Installing Freefilesync on offline network

[exatronic]

Hi everyone,

I want to install freefilesync on a few machines that are in a network without access to the internet. This is because these machines are running OSs that are no longer considered secure.

However, when I run the installer, I get an error message saying that a a file was not found in C:\users\[random dudes name that is not present in the machine].

I think it tries to fetch the animal image and fails because of it.
Is there a way for me to install freefilesync without access to internet?

[John1234]

No — once you have the FreeFileSync installer downloaded, the installation does NOT require an internet connection.The only part that needs internet is downloading the installer itself. After that, the setup runs entirely offline. This is consistent with how FreeFileSync distributes its installers: they are full, self‑contained packages with no online components or dependency downloads during installation. The official FAQ also notes that the offline manual is included inside the installation folder, which further confirms the installer is self‑contained.
The donation Edition is different. It requires activation.

[exatronic]

Then what do you attribute these errors to?

Failed to open image file
"C:\Users\bediener\AppData\Local\Temp\is-BGSKVI6OVK.tmp\img_23.jpg"
Bitmap::Bitmap

Runtime error (at 70:5084):
Cannot open file "C:\Users\bediener\AppData\Local\Temp\is-BGSKVI6OVK.tmp\img_23.bmp"
The system cannot find the file specified.

These errors happen when I try to execute the installer from a pendrive on a windows10 computer without internet connection.
Keep in mind no user named "bediener" exists in my user list, neither in C:\Users.
The installer used was 14.11 windows setup.

[Zenju]

Failed to open image file
"C:\Users\bediener\AppData\Local\Temp\is-BGSKVI6OVK.tmp\img_23.jpg"
Bitmap::Bitmap

The error message doesn't show the underlying error code. Here's a fixed version that hopefully will give more insight:
https://www.mediafire.com/file/ck415rf9m55hnn2/FreeFileSync_14.12_%255BBeta%255D_Windows_Setup.exe

[exatronic]

Interesting, now the first error message is as follows:

Failed to convert image file
"C:\Users\Bediener\AppData\Local\Temp\is-XN8U8YNEZ5.tmp\img_8.jpg"
Gdiplus::invalidParameter [bmp.GetLastStatus()]

A problem in GDI+? missing image processing capabilities?
What do you make of this?

[Zenju]

For testing I've locked the input image file, the result also was a "Gdiplus::invalidParameter". So this is bad/misleading error reporting from Microsoft GDI+, because nothing is "invalid".

Most likely something is blocking read access for the jpg file, perhaps some AV or security software. This might be visible in a Process Monitor trace: https://freefilesync.org/faq.php#trace

[exatronic]

I managed to collect a trace, got a few "buffer overflows", "name not found" and "file locked with only readers".

File locked could support your hypothesis, but I don't see any events in windows defender... honestly I'm kinda perplexed.
I will send the PML file to the email zenju [at] freefilesync.org

[Zenju]

I will send the PML file

Not exactly sure what I'm looking at. There seem to be multiple runs and a lot of crashes (WerFault.exe). At least at the end FreeFileSync.exe seems to be crashing, which is unexpected since you reported a "Gdiplus::invalidParameter" error, which is not a crash. So either this is a different problem, or the crash happens afterwards?

[exatronic]

I can assure you, this is the trace produced when executing the installer on the win10 machine. I only stopped the trace when i clicked ok on the two error boxes.

However, I have news: I tried to install on another one of my machines, and the installation went through smoothly. So I tried the installation on all others, and yes, it went smoothly.
So this seems to be specific to this particular windows 10 machine... Guess I gotta look into my configuration

Thank you for the efforts Zenju

[Zenju]

when i clicked ok on the two error boxes.

What two error boxes? and in what order? one after another, or both appear at the same time?

[exatronic]

Failed to open image file
"C:\Users\bediener\AppData\Local\Temp\is-BGSKVI6OVK.tmp\img_23.jpg"
Bitmap::Bitmap

Runtime error (at 70:5084):
Cannot open file "C:\Users\bediener\AppData\Local\Temp\is-BGSKVI6OVK.tmp\img_23.bmp"
The system cannot find the file specified.

After your patched installer, the first error box became this:

Failed to convert image file
"C:\Users\Bediener\AppData\Local\Temp\is-XN8U8YNEZ5.tmp\img_8.jpg"
Gdiplus::invalidParameter [bmp.GetLastStatus()]

After you click okay on these two error boxes, the install process just quits!

[Zenju]

There are a few red herrings.... The PML file suggests crashes, but the fact you're seeing the "Gdiplus::invalidParameter" message box suggests otherwise. Maybe the crash happens after that, but is at best an unrelated issue.
Anyway I'm not seeing ANY file access at all in the PML file related to jpg. This means there is some GDI+ initialization issue that is triggering the Gdiplus::invalidParameter.

AI is convinced this is related to "embeddedColorManagement", and the profile on your system is corrupted. Possible, would explain all the symptoms, and the fact you're the only user I know of that has this kind of problem.

So let's give it a shot, disabled color management:
https://www.mediafire.com/file/1yz727328i3ey1a/FreeFileSync_14.12_%255BBeta%255D_Windows_Setup%25283%2529.exe

[exatronic]

Unfortunately It did not work, same errors.
It's clear this is a machine specific issue, as this windows 10 pro installation is highly customized and the issue is unrelated to freefilesync.
I just wish I tried it on any other machine first, instead of making the post xd.
If I find a specific culprit, I will let you all know.

[John1234]

Hi,

Do you think there's a possibility that there is something in your user profile on that computer that is causing a problem?

What I recommend is that you create a new local account on that computer and install free file sync there for everybody and see if it works and if it does you're in great shape.

Windows 11 I don't know about 10 as a run as command. You can be logged in to your normal account and run the free file sync installer program using your new local account.

This link is to my notes on how to use the run as command in Windows.

https://pzgg1fpeau.joplinusercontent.com/shares/6Cg2OK5bsWycMnkaxFpITD