Illustrator CC 2019 Installation Fails, error code: 145

[imageswami]

I tried updating Illustrator with the Creative Cloud app but it failed with a terse error message:

Clicking on "More Information" says that "WARN: Target directory already exists: 'C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator CC 2019\Support Files\Contents\Windows'". I tried deleting the directory but it seems to be corrupted in a way that Windows won't let me do so (even with Admin privilege). An attempt to rename the directory also results in the same problem. I tried uninstalling the app via the Windows control panel but that didn't work either.

Can anyone suggest how I can resolve this problem and install the latest Illustrator (I have the proper Creative Cloud subscription).

Thanks.

{Renamed by MOD}

[Kevin Stohlmeyer]

Uninstall and run the CC Cleaner tool then reinstall.

Use the Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool to solve installation problems

[imageswami]

OK - I tried it. This tool offers a large number of options for which CC tool to "clean" but oddly, Illustrator (the one with the problem) is not one of the choices. So I selected "all" when it asked what to clean (a mistake in retrospect). This did "something" and claimed "success". But in the process, the Creative Cloud installer/updater app was removed from my machine. So I had to re-install it. It then claimed that the only CC app that was already installed on my machine was Acrobat DC (this despite the fact that I can still run Premiere, Photoshop etc. just fine). Anyhow, I clicked on "install" for Illustrator (the original problem). After getting up to around 65%, it died as before (with a nice message saying "Installation Failed").

At this point, I don't dare update any other Adobe app. Sigh.

[imageswami]

After a bit of digging, I learned the the reason this happens is that some files created by Illustrator get locked so the installer can't overwrite them. The solution that worked for me was to use Microsoft's Process Explorer to unlock those files. Once that's done, the Adobe installer will run successfully.

Come on Adobe - your customers are ARTISTS - they shouldn't have to dig through the guts of Windows to unlock secret files.

[pasijh]

 I've had this happen a couple of times the past year or so. After trying to update a few times in the CC app and everytime getting the "Installation failed" message I went for the easiest fix you can try: Rebooting the computer. It has worked for me in Windows 10, and after the reboot the updating worked without problems.

[Srishti Bali]

Hi there,

Thanks for sharing this here. This might help other users as well. This error generally occurs when a file already exists at the install path.

You can simply rename/delete the file and then try again. To get information about the file, click "More information".

For more details about the install errors please take a look at this help article: https://helpx.adobe.com/in/creative-cloud/kb/troubleshoot-download-install-logs.html

Regards,

Srishti

[Zahoor]

1. Reboot your computer

2. Open Fileexplorer with Admin-privileges.

3. Find and delete "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator 2020"

4. Install/update Illustrator from Creative Cloud app.