"File Access Denied" or similar error after client update
Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2013 5:49 pm
One of the features of the new PowerChurch Online client for Windows is an auto-updater. Whenever we update client files, they are pushed down from the server to you automatically. This is a Windows-only feature at this time, but hopefully that changes in the future.
Unfortunately, there is a problem in certain circumstances with this updater. If you are using a single shared computer with multiple user accounts to access PowerChurch Online, when the updater runs, the files seem to only be available for that user and everyone else is locked out with a "File Access Denied" or a similar message telling you that you don't have permissions to access that file. We just installed some updates to our servers, and that means new client files have been pushed down to match, so some of you may be seeing this error.
From our research, this seems to be due to a file ownership issue stemming from the fact that the updates get downloaded to that specific user's temp directory, then copied over into the client directory the next time the client is opened. We've got a ticket open with our software vendor, and hopefully they can get this addressed soon.
To fix this, you need to update the ownership of these files. You'll need to log into Windows under an administrator user account and perform the following steps. These directions are for Windows 7, but should be similar for any version of Windows. Make sure you're an admin user or these options may not be available at all.
1 ) Go through Windows Explorer (click on 'Computer' from the start menu) to C:\Program Files\IDS LLC\IDS\ (if you're using a 64-bit Windows computer, that'll be "Program Files (x86)" instead)
2 ) Right click on the "client" directory and select "properties"
3 ) Click the 'Security' tab on the properties window
4 ) Click the 'Advanced' button near the bottom of the security tab
5 ) Click the 'Owner' tab on the advanced security window
6 ) Click the 'Edit' button near the bottom of the owner tab
7 ) Click 'Other users or groups' from the bottom of that window
8 ) Type in as the new owner, 'Everyone' (without the quotes)
9 ) Click 'Ok' until you're back to the explorer windows which you can now close
10 ) The PowerChurch Online client should work as expected now
Unfortunately, there is a problem in certain circumstances with this updater. If you are using a single shared computer with multiple user accounts to access PowerChurch Online, when the updater runs, the files seem to only be available for that user and everyone else is locked out with a "File Access Denied" or a similar message telling you that you don't have permissions to access that file. We just installed some updates to our servers, and that means new client files have been pushed down to match, so some of you may be seeing this error.
From our research, this seems to be due to a file ownership issue stemming from the fact that the updates get downloaded to that specific user's temp directory, then copied over into the client directory the next time the client is opened. We've got a ticket open with our software vendor, and hopefully they can get this addressed soon.
To fix this, you need to update the ownership of these files. You'll need to log into Windows under an administrator user account and perform the following steps. These directions are for Windows 7, but should be similar for any version of Windows. Make sure you're an admin user or these options may not be available at all.
1 ) Go through Windows Explorer (click on 'Computer' from the start menu) to C:\Program Files\IDS LLC\IDS\ (if you're using a 64-bit Windows computer, that'll be "Program Files (x86)" instead)
2 ) Right click on the "client" directory and select "properties"
3 ) Click the 'Security' tab on the properties window
4 ) Click the 'Advanced' button near the bottom of the security tab
5 ) Click the 'Owner' tab on the advanced security window
6 ) Click the 'Edit' button near the bottom of the owner tab
7 ) Click 'Other users or groups' from the bottom of that window
8 ) Type in as the new owner, 'Everyone' (without the quotes)
9 ) Click 'Ok' until you're back to the explorer windows which you can now close
10 ) The PowerChurch Online client should work as expected now