How to fix the "Sorry, but C:...miktex-pdftex.exe did not succeed. " error?
TeX - LaTeX Asked by Raksha on December 1, 2020
I just installed MikTex 2.9 and tried just making a simple table:
documentclass{article}
begin{document}
begin{table}[h!]
begin{center}
caption{Caption for the table.}
label{tab:table1}
begin{tabular}{l|c||r}
1 & 2 & 3
hline
a & b & c
end{tabular}
end{center}
end{table}
end{document}
but got this message:
You may want to visit the MiKTeX project page (http://miktex.org), if you
need help.
Sorry, but C:Program Files (x86)MiKTeX 2.9miktexbinmiktex-pdftex.exe did not succeed.
The log file hopefully contains the information to get MiKTeX going again:
C:/Users/Solarmew/AppData/Local/MiKTeX/2.9/miktex/log/miktex-pdftex.log
You may want to visit the MiKTeX project page (http://miktex.org), if you
need help.
first I tried the solution here (Open the package manager (admin), use repositories -> synchronize) and it didn’t give me the same error, but this time it said forest.sty not found, so I went here and followed the advise and changed package repository by checking “packages shall be installed from the internet”. Now I have the first error back and it’s not going away 🙁
here’s the log:
2015-09-12 19:38:41,935-0400 INFO miktex-pdftex - running 'initexmf --quiet --update-fndb' to refresh the file name database
2015-09-12 19:38:41,985-0400 FATAL miktex-pdftex - The operation failed for some reason.
2015-09-12 19:38:41,985-0400 FATAL miktex-pdftex - Info: C:Program Files (x86)MiKTeX 2.9miktexbininitexmf.exe
2015-09-12 19:38:41,985-0400 FATAL miktex-pdftex - Source: LibrariesMiKTeXCoreProcess.cpp
2015-09-12 19:38:41,985-0400 FATAL miktex-pdftex - Line: 290
2015-09-12 19:39:28,578-0400 INFO miktex-pdftex - running 'initexmf --quiet --update-fndb' to refresh the file name database
2015-09-12 19:39:28,630-0400 FATAL miktex-pdftex - The operation failed for some reason.
2015-09-12 19:39:28,630-0400 FATAL miktex-pdftex - Info: C:Program Files (x86)MiKTeX 2.9miktexbininitexmf.exe
2015-09-12 19:39:28,630-0400 FATAL miktex-pdftex - Source: LibrariesMiKTeXCoreProcess.cpp
2015-09-12 19:39:28,630-0400 FATAL miktex-pdftex - Line: 290
2015-09-12 19:41:23,134-0400 INFO miktex-pdftex - running 'initexmf --quiet --update-fndb' to refresh the file name database
2015-09-12 19:41:23,183-0400 FATAL miktex-pdftex - The operation failed for some reason.
2015-09-12 19:41:23,184-0400 FATAL miktex-pdftex - Info: C:Program Files (x86)MiKTeX 2.9miktexbininitexmf.exe
2015-09-12 19:41:23,184-0400 FATAL miktex-pdftex - Source: LibrariesMiKTeXCoreProcess.cpp
2015-09-12 19:41:23,184-0400 FATAL miktex-pdftex - Line: 290
2015-09-12 19:47:23,559-0400 INFO miktex-pdftex - running 'initexmf --quiet --update-fndb' to refresh the file name database
2015-09-12 19:47:23,612-0400 FATAL miktex-pdftex - The operation failed for some reason.
2015-09-12 19:47:23,612-0400 FATAL miktex-pdftex - Info: C:Program Files (x86)MiKTeX 2.9miktexbininitexmf.exe
2015-09-12 19:47:23,612-0400 FATAL miktex-pdftex - Source: LibrariesMiKTeXCoreProcess.cpp
2015-09-12 19:47:23,612-0400 FATAL miktex-pdftex - Line: 290
2015-09-12 19:47:28,535-0400 INFO miktex-pdftex - running 'initexmf --quiet --update-fndb' to refresh the file name database
2015-09-12 19:47:28,588-0400 FATAL miktex-pdftex - The operation failed for some reason.
2015-09-12 19:47:28,588-0400 FATAL miktex-pdftex - Info: C:Program Files (x86)MiKTeX 2.9miktexbininitexmf.exe
2015-09-12 19:47:28,588-0400 FATAL miktex-pdftex - Source: LibrariesMiKTeXCoreProcess.cpp
2015-09-12 19:47:28,588-0400 FATAL miktex-pdftex - Line: 290
2015-09-12 19:55:27,809-0400 INFO miktex-pdftex - installing package pgf triggered by texlatexpgffrontendlayertikz.sty
2015-09-12 19:55:28,190-0400 INFO miktex-pdftex - mpm: starting package maintenance...
2015-09-12 19:55:28,190-0400 INFO miktex-pdftex - mpm: installation directory: "C:Program Files (x86)MiKTeX 2.9"
2015-09-12 19:55:28,190-0400 INFO miktex-pdftex - mpm: package repository: http://mirror.jmu.edu/pub/CTAN/systems/win32/miktex/tm/packages/
2015-09-12 19:55:28,433-0400 INFO miktex-pdftex - mpm: lightweight database digest: fd7a40a42ed2f1e70be3b6bdb1baccf2
2015-09-12 19:55:28,434-0400 INFO miktex-pdftex - mpm: going to download 9467103 bytes
2015-09-12 19:55:28,434-0400 INFO miktex-pdftex - mpm: going to install 658 file(s) (1 package(s))
2015-09-12 19:55:28,435-0400 INFO miktex-pdftex - mpm: downloading http://mirror.jmu.edu/pub/CTAN/systems/win32/miktex/tm/packages/pgf.tar.lzma...
2015-09-12 19:55:42,770-0400 INFO miktex-pdftex - mpm: 10594095 bytes, 722.22 KB/Sec
2015-09-12 19:55:42,798-0400 INFO miktex-pdftex - mpm: visiting repository http://mirror.jmu.edu/pub/CTAN/systems/win32/miktex/tm/packages/...
2015-09-12 19:55:42,798-0400 INFO miktex-pdftex - mpm: repository type: remote package repository
2015-09-12 19:55:42,798-0400 INFO miktex-pdftex - mpm: loading lightweight database...
2015-09-12 19:55:42,799-0400 INFO miktex-pdftex - mpm: downloading http://mirror.jmu.edu/pub/CTAN/systems/win32/miktex/tm/packages/miktex-zzdb1-2.9.tar.lzma...
2015-09-12 19:55:43,053-0400 INFO miktex-pdftex - mpm: 157260 bytes, 604.62 KB/Sec
2015-09-12 19:55:43,249-0400 INFO miktex-pdftex - mpm: lightweight database digest: effaaa46816771ed79be6c0905c3d630
2015-09-12 19:55:43,275-0400 INFO miktex-pdftex - mpm: extracting files from pgf.tar.lzma...
2015-09-12 19:55:43,834-0400 FATAL miktex-pdftex - Windows API error 87: The parameter is incorrect.
2015-09-12 19:55:43,834-0400 FATAL miktex-pdftex - Info: C:ProgramDataMiKTeX2.9miktex/data/leb1cfc6be702f63eea92ca0fbc9559e5c.fndb
2015-09-12 19:55:43,834-0400 FATAL miktex-pdftex - Source: LibrariesMiKTeXCorewinwinMemoryMappedFile.cpp
2015-09-12 19:55:43,834-0400 FATAL miktex-pdftex - Line: 120
2015-09-12 19:56:33,540-0400 INFO miktex-pdftex - installing package standalone triggered by texlatexstandalonestandalone.cls
2015-09-12 19:56:33,903-0400 INFO miktex-pdftex - mpm: starting package maintenance...
2015-09-12 19:56:33,904-0400 INFO miktex-pdftex - mpm: installation directory: "C:Program Files (x86)MiKTeX 2.9"
2015-09-12 19:56:33,904-0400 INFO miktex-pdftex - mpm: package repository: http://mirror.jmu.edu/pub/CTAN/systems/win32/miktex/tm/packages/
2015-09-12 19:56:34,071-0400 INFO miktex-pdftex - mpm: lightweight database digest: effaaa46816771ed79be6c0905c3d630
2015-09-12 19:56:34,071-0400 INFO miktex-pdftex - mpm: going to download 314852 bytes
2015-09-12 19:56:34,071-0400 INFO miktex-pdftex - mpm: going to install 8 file(s) (1 package(s))
2015-09-12 19:56:34,072-0400 INFO miktex-pdftex - mpm: downloading http://mirror.jmu.edu/pub/CTAN/systems/win32/miktex/tm/packages/standalone.tar.lzma...
2015-09-12 19:56:34,856-0400 INFO miktex-pdftex - mpm: 314852 bytes, 393.69 KB/Sec
2015-09-12 19:56:34,858-0400 INFO miktex-pdftex - mpm: extracting files from standalone.tar.lzma...
2015-09-12 19:56:34,887-0400 FATAL miktex-pdftex - Windows API error 87: The parameter is incorrect.
2015-09-12 19:56:34,887-0400 FATAL miktex-pdftex - Info: C:ProgramDataMiKTeX2.9miktex/data/leb1cfc6be702f63eea92ca0fbc9559e5c.fndb
2015-09-12 19:56:34,887-0400 FATAL miktex-pdftex - Source: LibrariesMiKTeXCorewinwinMemoryMappedFile.cpp
2015-09-12 19:56:34,887-0400 FATAL miktex-pdftex - Line: 120
2015-09-12 20:02:10,783-0400 INFO miktex-pdftex - running 'initexmf --quiet --update-fndb' to refresh the file name database
2015-09-12 20:02:11,019-0400 FATAL miktex-pdftex - The operation failed for some reason.
2015-09-12 20:02:11,020-0400 FATAL miktex-pdftex - Info: C:Program Files (x86)MiKTeX 2.9miktexbininitexmf.exe
2015-09-12 20:02:11,020-0400 FATAL miktex-pdftex - Source: LibrariesMiKTeXCoreProcess.cpp
2015-09-12 20:02:11,020-0400 FATAL miktex-pdftex - Line: 290
2015-09-12 20:03:12,810-0400 INFO miktex-pdftex - running 'initexmf --quiet --update-fndb' to refresh the file name database
2015-09-12 20:03:13,031-0400 FATAL miktex-pdftex - The operation failed for some reason.
2015-09-12 20:03:13,032-0400 FATAL miktex-pdftex - Info: C:Program Files (x86)MiKTeX 2.9miktexbininitexmf.exe
2015-09-12 20:03:13,032-0400 FATAL miktex-pdftex - Source: LibrariesMiKTeXCoreProcess.cpp
2015-09-12 20:03:13,032-0400 FATAL miktex-pdftex - Line: 290
2015-09-12 20:06:53,271-0400 INFO miktex-pdftex - running 'initexmf --quiet --update-fndb' to refresh the file name database
2015-09-12 20:06:53,497-0400 FATAL miktex-pdftex - The operation failed for some reason.
2015-09-12 20:06:53,498-0400 FATAL miktex-pdftex - Info: C:Program Files (x86)MiKTeX 2.9miktexbininitexmf.exe
2015-09-12 20:06:53,498-0400 FATAL miktex-pdftex - Source: LibrariesMiKTeXCoreProcess.cpp
2015-09-12 20:06:53,498-0400 FATAL miktex-pdftex - Line: 290
2015-09-12 20:08:00,190-0400 INFO miktex-pdftex - running 'initexmf --quiet --update-fndb' to refresh the file name database
2015-09-12 20:08:00,412-0400 FATAL miktex-pdftex - The operation failed for some reason.
2015-09-12 20:08:00,412-0400 FATAL miktex-pdftex - Info: C:Program Files (x86)MiKTeX 2.9miktexbininitexmf.exe
2015-09-12 20:08:00,412-0400 FATAL miktex-pdftex - Source: LibrariesMiKTeXCoreProcess.cpp
2015-09-12 20:08:00,413-0400 FATAL miktex-pdftex - Line: 290
12 Answers
The problem is with your installation, not updating packages. I had the same errors installing MiKTeX 2.9.5721 on windows 10 today.
2015-09-12 20:08:00,190-0400 INFO miktex-pdftex - running 'initexmf --quiet --update-fndb' to refresh the file name database 2015-09-12 20:08:00,412-0400 FATAL miktex-pdftex - The operation failed for some reason. 2015-09-12 20:08:00,412-0400 FATAL miktex-pdftex - Info: C:Program Files (x86)MiKTeX 2.9miktexbininitexmf.exe 2015-09-12 20:08:00,412-0400 FATAL miktex-pdftex - Source: LibrariesMiKTeXCoreProcess.cpp 2015-09-12 20:08:00,413-0400 FATAL miktex-pdftex - Line: 290
After trying several fixes in this thread, this is what worked for me. I think first, there's a problem with the permissions in C:/Program Files (x86), which you can fix by creating a file on C:/ directly. Second (for me, maybe not you), I think there was an issue with another program trying to use one of the pdf map dl files (?) which was mentioned here. To solve this:
- uninstalled my previous version of MiKTeX2.9
- uninstalled adobe reader
- reinstalled adobe reader
- reboot
- moved the MiKTeX download to a folder on the desktop
- created a folder C:/MiKTeX 2.9
- ran the install wizard and installed to my new folder as single user. (I never got the system install to work.)
- After the wizard, immediately run MiKTeX Update Wizard. I selected to update only miktex-texworks-bin. (If I didn't run the updates before trying to TeX a document, nothing worked at all.)
You may be able to get away with not messing with your PDF viewer install, but definitely try creating a folder other than the Program Files (x86).
Correct answer by SkiDoc on December 1, 2020
My problem was that I had two installations of MikTeX on my system (for whatever reason I don't know).
Simply deleting one of them solved the problem.
Answered by Attaque on December 1, 2020
I have this error just because I opened the pdf file in Adobe Reader while I am compiling the Latex. Simply close this pdf file in Adobe Reader will solve the problem.
Answered by Siyi Zhou on December 1, 2020
That error can also appear, when you insert an image and the path of the image has special symbols in it like umlauts (ä,ü,ö). So make sure you don't have any of these in your image path.
Answered by Sheldor on December 1, 2020
I had the same problem and looked into the log. It said that this command had failed:
C:Program FilesMiKTeX 2.9miktexbinx64>initexmf.exe --mklinks --mkmaps
I opened a command prompt in administrator mode and executed it and now pdflatex is working for me. I first tried to execute that in a non-administrator window and it failed because of permissions. So I am pretty sure this is the right solution.
Answered by Mike Barnett on December 1, 2020
Had a similar Problem:
Sorry, but pdflatex did not succeed.
The log file hopefully contains the information to get MiKTeX going again:
C:/Users/Solarmew/AppData/Local/MiKTeX/2.9/miktex/log/pdflatex.log
--> set texmaker as default program for *.tex data solved this (... because texworks was set as default program)
Answered by user144237 on December 1, 2020
I had the same issue, this solution solved it without re-installation of MikTeX. Just search for MikTex Update (Admin) and update all the updatable packages. the first time the select all button is grayed out. go ahead with the preselected updates and finish. and then update again, this time select all. The trick is to run the Admin version of MikTex Update. That's it!
Answered by Foad on December 1, 2020
In my case the problem was that the PDF document was open (in the browser) when I wanted to build it.
Answered by user176501 on December 1, 2020
I had this problem, and the "solution" was to close the PDF that was open in another application (Microsoft Edge).
Answered by Kyle Mills on December 1, 2020
I experience this issue and the way I resolved this was by uninstalling MiKTeX and TexStudio and reinstall them and the issue was resolved. Thank You.
Answered by Rohini on December 1, 2020
In my case this problem solved by shortening the absolute path to the tex-file to be compiling. Nothing else was helping me.
Answered by Sergey V. on December 1, 2020
I had this problem, and for me the underlying issue was that I have "Controlled Folder Access" enabled on my Windows machine. As a result you need to manually allow folder access for MikTeX. An additional complication was that I had my Windows notification turned to "Silent", so I did not see the message shown below. For me the problem happened right after installing MikTeX, and things started working after I allowed the appropriate folder acccess:
Answered by Arnoud Buzing on December 1, 2020
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