housebot crash and reinstall failure

[Steve Horn]

The HB server crashed early this morning and will not restart. Tried cold booting the box (no help), and reinstalling HB server 3.56 (twice). Each time I get the same message after the install:

Unable to execute file:
C:|Program FIles (x86)Housebot\HousebotServer.exe
Create Process failed; code 740
The requested operation required elevation.

then an OK click closes that window.

Noting HB related appears in process explorer
i'm clueless

[Steve Horn]

I gave up trying to get HB to run. Decided to replace the box altogether with a WIN11 box with more HP, ram, SSD etc. got it all set up and functioning. Downloaded and installed HB, copied over my existing config directory and a few other bits. Launched HB and now I get:
“Please run this program from the Administrator account so it can set up your license. Once the license is set up you can run it from any account”
I got this when logged in to the PC using my MS account, shown ans admin. Created a “local” account, also shown as admin, and got the same message.
Running and using HB has become a rabbit hole for me. What am I doing wrong?

[Steve Horn]

[crickets]
Am I the only one left here? If so, Scott or someone should shut down the site's download option and support(?) forum. I still cannot get a new (unlicensed trial version) version to install and run on a new Win11 box. My previous (see above) attempt was to download a licensed version, since I've been a licensed user since forever. That attempt was met with the message from somewhere (MS, Windows, HB?) that seemed to say I needed to be an Admin on Win11. Which I am... as far as i can tell.
If this is representative of any new user's experience, then what's the point of the Housebot software, the site and forum? Turn off the lights and shut the door.

[ScottBot]

Steve,

Yeah it's pretty quiet these days, but HouseBot is still alive. I have it running on two different Windows 11 boxes without an issue.

Is it a clean install Windows 11, and just using the defaults in HouseBot setup? Seems like there must be something out of the ordinary that is killing it.

I would recommend installing with the typical installation and the default config to see if that works.

[Steve Horn]

Well, at least youre alive. The thought crossed my mind.
It’s a new Win11 box. My first attempt was to install the HB version for a previous licensed owner (me) -i.e. a HB software version upgrade. Used a full install - all HB bells and whistles like i usually did on the old Win10 box. I got the “Please run this program from the Administrator account so it can set up your license. Once the license is set up, you can run it from any account” message. As far as I could/can tell, I AM the administrator. So i uninstalled it using the HB uninstall exe and approached it as a new/trial user. Downloaded the trial edition and got the same message. (In both attempts, I used/accepted the default Config.) Does that message come from HB or is that a generic Windows 11?
I will try a vanilla install.

[Steve Horn]

uninstalled it, then reinstalled - the "typical" version -. Same result. See above message. Is there anything in the "typical" load that would present this message? I can try a bare bones approach - whittle it down to virtually nothing functional. But that defeats the purpose, doesn't it?

[Steve Horn]

Scott, doing a search of this “Please run this program…” message indicates that it is a Windows message. According to the explanation/replies on the MS site, the “causes” could be malware. This cannot be the case on the new Win11 box, AFAIK. Several other suggestions point to using a “built in” admin account. Looking into that quickly becomes a rabbit hole. I may try to search some more, but bottom line its beyond the scope of HB.
So I've about concluded that I need to take the box to a Windows wizard for resolution, something I've NEVER done. Some place like GeekSquad, UbreakIfix, or similar. Any thoughts?

[ScottBot]

Steve,

It sounds like two issues (install issue and older crash). I suppose it's possible that they could be related, but I would guess they are separate.

My win11 machine has HouseBot installed and running from a local user admin account. The system UAC is set to the default (notify when apps try to make changes to my computer".

Another thing you could try is installing an older version to see if it makes a difference. Here's a link to version 3.55.

[Steve Horn]

3.55 didnt work either. same result.

[ScottBot]

Steve,

I just installed the latest version of Windows 11 in a VM and found a solution to your installation issue.

Try this:

1. Right mouse click on the HouseBot shortcut (or on the application if running from the "\Program Files (x86)\HouseBot" directory)
2. Select Properties
3. Select Advanced...
4. Click the 'Run as administrator' checkbox.
5. OK out of the dialogs and start HouseBot.

[Steve Horn]

That worked!. I first tried those steps on the Win10 box that was the production box until all this started). Surprisingly (or not), that did not work. (Although, I vaguely recall having to do that YEARS ago.) But it worked fine on the Win11 box, installing all the HB bells and whistles. I was even able to find and enter my license key.
Thanks so much for your help!

[ScottBot]

Great News!

Hopefully the odd crashes you were seeing on the old box won't be the next problem.