually whenever I install the desktop app on a Win10 PC, or should that have been handled during installation?

I know that it's sometimes possible to just put the .dll next to the .exe (maybe also next to the .node file) and then it magically finds it. But it could be possible that there will be legal problems with this and we would somehow need to make sure that the visual c runtime is getting installed along deltachat desktop.

Thank you very much for figuring this out!

Jikstra on 1 Apr 2020

You're welcome - and thanks a lot for all _your_ work!
About making the app install smoother on Windows (which I have no significant idea about, as a devel platform), before investing work into fixing this specific issue, I'd propose to consider making any such error visible for the user.
Even something as simple as some try/catch-like post-fail splash screen "app failed to start, for troubleshooting please have a look into https://... (README) ..." would be already way better than silently dying.

TheOtherDoctor on 1 Apr 2020

👍1

IMHO, that explains why Delta Chat runs out of the box on many Windows systems. Nevertheless, the installer of Delta Chat should include Visual C++ Runtime from Microsoft, and check whether it is necessary to install it. Windows does not feature Visual C++ Runtime by default.

gerryfrancis on 2 Apr 2020

We just got another user who remotely helped a friend set up DC on windows -- they had to install the Visual C++ runtime as well.

hpk42 on 19 Apr 2020

Hello All. I just want to add that I also installed the Visual C++ Runtime from Microsoft ... and now DC starts and runs well on my Surface.

Axehaft on 11 May 2020

Hey folks, I have a portable version for you to test https://testrun.org/DeltaChat%201.4.0.testing.exe
It works for me on my windows vm, but I want to know if it works for you too.

Simon-Laux on 23 Jun 2020

@Simon-Laux Edit: Thanks, please forget my previous message about ffmpeg.dll, I had not enough disk space. ;) Now it works! I will do some tests with and without pre-installed VC runtime, and will post my results later on.

gerryfrancis on 23 Jun 2020

@Simon-Laux While this version works fine on my Windows system, I wanted to test the prior version 1.3.4 (without Visual C++ runtime) to see whether it works, too, without the runtime. For this purpose, I uninstalled Visual C++ runtime 2017, 2015, and 2013 - but 1.3.4 still works fine! What am I doing wrong??

gerryfrancis on 23 Jun 2020

@Simon-Laux It seems some other software product(s) want(s) to keep the runtime dll files on my Windows system. (I have found them in the Windows system folders, although I officially uninstalled these runtimes.) Since I do not have another system I could test the new version on, I am afraid to say that I cannot continue to check, sorry for that. :(

gerryfrancis on 23 Jun 2020

@gerryfrancis no problem.

Simon-Laux on 23 Jun 2020