Electrum 3.3.8 is not opening on Windows 10

[MR_Roken]

Hello. I can not open Electrum 3.3.8 on my Windows 10 anymore!

I uninstalled and installed Electrum again, many times, but it seems like nothing work.

On Windows Task Manager I can see "Electrum 3.3.8" running on the background but the program never opens.

Even if I kill this task and try to open Electrum.exe again, the software never start.


I tried Windows Installer, Standalone executable and even old Electrum releases but nothing worked.


The Electrum log file wrote this error:
"INFO | daemon | failed to connect to JSON-RPC server: unexpected EOF while parsing (<unknown>, line 0)"


I used Electrum for many years, it never happened before.


What should I do?

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[Rath_]

I uninstalled and installed Electrum again, many times, but it seems like nothing work.

Try uninstalling Electrum and moving 'Electrum' folder located in 'C:\Users\Username\AppData\Roaming\Electrum' to your desktop. Don't delete it because your wallet file is inside that folder. Try reinstalling Electrum once you do it. Both standard and standalone versions use that directory. The portable version saves additional data in the same folder as the executable so you can try running it as well.

[AB de Royse777]

Try uninstalling Electrum and moving 'Electrum' folder located in 'C:\Users\Username\AppData\Roaming\Electrum' to your desktop.

I would say to go to this directory:

C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\Electrum\wallets

[Replace the USERNAME with your PC username]

And copy all the files that you (MR_Roken) have in a safe place. Then do whatever you want to do. Those files are your wallet files so far you have created and the only way for you to get those wallets are these files unless you have the pass phrases of the wallets you have.

[MR_Roken]

Hello BitCryptex,

Thanks for trying to help us.

I did the procedure you described, unfortunately it didn't worked.

I still have the same issue I described.

[MR_Roken]

Hello Royse777,

I afraid you did not understand the problem here.

I have all data backup, seed backup, password backup, etc. This is not the problem.

As I described on this post, the problem is that Windows 10 is unable to open Electrum software.

What use does the password and wallet data has if you are unable to start any Electrum software?

Did you understand now?

[AB de Royse777]

Did you understand now?

I understood your issue and really do not know how to resolve it but my suggestion was just in case you have not done that practice. Good thing is that you have your seeds backed up. Your wallets are safe in this case.

I hope someone will find a solution for you.

What use does the password and wallet data has if you are unable to start any Electrum software?

As long as you have the information backed up, you can restore the wallets in any other PC.

Note: I am too using win10 but never have had this issue.

[RapTarX]

Probably off topic-
Can you confirm you are using the authenticate Electrum wallet? If you have followed what BitCryptex said and still no luck, then I guess probably your wallet source code is not correct. Have you updated your wallet recently? If so, from where?

[DireWolfM14]

I seem to recall having an issue with this once upon a time.  First thing to do is back up your wallet files, and save them some place safe.  Then try uninstall, restart the PC, then reinstall.  That should work.  Restore your wallet files once you confirm it's working again.

[MR_Roken]

RapTarX,

Yes, I´m sure about that.

[MR_Roken]

DireWolfM14,

I tried it many times. It not worked too.

[HCP]

It might be a permissions issue stopping it from starting up properly. Have you tried running Electrum as an Administrator?

[dkbit98]

If you are doing automatic windows updates  (that is something I don't advise anyone doing)  it is possible that permissions are changed or updated.
Often times new win updates screw a lot of things in OS, so it is better to wait and update them later manually.
Do manual updates, and try to tun with admin rights, like HCP suggested.

[MR_Roken]

My Windows 10 OS is updated. I schedule my updates.

And yes, I run Electrum with admin rights. Unfortunately that's not the problem.

[BitMaxz]

DireWolfM14,

I tried it many times. It not worked too.

Maybe your windows defender blocking your Electrum from opening.

How about trying to disable the windows defender first and check if the Electrum is running or not.
I have an old issue with my AV before but after I exclude the Electrum folder from scanning my Electrum wallet it fixed my issue.

So try to disable windows defender first to try and then make sure that Electrum is not running on the background.

Just in case if it doesn't work try to stay turn off the AV/windows defender then uninstall and reinstall the Electrum then test it again while the AV is turned off.

[MR_Roken]

Yes, I tried it too.  Even with all AV disabled the problem still occurs.



Well, I opened an issue for the Electrum´s team. I´m afraid there is no further action we can do in that so specific case.

Thank you for all contributions.

[bL4nkcode]

I see you made lots of work to be able to use the wallet. But maybe you should open a thread on their github issues page as well https://github.com/spesmilo/electrum/issues

I encountered an issue same like this before, I all need was backup the wallet files, delete the whole electrum folder, uninstall the app on Programs and features, download and install the latest version and it works, same as I'm using win 10.

[BitMaxz]

~snip~

Have you tried to exclude the Electrum folder? Both the Electrum folder from your program files and AppData should be excluded from the windows defender.

Just try to follow this how-to exclude the Electrum folder both in program files and AppData from here Guide to Exclude files/folder from Windows Defender

Let's see if it still doesn't work.



Let me also ask if what version of your OS?
Are you using an optimized OS and downloaded from an unknown source?
Is it 64 or 32 bit?

[o_e_l_e_o]

delete the whole electrum folder

Yeah, I've read about issues in the past with files left behind after uninstalling preventing or corrupting future installs. Once your wallet files are backed up, uninstall Electrum, and entirely delete the Electrum folder from both AppData\Roaming as well as anything left behind from wherever you installed Electrum (Program Files is the default location on Windows). Once everything is deleted, restart and then install again. I'd also re-download the installer to make sure it wasn't corrupted during download.

The Electrum log file wrote this error:
"INFO | daemon | failed to connect to JSON-RPC server: unexpected EOF while parsing (<unknown>, line 0)"

Many Electrum logs will report a failure to connect to JSON-RPC servers for a variety of reasons but still work just fine. This error shouldn't stop your client from opening. Can you post your full logs?

[HCP]

I'm also wondering if there might be an issue with the wallet file that is causing Electrum to hang during startup...

@MR_Roken, did you try backing up your wallet file (and/or making sure you have your seed mnemonic) and then deleting it... Then trying to open Electrum? (Note: uninstalling Electrum does NOT delete your wallet file, you'll need to manually delete it)

[idc4000]

Hey,

try running the Program Compatibility troubleshooter, worked for me

[MR_Roken]

Hello everyone,

Answering previous questions:

- Like I said before I tried many times to install Electrum using a brand new fresh directory on Appdata. It does not work on that case.

- Complete log file was forwarded to Electrum technical team.

- Program Compatibility troubleshooter of Windows does not work too.

- The command "python -V" does not work. But I could check my Python version from Electrum log file.  Python version: 3.6.8.  So it´s higher than 3.6.


Like I said before it´s a very specific Windows problem and I forwarded that issue to Electrum´s technical team already.  I didn't know how to get properly help, so that's why I opened this topic here.

Unfortunately, I´m afraid there is no further action we can do here in that so specific case.


Thank you for all contributions.

[joniboini]

- Complete log file was forwarded to Electrum technical team.

Could you share it here too? After removing the sensitive/privacy-related parts of course.

[AB de Royse777]

Thank you for all contributions.

Very sad to know that even after a week, you were not able to solve this issue yet! I already read some of the responses and hopefully I have not missed much but I did not see anyone to ask you to re-install your windows. Have you tried to re-installing a fresh copy of the OS in your system?

For me it's not much a hard work and in most of the cases when I have much issue with any software then sometimes this fresh installation of OS helps.

[Lucius]

Have you tried to re-installing a fresh copy of the OS in your system?

Definitely the best advice that can be given at the moment, the problem seems to be in the operating system, not in Electrum itself. If there is some real problem on the W10 -> Electrum 3.3.8 then there would be a lot more cases like this.

I agree, but what will you do now that Electrum can't run on your Windows 10?

The mobile version can always help as a transitional alternative, although not as feature-rich as the desktop version, I personally use it occasionally on my Android phone and have no complaints. The only problem is, as always, security - especially if it's a significant amount of coins.

[Kakmakr]

Unfortunately, I´m afraid there is no further action we can do here in that so specific case.

I agree, but what will you do now that Electrum can't run on your Windows 10? If you haven't thought about it, how about install Linux OS along with Windows 10 or use another computer/laptop?

I had something similar a while ago and I want to agree with #ETFbitcoin on having to re-install the Operating system. I also tried to re-install the latest Electrum version without any success. There are obviously some file dependencies with the Windows 10 Operating system files that might be corrupted.

I also had problems with Chrome Apps and my Ledger Nano, so I decided to have a clean start and to re-install the whole Operating system and it worked 100% for me. The synchronization with the Electrum servers are also much faster now, so I am very glad that I did it.

I know it might not be the most convenient solution, because you cannot simply re-install everything when something goes wrong with one application, but looking at the whole thread.. it looks like you tried everything else. 

A buddy of mine had something similar, but he found out that the executable that he downloaded got corrupted and he then downloaded a fresh copy from the site and it worked fine. Are you using the same file you downloaded or did you try downloading it again from the site? <His Anti-virus also had issues with the file, but he stopped it and then installed the wallet and then activated it again after the install.>

[nc50lc]

I'm currently experiencing this exact issue on one of my Windows 10 machines, 3.3.8 was working before I've changed the installed GPU.

It had been working without issues when the installed GPU was an NVIDIA Card, then I upgraded to a later model but an AMD card thus uninstalled and changed the drivers.
Now everytime I launch Electrum (installer, stand-alone or portable), it will only linger in the task manager for a while but wont launch at all.

The workaround for me is to use Python to launch the "releases" downloaded directly from Github.
I still haven't tried switching the GPUs back (it's not my priority anyways since it only hodl my watch-only wallets).

[DireWolfM14]

@nc50lc Good point, the OP may have changed some hardware a while back, and didn't connect the issue with Electrum as possibly related.

Sort of off topic and sort of not; I've never had anything but issues when switching brands of GPUs without a complete nuke and reinstall of the OS.  Supposedly if you plug the old GPU back in, uninstall the driver and any ancillary software, shut down, and then plug in the new one, things might work right.  I've never been so lucky.  My issues are usually CAD software related.  YMMV.

A complete overhaul of the OS couldn't hurt the OP's chances of fixing his issue.  A bit extreme, I know.

[nc50lc]

The real problem when switching GPU (e.g. AMD to Nvidia and vice verse) is non-clean driver uninstall and wrong steps (e.g. uninstall and install without restart PC).

With my system "uncleaned" from NVIDIA Drivers, AMD Adrenaline Driver wont continue past to "Checking System Compatibility" at all.
Now that it's installed (by cleaning old display drivers) I have double-checked for old unused/hidden Nvidia drivers and found none.

What's weird is 3.3.8 is launching directly through Python 3.8 and the "Video Device" in the Preferences is blank.

It could be the GPU, drivers or something else I've done along the way.
I'll just tell OP if I found a solution (if he's still active); for now, he can just use my "workaround": link to procedure.
Just replace #2 with the official release version: https://github.com/spesmilo/electrum/releases

[HCP]

What's weird is 3.3.8 is launching directly through Python 3.8 and the "Video Device" in the Preferences is blank.

It's not that weird... that "video device" is for webcams and such for scanning QR Codes... it's nothing to do with your display adapter

Also, you might want to check your Windows Updates and see what updates, if any, were installed recently (about the time you changed the display adapter/driver). It sounds like a Windows Update has broken something. Possibly something is interfering with the libraries used in "pre-compiled" binaries, but the raw python is unaffected.

Also, have you checked the Event Viewer for any logs?

[nc50lc]

Windows update is disabled.
But I managed to enable the log since its using the same config file with the one installed through python.

I gave up and posted a new issue: https://github.com/spesmilo/electrum/issues/5974

The info regarding my tests and log about the error are there.

[BitMaxz]

Windows update is disabled.
But I managed to enable the log since its using the same config file with the one installed through python.

I gave up and posted a new issue: https://github.com/spesmilo/electrum/issues/5974

The info regarding my tests and log about the error are there.

Can you try this?

Install and use the DDU(Display Driver Uninstaller) to fully remove the driver from your PC and make sure you are not connected to the internet.

- Open DDU
- Select AMD

- Choose the Clean and restart after that install the driver again then test it again.

Let see if it will work.