Barry -- I have been using GNUCash windows for many years. What you are
describing is NOT a GNUCash issue. This behavior is strictly a windows
and/or anti-virus issue.
First -- you need to understand how anti-virus works. It does things
based upon patterns. It sees open source and many times says -- hmm...
this does not look like commercial software, it downloads an .exe file
-- and write files all over. Viruses do the same thing. I think this
is a virus so I am going to quarantine it.
It does not matter if you had it on your system before -- anti-virus
looks at each transaction as one specific action in time. Therefore -
unless you specifically tell anti-virus that it is OK -- there is a
chance (not always - but definitely a chance) that it has flagged it in
it's internal engine and said -- GNUcash is suspicious and therefore you
cannot access it and I will not let it run. And once it has done this
-- you have to get around it because if you don't anti-virus is stubborn
and does not forget it and will quarantine indefinitely.
So -- how to get around this? Depends on the anti-virus software you
are using. I use Malwarebytes and this happened specifically to me with
Libre Office. I could install the program but it would ONLY let me read
only files - I could not save or update any files. I thought I was
going crazy. Come to find out that I had a power blip and Libre office
was open when it happened and attempted to write several times to my
disk. Malwarebytes flagged this behavior like it was a virus and
quarantined it. EVEN THOUGH I HAD IT RUNNING ON MY SYSTEM FOR YEARS. I
was able to go into Malwarebytes and tell it that Libre office was OK.
Once I did that - everything was fine.
My suspicion is this situation is similar to yours. Somehow, someway,
your anti-virus has flagged GNUCash as a bad actor and will not let you
access it. It does not matter where it is located - you will not get to
it as long as your anti-virus has it on its list as a bad actor. My
recommendation -- either deactivate your anti-virus (which is only
temporary and not a good long term solution) OR -- find out how your
anti-virus quarantines software modules and undo it. Whitelist the
program - contact your anti-virus software vendor OR do like I did --
use Copilot or Chat GPT to find out how to get around it. There is
usually a place where you can tell the anti-virus that GNUCash is ok.
That is what I did -- and it worked.
Ken
PS -- de-installing and re-installed the anti-virus software DOES NOT
work either. I tried to do that with Malwarebytes and it still had
Libre office flagged as bad. Once flagged, it cannot be undone without
specifically telling the anti-virus that the software is OK. This is
essentially how anti-virus works because if it did not - viruses would
be able to get around them.
------ Original Message ------
From "barrym via gnucash-user" <[email protected]>
To [email protected]
Cc [email protected]
Date 1/4/2026 4:16:09 AM
Subject Re: [GNC] Gnucash download insufficient permissions
Attached the message.
On 02/01/2026 13:57, barrym wrote:
Sorry Adrian (and the list), I didn't send to 'reply list' You are correct that
other users can help....
OK, I'll take your advice and try with another browser. I have been long enough
in the software business to remember when Google started!! I never used it then
and don't know if I can avoid it, too much nagging to spend money....
I have messaged Avast to see whether I can 'suspend' it and see if that works.
I cannot understand why I am unable to install a new version, the app
disappeared, the GNU files are still there, but I cannot get at them, a bit of
a pain as I am at yearend.....
But... using Firefox On 01/01/2026 19:28, Adrien Monteleone wrote:
That is the same message I got before the Vivaldi message came up.
Barry
Barrym,
You've been on this list a long time. Please remember to reply to the list or
reply-all. I'm copying your message here as someone might be able to help
further.
-----
I don't use Vivaldi regularly, but do have it installed on my Mac.
I tested using it on SourceForge and something is wrong with their pages (even
the direct ones) as they simply drop into an infinite re-loading loop for me.
(as does the green download counter-wheel icon)
I was able to successfully download from GitHub using Vivaldi without incident.
My guess on the error message you sent a screenshot of, is that you are trying
to download to a location that you don't have permission to save to. If you are
not saving the file to your Downloads folder, try that. If you already are, I'm
not sure what is wrong but it seems your Windows user permissions are a mess.
First, I'd try with a different browser such as Edge or Firefox. (I can also
attest that Firefox works for me)
If those don't work, or give the same error, then create another Windows user
and see if that works.
Regards,
Adrien
On 1/1/26 7:43 AM, barrym wrote:
I got the 24/12 message and this is the reaction when I tried to install the
.exe file using the Github option.
<nVhWp9t4C0RM0zaa.png>
It gave the path..... my 'downloads' the date is [presumably] the date I first
tried to install it
There was more but Vivaldi (my browser) overwrote it with the message above.
Sorry for the delay in delivering the screenshot.
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