Paratext won't open after update 8.0.100.69 (Can't load ICU library)

Question

There are at least three users who can’t open Paratext after updating to 8.0.100.69. The error message says that it can’t load an ICU Library, and then that a file (unknown) is locked.

I am alerting the developers, but in the meantime, I will see if downgrading to the previous version will work.

Answer 1

Please install Paratext from the website. Version 69 has a problem and was already fixed. (Actually, the problem is that you have an old version of Fieldworks installed. If you upgrade that, even version 69 will work).
http://pt8.paratext.org/download/currentversion/
Download the current version, and it will automatically update to version 8.0.100.71
If the automatic update doesn’t work, there is a link on the page above to download the patch file.

Do not keep using 8.0.75 as that is an old beta version!

Answer 2

There are 870+ users using 8.0.100.69 so it certainly isn’t a general problem. Could it be that their antivirus is quarantining some files during install or when for the first time?

Comments

One user with the .69 update problem sent in an error report (17426) with this image…

error message after an update 8-23-2018.PNG865×440 43.7 KB

Answer 3

Do the users who see these error messages have FW installed? (if so what version)

Comments

The user I mentioned having trouble with the update has FW 8.1.041872 installed.

Answer 4

Looks like PT won’t startup when FW 8.1 is installed. When FW 8.3 is install it works.
I guess this is because FW 8.1 uses icu50 - while FW 8.3 uses icu54.

PT 8.0 used to only look for icu54 only, then recently a change was made to kind of make this more flexible. Unfortunately this caused PT to fail to start.

Comments

I have had one request for help because Paratext would not load after the last patch. Thank you for alerting us that it can be related to the version of Filedworks that is installed.

Answer 5

A fix for this has been put into PT 8.0.100.70

Comments

The Paratext 8.0.100.70 patch can be downloaded with this link:
http://update.ubs-icap.org/ParatextTest/patch_8.0.100.70.msp

I sent it out as a “pre-release” update, but don’t plan to send it to all users at this time.

John+Wickberg

Paratext Support

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John+Wickberg:

The Paratext [Phone Removed]patch can be downloaded with this link:
http://update.ubs-icap.org/ParatextTest/patch_8.0.100.70.msp

I kinda feel like info about downloadable patches could do with a little extra detail: will this patch* work on a new install of 8.0.100.1? or would some intermediate patching have been required before the .70 patch?

* I know that this patch has been superseded and PT8 is now at .72

BTW, can all patches bee downloaded as standalone files? Can I download .72 right now if I so wish? Heading to http://update.ubs-icap.org/ParatextTest/patch_8.0.100.72.msp (my manual edit of you link) seems to work, but I’d have to bookmark that and then edit it for each patch number. Is there a page that lists them?

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wdavidhj:

will this patch* work on a new install of 8.0100.1? or would some intermediate patching have been required before the .70 patch?

All patches are based off of their “base version” (same first three numbers) so it is always safe to install a patch over its base version. There is no need to install any previous patch.

wdavidhj:

BTW, can all patches bee downloaded as standalone files? Can I download .72 right now if I so wish?

The installers in that folder are used for releases to our pre-release users (i.e. have Help > Advanced > Release stage > Pre-release selected). This is not recommended for most users. After the pre-release users have had it for a while, then it will go to everyone and is then put on the main Paratext download site.

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anon291708:

All patches are based off of their “base version” (same first three numbers)

What did you mean by “first three numbers”? Like for “8.0.100.72” the first three numbers are “8.0.1” or “801”? Or did you mean something else?

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It would be better to say the first three sets of numbers. In this case 8.0.100

Answer 6

Had this problem for a user (and he indeed had FW 8.1). I thought I’d be clever and downgrade to PT 8.0.100.67, but apparently double-clicking on a PT .msp file to downgrade doesn’t work. After I tried (twice), the problem was still there. I didn’t really want to give him the pre-release .70 (this team needs stability…) so I upgraded FW to 8.3 instead, and now PT 8.0.100.69 works fine. So just in case someone thinks to try a downgrade back to .67… In my experience, that doesn’t work.

Comments

jeffh - this might be moot as the updates come out for Paratext, but in general, if you need to uninstall a particular update (like .69) in Windows, you must go to Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features > Installed Updates and look for the updates that you want to uninstall. In my case I would need to remove several levels to get back down to .67.

Note that if you have automatic updates turned on in Paratext then Paratext will continue to download the updates. You can choose not to install it, but sometimes they sneak through. So it would be better to turn off the automatic update in that instance. Hopefully the full release of the fix for the icu problem will be out soon.

Blessings,
anon848905

Screenshot 2018-09-04 08.10.03.png962×641 35.7 KB

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an old .msp file will not overwrite the current installed patch - since the version number of that .msp file is less than the currently installed patch, nothing is done.

To uninstall the current patch, you need to use Programs and Features. The steps are:

1. Open Programs and Features
2. Click on the “View installed updates” link in upper left
3. Scroll down to the Paratext 8 updates section
4. Right-click on patch and select uninstall.
   I’ll discuss with others who know the installer better to see if there is a way we can make rolling back easier.

John+Wickberg

Paratext Support

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John+Wickberg:

To uninstall the current patch, you need to use Programs and Features. The steps are:

1. Open Programs and Features
2. Click on the “View installed updates” link in upper left

I take it that Installed Updates is not yet available in the Modern/Metro Settings window under Apps & Features (amazing how long it’s taking Microsoft to move all of Windows’s settings to the new look!)

Answer 7

Updating FW worked for one of my users who had FW 8.1. Thanks!

Comments

I too have helped a user that upgrading Flex was the easiest solution.

Answer 8

Dear dhigby.
My Paratext sotped walking and refuse to open when I updated it to 8.0.100.69. I was obliged to uninstalled it. and reinstall the 8.0.75.1 which I am using now. I try to update it but it is impossible.

Answer 9

Please can you edit the title of this thread so that a search for “load ICU” will find it?

I searched for “load ICU”, and found this thread: How to correct problem with Paratext 8 not starting - Can't load ICU library , but @anon291708 tells me that the solution is probably the one in this current thread, meaning I did more work than was necessary .

Answer 10

Yes, sorry I was not clear. @anon848905 is correct.