Author Topic: Dec 12, 2017 Windows Update breaks TD with "Access Denied" (FIXED)  (Read 3964 times)

Corey Cooper

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A Microsoft Windows patch that was released to most people on December 12, 2017, caused an issue with the Tournament Director application.  The error manifests itself in a number of ways, including messages like "Access Denied", or "mPatch undefined", or "The default language catalogs could not be loaded".  The Tournament Director application may continue functioning, or it may exit during startup due to this error.

As this issue was just discovered, there is no definitive fix available at this time.  However, I am working on the issue and a potential fix has been discovered.  If the fix is successful, I will release a fixed version as soon as possible, hopefully in the next 24 to 48 hours.

It is believe this issue is caused by the following Windows Updates, based on your version of Windows:

KB4054522 (Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard)
KB4054521 (Windows 7 Service Pack 1, Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1
KB4053579 (Windows 10 Version 1607, Windows Server 2016)

I cannot recommend removing a security patch as it may lead to a security vulnerability.  However, uninstalling the above Windows Update may resolve the issue until an updated Tournament Director is available.

EDIT so you don't have to scroll through the responses if you just want the fix: Version 3.4.2 was released Dec 14 with a fix for this.  On Dec 17 I released versions 3.0.1, 3.1.2, 3.2.2, and 3.3.1, and on Dec 27 I released version 2.5.15, all with a fix for this issue, for those who don't want to upgrade to the latest version.  At this time, all versions available on the Tournament Director website for download are fixed.

For the latest version (3.4.2), download from http://www.thetournamentdirector.net/download.html

If you are using an older version (older than version 3.4), and you want the fix but do not want to upgrade at this time, download from http://www.thetournamentdirector.net/downloadVersion2.html
   If you are currently using version 3.3,--> download version 3.3.1
   If you are currently using version 3.2 or 3.2.1,--> download version 3.2.2
   If you are currently using version 3.1 or 3.1.1,--> download version 3.1.2
   If you are currently using version 3.0,--> download version 3.0.1
   If you are currently using version 2.5.14 or earlier,--> download version 2.5.15
« Last Edit: January 06, 2018, 03:24:51 PM by Corey Cooper »

Corey Cooper

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Re: Dec 12, 2017 Windows Update breaks TD with "Access Denied"
« Reply #1 on: December 14, 2017, 01:27:15 AM »
I've released version 3.4.2 with a fix for this issue.

For those who wish to continue using earlier versions, I will be releasing updates as time permits.

Silver Owl

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Re: Dec 12, 2017 Windows Update breaks TD with "Access Denied"
« Reply #2 on: December 14, 2017, 02:20:35 PM »
Corey, I didn't have any of the updates you had listed but did have the script problem. I uninstalled KB4054517 and that took care of the problem.
The windows fall creator update just installed last week and took out the missing keystrokes/slowdown workaround so if that issue pops up again for anyone
after the creator update, re-doing the workaround will work.
I'm also still on version 3.3.

Corey Cooper

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Re: Dec 12, 2017 Windows Update breaks TD with "Access Denied"
« Reply #3 on: December 14, 2017, 04:31:44 PM »
The fixes get rolled up into other updates, so I'm not the least bit surprised there are other updates that cause the same issue.

The fix is actually in the launcher part of the application, so I'm planning to rollout updated earlier versions (3.3.1, for example) with the updated launcher.  This will include the missing keystroke fix.

Corey Cooper

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Re: Dec 12, 2017 Windows Update breaks TD with "Access Denied"
« Reply #4 on: December 17, 2017, 01:14:33 AM »
I have updated versions 3.0, 3.1.1, 3.2.1, and 3.3, to versions 3.0.1, 3.1.2, 3.2.2, and 3.3.1, respectively.  They are unchanged except for the fix for this issue.  That means if you are using an older version of the TD and don't want to upgrade to version 3.4, you can download one of these versions and effectively stay exactly where you are today, but have this fix.

Actually this also includes the fix for the missed keystrokes/mouse clicks on Windows 10.

For older versions, see http://www.thetournamentdirector.net/downloadVersion2.html.

I've not applied a fix for version 2.5.14 yet.  My testing doesn't see an issue with that version, although I haven't yet investigated why.  If you're experiencing an issue with that version, please reply and let me know.
« Last Edit: December 17, 2017, 01:16:28 AM by Corey Cooper »

tandemrx

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Re: Dec 12, 2017 Windows Update breaks TD with "Access Denied"
« Reply #5 on: December 17, 2017, 10:55:01 AM »
For what it is worth, I am running Windows 8.1 (pro) and IE 11.

After update I did get the access denied problem.  I updated to 3.4.2 and all seems right with the world (well, except for the black screen problem  :( ).

Glad I had checked the forum before my update happened!

T-Bone

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Re: Dec 12, 2017 Windows Update breaks TD with "Access Denied"
« Reply #6 on: December 26, 2017, 01:56:07 PM »
I got a script error followed by Avast Anti-Virus identifying TD.exe as a virus. I'll try the update.
If it ain't naked, deep-fried or poker-related, I ain't interested!

Corey Cooper

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Re: Dec 12, 2017 Windows Update breaks TD with "Access Denied"
« Reply #7 on: December 26, 2017, 02:54:30 PM »
I got a script error followed by Avast Anti-Virus identifying TD.exe as a virus. I'll try the update.

Make sure your virus definitions are updated.  I got confirmation from Avast on Oct 3 that the TD had been whitelisted.  If you're sure they are up-to-date and you're still getting the alert from Avast, I might need to resubmit.

T-Bone

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Re: Dec 12, 2017 Windows Update breaks TD with "Access Denied"
« Reply #8 on: December 26, 2017, 03:41:49 PM »
3.4.2 seems to have fixed both script error and Avast problem. Virus definitions were up to date.
If it ain't naked, deep-fried or poker-related, I ain't interested!

Corey Cooper

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Re: Dec 12, 2017 Windows Update breaks TD with "Access Denied"
« Reply #9 on: December 26, 2017, 03:52:44 PM »
Thanks for the update.

Corey Cooper

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Re: Dec 12, 2017 Windows Update breaks TD with "Access Denied"
« Reply #10 on: December 27, 2017, 12:47:41 AM »
I've updated version 2.5.14 to version 2.5.15.  For those still on version 2, download at http://www.thetournamentdirector.net/downloadVersion2.html.

All versions of the TD have now been updated.  If you are experiencing this issue, download an updated version to bypass this issue.