cannot create a new catalogue

I cannot create a new catalogue in Lightroom CC any drive (external or c:\).This is something new as last week I did not have this problem. When selecting create new catalogue and browsing to the any hard drive location and selecting “create”, nothing happens.

In Catalogue settings the path/ location to the catalogue I have been using and continue to edit in reflects the right drive etc and its also correct in the backup menu however there is a “Path (*Offline)”. I can work on/edit in the current catalogue and back it up on exit to the drive I am working on but there is still a “Path (*Offline)” showing. There is no issues with catalogue integrity. There are no other back ups listed here other than the one I am working on with the correct drive letter

I have uninstalled/reinstalled LRC, I have updated windows 11, I have reset LRC defaults. I right clicked the execution file/ LRC launcher icon and have selected properties and under security tab I have given full access to all the users listed there but noticed that some ticks are greyed out. I have uninstalled and reinstalled my VPN software. For 2 days I have been at it... Is it a hardware security access issue?

Has anyone else come across this?

Thanks,
Ferenc