Failed Install - Solution (Work Around at Least)

[StrongEagle]

I got the error message that Affinity could not be installed (insufficient privileges).  Running as admin made no difference.

So, I looked at the folder tree that the installer created.  At the bottom of the tree is "Designer".  Somehow, this folder has been installed so that even a computer admin cannot access this folder, not even read permissions.  This is apparently why the install fails... the folder is inaccessible except to some unknown owner that we cannot reveal.

The solution is to create a new directory under Program Files/Affinity (I used "Des 2").  When I installed to the directory I made, everything worked fine, and I've had no usage issues since.

 

Edited January 6, 2022 by StrongEagle

[StrongEagle]

I conclude that this problem is an installer bug and it's quite bizarre.  This folder, Designer, is impervious to attempts to take ownership, delete it, etc.

Now, it is true that way back when, about Jan, 2020, I did install a trial version of Affinity, started it once or twice but never bought a key.  So, this folder may have been created way back when, because...

When I first ran the installer for the version I just bought, I received a notice saying that there was a version update to be downloaded.  But this update failed with insufficient privileges, All other attempts at install made no mention of updates and simply failed at install.

Hope someone at Affinity takes a look at this because this is a folder that I cannot delete.  I may have to resort to more radical methods to get it to go away, and, this folder, in this condition, shouldn't be there anyway.

 

Edited January 6, 2022 by StrongEagle

[Leigh]

This isn't a common occurrence with our installer but I've seen it pop up before. If you haven't restarted your machine, I would try that first. If you've already done that, please try the steps listed in this post on the Microsoft Support might allow you to take ownership of the folder and delete it: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/i-am-denied-access-to-the-folders-and-files-on-my/f047be2e-07bf-42aa-a644-8eb81f61694a

What happens if you try takeown /F /A "C:\Program Files\Affinity\Designer" ? If that fails you could try booting into Safe mode and try from there.