We have been using IDE 2.3.4 since it was released but after one of the many windows updates we have all been receiving, the IDE will not load and shows the following error message;
loading library_index.tar.bzz
No amount of restarts get past this. I even uninstalled the IDE and reinstalled using a fresh download.
The only work around has been to go back to zip version 2.2.1. As it uploads, it updates to 2.3.4 and everything works foe days until the next windows update.
Thank You. I have also read about the past occurrences involving the serial monitor. However the version of 2.3.4 was one I had been using without this problem up until the last forced Windows 11 Update.
As i said in my original post, Even uninstalling and downloading from Arduino solves this it always hangs on the library index. The Serial Monitor is NOT on.
Also again, I have saved a few earlier versions of the .zip installs just in case. If I uninstall the erroring 2.3.4, them attempt to load 2.2.1 from zip, I get the update message to install 2.3.4. If I do that all will run fine without the library index problem. ????
I fear it may be one more bug of many in the windows update.
Open the Arduino IDE installation folder. ⓘ The default installation location is at one of the following paths:
C:\Program Files\Arduino IDE
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Programs\Arduino IDE
(where <username> is your Windows username) If looking for it with your file manager or command line, note that the AppData folder is hidden by default. On Windows "File Explorer", you can make it visible by opening the "View" menu, then checking the box next to "☐ Hidden items".
In the folder listing of the Arduino IDE installation folder, hold the Shift key while clicking the right hand button on the mouse.
A context menu will open.
Select "Open PowerShell window here" from the menu.
Windows PowerShell will now open with the current directory set to the Arduino IDE installation folder.
Type the following command:
& ".\Arduino IDE"
Press the Enter key.
Debug output should now be printed to the PowerShell window as Arduino IDE starts.
Wait for the library index download failure to occur.
Switch back to the PowerShell window.
Press the Ctrl+Shift+A keyboard shortcut.
This will select all the text in the PowerShell window.
Press the Ctrl+C keyboard shortcut.
This will copy the contents of the PowerShell window to the clipboard.
Open a forum reply here by clicking the "Reply" button.
Click the <CODE/> icon on the post composer toolbar.
This will add the forum's code block markup (```) to your reply to make sure the error messages are correctly formatted.
Note: This problem did not resolve no matter how many times I uninstalled and reinstalled the IDE.
it would occur if the serial monitor was on or off. The startup hanging at the library index.
My past practice was to use the .zip versions. but for a while after 2.3.0 that wasn't possible.
Per above, I could start up from a .zip package for either 2.2.1 or 2.3.0. I would be prompted to update.
Everything would work fine until the computer was shut down or I exited the IDE.
The hang would occur on start up unless I started with a .zip package and updated again. ????
I found a 2.3.4 .zip package on github. I am now running htis from D: drive without the problem.
To double check, I reinstalled from the Arduino site and the problem returned.
I am now running the .zip installed version from github.
All of this has been in the last 2 weeks.
Getting it from GitHub is fine as long as it is the official arduino/arduino-ide repository:
You should use caution if you find copies of Arduino IDE hosted on other repositories, just like with any files you find at non-authoritative sources on the Internet.
By "I reinstalled from the Arduino site", do you mean you ran the .exe installer that is obtained by clicking the "Windows Win 10 and newer, 64 bits" download link on the "Software" page of arduino.cc?
If so, the only relevant difference I can think of between the two is that you likely used the default installation location when you used the installer version of Arduino IDE:
If the "Only for me (<username>)" option was selected in the installer dialog:
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Programs\Arduino IDE
(where <username> is your Windows username)
If the "Anyone who uses this computer (all users)" option was selected:
C:\Program Files\Arduino IDE
Windows imposes special restrictions on these paths when compared to other paths such as your D: drive. So it is possible that the reason why the ZIP package of Arduino IDE works for you, but not the installer package is simply that the two installations are in different locations, not anything specific to the two packages.
It is possible that you are running two different copies of Arduino IDE. When the IDE auto-updates, it installs to C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Programs\Arduino IDE, then runs the IDE from that installed location. But you might have a shortcut to a different copy of the IDE at a different location on your computer, and so when you start the IDE from that shortcut it runs a different installation of the IDE than the one that was running after you performed the update.
Again, security restrictions on the installation paths might result in different behavior between the two copies of Arduino IDE.
I am unable to recreate the library index issue. I had uninstalled all 2.3.4 .exe from my user programs and had been running the .zip package I downloaded from github.
I returned to the Arduino website and was able to download the current Windows 10 and newer 64 bit version. It has worked for a few days now. I have gone from complete power down and have also had an additional Windows 11 update. Things seem to have worked out. To respond to you last concern, when I uninstalled, I also deleted all shortcuts from the Start Menu, the Task Bar, and the Home Page before reinstalling the .zip from github. Same procedure this time before downloading from the website.
Not sure what the problem was. But I really appreciate you following up. Just happy to keep working without the interrupts!!
If looking for it with your file manager or command line, note that the 