v2025.2.1 of WPILib Installer Failure on Windows 10 - Shortcut Creation Failure Code 5

[kelmalon]

Describe the Bug
v2025.2.1 of WPILib Installer Failure on Windows 10 - Shortcut Creation Failure Code 5

To Reproduce

1. Download "https://packages.wpilib.workers.dev/installer/v2025.2.1/Win64/WPILib_Windows-2025.2.1.iso"
2. Open it
3. Open WPILib Installer executable
4. Click Start
5. Select "Install Everything" and "Install for this User"
6. Select "Skip and don't use VSCode"
7. Click "Yes I am sure"
8. Installer process begins and fails during "Fixing up maven metadata" and "Creating shortcuts" and displays an alert message stating "Shortcut creation failed with Error code 5"
9. Click "OK" on alert message
10. Installer displays as "Finished" without continuing install

Expected Behavior
Should complete installation without error codes.

Things done to try to fix
We deleted the 2025 folder within the Users/Public/wpilib folder and attempted the install again, where it failed with the same error code.

Screenshot of Error

Desktop Information
Machine Model: Microsoft Surface Pro 6
OS: Windows 10 Pro version 22H2

[sciencewhiz]

That error code means access denied

Are you sure you clicked install for this user and not install for all users?
Is this on a school or work managed computer?
What antivirus are you using?
When you skipped installing VS Code, did it say it had already detected a WPILib VS Code? (I don't think this is related, but you won't have a working installation if you skip it)
Are you able to write to C:\Users\<user name>\Desktop and C:\Users\chris\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

[kelmalon]

We fixed it upon learning it was an access issue -- we turned of the student's antivirus software and the installer completed. I'll still include answers to the questions you had asked though.

Yes, we clicked install for this user not all users.

This is a private Laptop owned by a student, their parents are the admin user for the laptop.

Antivirus is Trend Micro

When we skipped installing VSCode it said that it did not detect a wpilib VSCode which is correct, there is not one on the machine.

We were able to write to Desktop with the antivirus turned on, but the C:/Users/ folder on the drive did not contain the AppData folder you specified.

[sciencewhiz]

We were able to write to Desktop with the antivirus turned on, but the C:/Users/ folder on the drive did not contain the AppData folder you specified.

That's where it is on my computer, but the installer actually uses https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/api/shlobj_core/nf-shlobj_core-shgetknownfolderpath to find the start menu, since it could be different for different types of installations.

Closing since it was an anti-virus problem