Doesn't work on Windows 32-bit

[michaldybczak]

I'm aware that Windows7 is end of life and probably not supported anymore, but I have no saying in this, I have it at work.

I installed a normal version for one user, which didn't require admin access, great. Launching joplin doesn't do anything visible, but it spawns 4 joplin.exe processes in the background. Launching it again opens an empty window, with basic, but also empty menu (File-Exit, and so on, nothing actionable). This window is not possible to close (titlebar button UI doesn't react), it has to be force closed with task manager.

I tried portable version. Launching exe causes 4 joplin.exe process to show up plus joplinportable.exe and again, no window. Launching it again, shows second joplinportable.exe and empty window as shown above, that again is not possible to close by usual means.

There is no error messages or anything suggesting what to do. Computer was restarted after joplin installation.

Linux version works like a charm, but Windows counterpart failed a big time :(. Without full multi-system support, the whole app usage is in question. There is no browser access to my notes so basically I have no notes at work.

[laurent22]

I think it should work on Windows 7. What's the error in the console? https://joplinapp.org/debugging

[roman-r-m]

Unless it's 32bit. I think there were issues with 32bit systems before.

[laurent22]

Isn't Linux 32bit that's not supported? According to Electron's website, Windows 32bit should be supported: https://www.electronjs.org/docs/tutorial/support#windows

[michaldybczak]

Yeah, I forgot, it's 32bit system. Maybe a different installer is needed? As far I remember, the regular Gimp installer wasn't working, and I had to find 32bit version. Maybe it's the same here?

Since it's windows, I assume different syntax is needed. Actually, does joplin cli in windows even work?
I don't think I have Help > Open Profile Directory. Like I said before, menus are generic and empty, as if it was a blank UI window to design but without any content yet.

I'll check tomorrow and let you know.

[roman-r-m]

I don't think I have Help > Open Profile Directory. Like I said before, menus are generic and empty, as if it was a blank UI window to design but without any content yet.

With portable version your profile directory will be right next to the .exe file.

[roman-r-m]

Funny enough I am now facing a similar issue. Also have an empty screen with only the default menu items.
However, I do have an option to open dev tools: View - Toggle Developer Tools. @michaldybczak can you check if you have that too?

Now, I am running a version that I have built from the latest dev on Linux for Windows so in my case I'm not too surprised something went wrong.

The error I have in console is:

Uncaught Error: ENOENT: no such file or directory, open '\\?\C:\Users\MRR\AppData\Local\Temp\1paQ6RKm9qD94uTRRU7FxLoIFOA\resources\app.asar.unpacked\node_modules\@joplin\lib\node_modules\node-notifier\package.json'
    at Object.openSync (fs.js:462)
    at Object.func [as openSync] (electron/js2c/asar.js:140)
    at Object.readFileSync (fs.js:364)
    at Object.fs.readFileSync (electron/js2c/asar.js:542)
    at Object.internalBinding.internalModuleReadJSON (electron/js2c/asar.js:664)
    at readPackage (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:256)
    at readPackageExports (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:308)
    at applyExports (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:450)
    at resolveExports (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:513)
    at Function.Module._findPath (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:637)

[michaldybczak]

With portable version your profile directory will be right next to the .exe file.

Unfortunately, I don't have it. So probably it doesn't even come to the stage when this folder is created. It looks like it stops on the very beginning.

, I do have an option to open dev tools: View - Toggle Developer Tools. @michaldybczak can you check if you have that too?

I do have it. Here is the output of the console:

https://pastebin.com/DTWQFLkE

[roman-r-m]

I have looked a bit more and after a few attempts to start it and getting blank window Joplin no longer starts at all. Or rather it starts, the process is there, but there's no window at all.

I have removed the temp dir it creates, moved the portable .exe file to another dir (even another disk!), but nothing helps, I can't even get that empty window any more.

I'll keep investigating.

[michaldybczak]

I'm experiencing the same symptoms. The first launch spawns processes but no window. The second launch gives us this empty window that cannot be closed, it has to be killed in task manager.

[roman-r-m]

OK, in my case I can confirm that the .exe file was built incorrectly. To be clear, I have built it myself, so it probably does not explain your issue.

Can you share the executable that you're using? I'm thinking maybe it somehow got corrupted.

[michaldybczak]

This is over 156MB exe file that I downloaded from Joplin site https://joplinapp.org/

I uninstalled the program and try to download it again. It clearly says it's both 32 and 64bit, so either description is wrong or install file is incorrect.

I'm installing for one user, because I don't have administration rights on the company computer.

OK, I uninstalled and installed it again from newly downloaded Joplin-Setup-1.7.11.exe file. During installation, in the last step I chose "Run Joplin" and nothing happened. As before, joplin processes are visible in task manager, no window shows up. Second launch triggers the empty window. So nothing has changed.

I have the same errors in console:

Uncaught Error: Cannot find module 'C:\Users\michal\AppData\Local\Programs\Joplin\resources\app.asar\node_modules@joplin\lib\node_modules\sqlite3\lib\binding\napi-v3-win32-ia32\node_sqlite3.node'

and more similar ones. I checked the path and it seems to be OK. The major problem is that somehow, it cannot read C:\Users\michal\AppData\Local\Programs\Joplin\resources\app.asar although the file app.asar that weights 261,8MB is there. Or maybe this file is incomplete? I cannot check this because I have no access to the inside of this file. 7zip can't unpack it.

There is however a folder app.asar.unpacked. Hmmm... Let's look on the structure.

This is OK: C:\Users\michal\AppData\Local\Programs\Joplin\resources\app.asar\node_modules@joplin\lib\node_modules\

However, there is no \sqlite3\lib\binding\napi-v3-win32-ia32\node_sqlite3.node

Inside app.asar\node_modules@joplin\lib\node_modules\ there is only \node-notifier\ instead \sqlite3\

So if the folder app.asar.unpacked is a faithful representation of the app.asar file, the paths of file structure is wrong. So it looks like the install file for 32 systems is broken.

[roman-r-m]

I came to the same conclusion - win32 build is broken. I thought I even wrote it here but can't find the comment.

[roman-r-m]

Ah, here it is: #4361 (comment)
Another issue but same root cause, I believe

[michaldybczak]

You mentioned that it's fixed somewhere. I assume, this is not yet released? I checked here but there is no release page so I can't test older versions (that maid have worked). I have no skills or proper acess on this computer to create win 32bit git build myself.
Is there any estimate when this version with the fix be released?

[roman-r-m]

Sorry, I meant the suspected root cause has been fixed. It still needs to be applied to Joplin, I'll try to test it within the next few days and if it indeed works, submit a pull request.

[michaldybczak]

Great. I'll wait then.
Multisystem support is crucial for note-taking app.

[claudiopadial]

I have the same problem about blanck white window in windows 7 64 bit, with an additional problem. I try to uninstall Joplin and it doesn't work (Error launching installer) and even reinstalling is not possible, no matter the version I try (error launching C:\Program Files\Joplin\Uninstall Joplin.exe). After that no solution but restoring computer to a previous state allows me to use Joplin again and it drives me to the same problem. After several uses, the app stop working again with the same behaviour. It seems to me that the problem comes from installation for present user only. It installs ins .config folder within this user by default. When installing for all users goes to C:\Program Files. Trying to reinstall looks first for uninstall file in this last folder and don´t find it. Selecting this folder in current user installation gives me error so also I tryed to install for all users to check if the problem occurs again and unfortunatelly it does ...

[michaldybczak]

Hmm... Maybe paths on 64bit version are also wrong? However, on 32bit, install/uninstall process works OK.

I wish that developers would take interest in this issue. Lack of multi-platform support excludes the whole project. I get it that Win7 is officially end of life but as with XP many will still use it and in companies, we don't have a say and are stuck with whatever system they give us.

Besides, since the majority of users are on Windows, the open source project should be promoted there, because it's its only chance to grow (unfortunately), and Windows as a system where app is not working is a major roadblock, and nobody seems to care about it.

[roman-r-m]

Windows as a system where app is not working is a major roadblock

This isn't quite true though, it does usually work on Windows. For instance Joplin was working fine for me on Windows (until I've moved to Linux).

The change I hoped would fix it didn't help. Haven't had time to have another look since.

[claudiopadial]

I tried to make it work both in original and modified versions of windows 7 and it made no difference, crashing for no reason after some runs. But finally I found one way to run Joplin stably, the Portable Version. No problem by now and full functionality!! I hope anyway deverlopers will fix this issue for next releases ...

[michaldybczak]

Unfortunately the portable version behaves in the same way for me. I may do a few more attempts and experiment with it, but I don't make myself any more hopes.
This is frustrating. Joplin seems like a true Evernote replacement, if it worked on any system. Despite Win7 being officially dead, practically it will be used for a few more years. In my case I have no choice as to use the system provided by the company.

It's a bit of pity that there are no sync files that could be accessible and readable in case one would want to use them directly without joplin interface.

[john-cj]

Hello folks. I faced the same problem today on Win7 32-bit and tested a lot of Joplin versions.

• 1.7.11 (the current one), 1,7.10, 1.6.8, 1.4.12, 1.8.1 - fail
• 1.1.3 - works
• there are probably other versions that work, for example 1.1.4 or 1.2.1, but I have not tested

[michaldybczak]

Where can I get older versions? Any version that works will be good enough. Thanks

[JackGruber]

In the release section from the Repro
https://github.com/laurent22/joplin/releases

But keep in mind, the Synctarget version is not compatible when you use a old and a new version!
Currently I do not know in which versions the sync target has changed.

[michaldybczak]

Ah, that's a bummer. On the phone and Linux at home I have the newest release. So if I understand it right, the old version is useless for me anyway.

[JackGruber]

The last sync traget update was on v1.0.241, all newer version should be able to synchronize with each other.

[john-cj]

@laurent22

According to Electron's website, Windows 32bit should be supported: https://www.electronjs.org/docs/tutorial/support#windows

I don't think this is an issue with Electron itself. For example, both Evernote and Visual Studio Code use Electoron, but there is no such an issue, so it seems that the bug is related specifically to Joplin.

[rshalaev]

Having issues getting Joplin to work even after patch.

I'm on Windows 7 - 32 bit. Confirmed that earlier version (1.4.10) works.

Tried latest - version 2.6.10 . Patched app.asar by renaming node_modules\sqlite3\lib\binding\napi-v{napi_build_version}-win32-ia32 to napi-v3-win32-ia32

Can't get the app to launch - clicking on executable does not do anything, no error message. Tried also launching from command line C:\Program Files\Joplin>Joplin.exe --debug - does not do anything, returns to command prompt

Any ideas?

[RCleanerman]

Version 2.6.10 works on Win7 32-bit.
Asus eeePC M91T.

[rshalaev]

RCleanerman - thank you for the feedback! I also checked that Joplin 2.6.10 with Patch works in Windows 7 32 bit in VM. On the other hand I'm unable to get it to work on Toshiba Portege M200 with Win7 - patch applied, but nothing happens when I run exe - no HDD activity, no joplin task in task manager

Will appreciate any additional help troubleshooting

[RCleanerman]

Hello rshalaev
This was my way:
On Asus EeePC, Win7, 32Bit

1. close all instances of joplin with the taskmanager or uninstall joplin
2. win7 restart
3. 7zip installed with Asar.32.dll in Folder 'Formats', like michaldybczak
4. Joplin 2.6.10 installed, without! starting at the end of setup
5. Start 7Zzip.exe (manager gui) froim startmenu as Administrator
6. open C:\Program Files\Joplin\resources\app.asar\node_modules\sqlite3\lib\binding\
7. Patch the Path like tomasz1986
8. Step up (little green Arrow) to save the app.asar
9. closed 7z
10. Start joplin

Greetings

[RCleanerman]

It works also on a AcerOne 1002 with Win10, 32 Bit.

[rshalaev]

Thanks. I've now tried setting up / patching Joplin on a second Toshiba Portege M200 - no go

...But it works fine in a VM running Win7 32 bit

I'm suspecting that the difference might be either:

• DirectX (Toshiba NVidia is only DirectX9, and VM is using DirectX 10)
• Missing one of the processor features?
  

[RCleanerman]

Maybe the Hardware is to old, i down know.
Here is a HwInfo-Screenshot from my slowest Pc (EeePc) with Joplin.
ca. 40sec to start joplindesktop.
I don't use it in my daily business.
Only used for testing installation 32Bit-joplin.

[rshalaev]

Went back to version 1.4.10. It takes about 50 seconds to load (about 1K notes), but otherwise works fine. It will not sync with the new versions due to different sync targets (V1.4.10 is on sync target 2; and v 2.6.10 is on sync target 3), but JEG export from 2.6.10 and import in to 1.4.10 works fine.

Also traced Joplin v 2.6.10 launch with SysInternals Process Monitor. It starts and runs for about a second, and then process exits. There is a lot of activity during that time, (lots of log entries). Most were successful, some had "buffer overflow" - not sure if that relates to process exiting. If somebody knows how to debug this - I can post the log

[yggcwx]

我的32位系统也无法安装joplin，真是令人沮丧！我原来使用的是为知，正准备迁移到joplin呢，现在只好暂缓。真希望官方能尽快推出一个可用的32位安装包！

[amidvo]

Hi.
Joplin 2.8.8 in Windows 10, 32-bit, Lenovo Yoga: I confirm the successful working with the patch:
ren "resources\app\node_modules\sqlite3\lib\binding\napi-v{napi_build_version}-win32-ia32" "napi-v3-win32-ia32"

Thanks a lot, tomasz1986!

[michaldybczak]

My work laptop was upgraded, so I have a new one with Windows 10 64bit. This means, I no longer have access to 32bit system, and thus I am unable to test this issue.

[tomasz1986]

I still use Joplin under Windows 10 32-bit at least a few days per week. It works perfectly with the patch (i.e. folder rename), including the latest release candidates.

[SillyCar10]

Unfortunately, I can't find an easy way to patch it. In theory all you need is unpack the exe, unpack app-32.7z inside it, then find and unpack resources/app.asar and there find node_modules\@joplin\lib\node_modules\sqlite3\lib\binding\napi-v{napi_build_version}-win32-ia32 and rename it to napi-v3-win32-ia32. 7-zip can do all of it (needs a plugin for asar) but this is too many steps to recommend to anyone, I'm afraid.

Hi, I'm new to Joplin and trying to get it to run on my windows 10 - 32 bit laptop. I have installed 7zip, created a Formats folder in C:\Program Files\7-Zip and put the Asar.32.dll file in there as per the plugin instructions, then when I go into 7-Zip and open my way into the directory app.asar, it's called app.asar.unpacked (I assume that means the plugin is working?) then when I go further to the node_modules@joplin\lib\node_modules\ directory, there is no sqlite3 directory, only a node-notifier directory....
Can someone help me figure out what I'm doing wrong? I would love to get this running on my windows laptop...
Thanks in advance for any help you can provide!

[tomasz1986]

app.asar.unpacked

This one is unrelated. You need to actually unpack the app.asar archive, find the path inside the unpacked folder, then repack. As this needs to be done on every update, I'd suggest to try out my batch script that should be somewhere in this thread above.

For the record, you can't edit .asar files with 7-Zip on the fly (as the asar plugin doesn't support it). That's why the whole unpack and repack process is necessary. Outdated information - see below.

[amidvo]

you can't edit .asar files with 7-Zip on the fly (as the asar plugin doesn't support it)

This is strange. I renamed node_modules\@joplin\lib\node_modules\sqlite3\lib\binding\napi-v{napi_build_version}-win32-ia32 and repacked the .asar file on the fly without exiting 7-zip.

7-zip has the ability to rename files within an archive and most likely the asar-plugin supports this.

[tomasz1986]

You're right! Modifying without repacking does seem to work now. It did not work in August 2021 when I first tried it (and posted the script in this thread). This means that the procedure can be simplified even more.

[SillyCar10]

OK. So I found the correct file, but 7zip won't let me rename anything in that exe archive. Rename is grayed out. I can extract portions of the archive to my desktop, extract them there and rename stuff, but when I go into 2 panel view in 7zip and add the files back in to the archive, it copies them, but then when I travel up the directory tree to where 7zip asks me if I want to save the changes I made to the archive, it says the operation can't be completed. I am an administrator of this laptop, so I'm not sure what's wrong. Any ideas? And thanks for the help you provided already. Much appreciated...

[tomasz1986]

exe archive

The archive file is called app.asar (i.e. no "exe" in there). Screenshots and detailed steps of what you're trying to do will probably be helpful here.

Are you trying to modify JoplinPortable.exe by any chance? That's not going to work (without re-building the whole portable package). The steps explained previously in this thread can only be applied to the normal Joplin installation. Alternatively, you can still unpack the portable package, then unpack app-32.7z, then modify the asar archive there without installing Joplin, but the end result won't be portable anymore.

[SillyCar10]

Thank you again for the super quick reply!
I'm actually home for the weekend and that laptop is at work
But to let you know what I've tried...
The file I'm trying to edit is "Joplin-Setup-2.8.8.exe".....That's the normal one, right? I thought it had to be edited prior to installation. I was digging in there with 7zip and finding the app.asar file and trying to rename the napi-v{napi_build_version}-win32-ia32 file, which I can find now, but I can't rename it. The rename menu item when I right click is grayed out. And if I extract the app.asar file to my desktop, I can rename the napi-v{napi_build_version}-win32-ia32 file and then repack the app.asar file but when I put it back into the exe file using 7zip (which seems to work fine), it won't update the Joplin-Setup-2.8.8.exe archive. It says the operation is not allowed or something to that effect.
When you say the steps can only be applied to the normal Joplin installation, do you mean that I have to install it, then look for the installed files and find the app.asar and edit it there? I thought I tried that and couldn't find the right files.
Or do you mean that I need to do something else entirely.
Sorry for being an idiot. I'm actually pretty smart, but I guess I'm just a little mixed up on this one.
I do appreciate the help!

[tomasz1986]

When you say the steps can only be applied to the normal Joplin installation, do you mean that I have to install it, then look for the installed files and find the app.asar and edit it there? I thought I tried that and couldn't find the right files.

Yeah, you should install Joplin first, and then you should be able to find app.asar in a folder called resources right next to where Joplin.exe is located.

[SillyCar10]

Awesome. Thank you again. Sounds like that will make things a whole lot easier for me ;) I will try that first thing Monday morning. And sorry again for the trouble....

[RCleanerman]

Hello SillyCar10,
please try this manuel
This is my way on a 32BitPC:

1. If joblin is installed then: close all instances of joplin with the taskmanager and uninstall joplin
2. windows restart
3. install 7zip (with Asar.32.dll in Folder 'Formats', like michaldybczak, possiblew not necessary in new 7zipVersion)
4. install Joplin 2.8.8 - don't start Joplin at the end of setup
5. Start 7Zzip.exe (manager gui) from startmenu as administrator
6. with 7Zip open with doubleclick: C:\Program Files\Joplin\resources\app.asar
7. goto: node_modules@joplin\lib\node_modules\sqlite3\lib\binding\napi-v{napi_build_version}-win32-ia32
8. rename napi-v{napi_build_version}-win32-ia32 to napi-v3-win32-ia32
9. save the app.asar with
10. closed 7z
11. Start joplin
    Greetings

[SillyCar10]

@RCleanerman and @tomasz1986 , thank you so much for all the help. I can't wait to get back to work on Monday to try this! Wow, did I just say I can't wait to get back to work.... oops, maybe that wasn't right to say ;) But I am excited to get Joplin working on my Windows laptop. I am absolutely loving it so far on my iMac Pro and my Samsung Galaxy A32 phone. It is taking me a little while to get used to it after using Evernote for the past few years (and fixing the formatting after importing all my notes), but so far I really like it and once I'm certain that it will work for all of my note taking needs, I'm going to be ditching Evernote completely and donating at least something to the Joplin dev team so that apps like this can still exist. I can not stand the subscription model that everyone wants to go to, but I do understand why they do it. I'm just glad that programs like Joplin also exist! There are more than a few other great apps/plugins like this that I'm happy to donate to as well and grateful that they exist (Cyberduck, gotmls and mp3tag are all great ones for example). Anyway, thanks again and have a great weekend!

[SillyCar10]

Hello SillyCar10, please try this manuel This is my way on a 32BitPC:

1. If joblin is installed then: close all instances of joplin with the taskmanager and uninstall joplin

2. windows restart

3. install 7zip (with Asar.32.dll in Folder 'Formats', like michaldybczak, possiblew not necessary in new 7zipVersion)

4. install Joplin 2.8.8 - don't start Joplin at the end of setup

5. Start 7Zzip.exe (manager gui) from startmenu as administrator

6. with 7Zip open with doubleclick: C:\Program Files\Joplin\resources\app.asar

7. goto: node_modules@joplin\lib\node_modules\sqlite3\lib\binding\napi-v{napi_build_version}-win32-ia32

8. rename napi-v{napi_build_version}-win32-ia32 to napi-v3-win32-ia32

9. save the app.asar with

10. closed 7z

11. Start joplin
    Greetings

Just wanted to post back and let you know that this worked great for me.
One additional note in case it helps anyone else: I had trouble getting Joplin to complete the main install because I had a blank Joplin folder in C:\Program Files that somehow didn't delete when I uninstalled Joplin - not sure if I did something else to cause that folder to be there - but once I deleted that folder, I was able to get Joplin to install correctly and finish the process in 7zip.
Thanks for the detailed help everyone! Have a great day!

[MBKuzn]

Thank you all for the detailed help!
One more note on the latest version of Joplin 2.10.12.
It also did not work under win 10x32
Editing directory names helped, but in 2 places:

1. "C:\Program Files\Joplin\resources\app.asar\node_modules@joplin\lib\node_modules\sqlite3\lib\binding"
2. "C:\Program Files\Joplin\resources\app.asar\node_modules\sqlite3\lib\binding"

In 2 places, the "napi-v{napi_build_version}-win32-unknown-ia32" directory is fixed to "napi-v6-win32-unknown-ia32".
The latest version is v6 and not v3!
Have a nice day to everyone!

[MBKuzn]

The last working version for windows 32 is 2.12.15. The latest versions, including 2.13 - no longer work under windows 32 bit.
Developers - fix the problem !!!

[tomasz1986]

The last working version for windows 32 is 2.12.15. The latest versions, including 2.13 - no longer work under windows 32 bit.
Developers - fix the problem !!!

Which Windows specifically? If it's Windows 8 or older, then those are no longer supported and Joplin won't run there, be it 32 or 64 bit. The application should still be able to run under Windows 10 32-bit though.

[tomasz1986]

The current version of Joplin (which is v2.13.5 at the moment) only contains one folder inside app.asar\node_modules@joplin\lib\node_modules\sqlite3\lib\binding which is napi-v6-win32-unknown-x64. In other words, there is no napi-v{napi_build_version}-win32-unknown-ia32 folder anymore. Does this mean that there is no way to make Joplin run under Windows x86? The Joplin.exe executable itself is still 32-bit compatible, however without the napi-v{napi_build_version}-win32-unknown-ia32 folder rename tweak, it only launches in background without showing anything graphical on the screen.

[TomasFro]

Just an update (more of reminder tbh): Joplin 3.0.15 still not working.
(Windows 10 22H2 (build 19045.4780))

Very annoying that whole platform doesn't work for 3 years because of small bug, to be straight. That tells about something. Certainly no support from me for this. Also probably switching to another app taking my money with me. Sorry not sorry. 3 years.