Preferences not being saved (no permission)

[WaffleToasters]

Hello, thanks for reading this.

I ahve an odd problem that appeared out of the blue, everything was working fine yesterday and now suddenly I noticed certain things were not working anymore; critical things.

I run Maya 2018 on Windows 10. I haven't done anything different with my system between working yesterday and now. My user is administrator and I have enough discspace.

Things that are not working; my autosave can no longer save files, if I adjust these settings in the preference menu and press save then an error show sup in the log and the changes revert back if I restart Maya and I cannot save my shelves.

I tried removing the old preference folder and creating a default one, I tried switching workspaces to see if it would change anything. No budge.

Message given; When auto save;

// Performing Auto-Save at 2020/04/15 14:35:09:
// master file: __AUTO-SAVE__untitled.mb
// auto-save file: C:/Users/X/Documents/maya/Maya Autosave/__AUTO-SAVE__untitled.0005.mb
// Error: line 1: Can't write to "C:/Users/X/Documents/maya/Maya Autosave/__AUTO-SAVE__untitled.0005.mb" //
// Error: line 1: Could not save file "C:/Users/X/Documents/maya/Maya Autosave/__AUTO-SAVE__untitled.0005.mb". //

When saving preferences;

saveShelf Polygons "C:/Users/X/Documents/maya/2018/prefs/shelves/shelf_Polygons";
// Error: line 1: Can't open the file: C:/Users/X/Documents/maya/2018/prefs/shelves/shelf_Polygons //
saveShelf RebusFarm "C:/Users/X/Documents/maya/2018/prefs/shelves/shelf_RebusFarm";
// Error: line 1: Can't open the file: C:/Users/X/Documents/maya/2018/prefs/shelves/shelf_RebusFarm //
saveShelf XGen "C:/Users/X/Documents/maya/2018/prefs/shelves/shelf_XGen";
// Error: line 1: Can't open the file: C:/Users/X/Documents/maya/2018/prefs/shelves/shelf_XGen //
saveShelf Bifrost "C:/Users/X/Documents/maya/2018/prefs/shelves/shelf_Bifrost";
// Error: line 1: Can't open the file: C:/Users/X/Documents/maya/2018/prefs/shelves/shelf_Bifrost //
saveShelf MASH "C:/Users/X/Documents/maya/2018/prefs/shelves/shelf_MASH";
// Error: line 1: Can't open the file: C:/Users/X/Documents/maya/2018/prefs/shelves/shelf_MASH //
saveShelf MotionGraphics "C:/Users/X/Documents/maya/2018/prefs/shelves/shelf_MotionGraphics";
// Error: line 1: Can't open the file: C:/Users/X/Documents/maya/2018/prefs/shelves/shelf_MotionGraphics //
// Warning: file: C:/Program Files/Autodesk/Maya2018/scripts/startup/syncGlobalOptVars.mel line 70: Failed to save C:/Users/X/Documents/maya/2018/prefs/shelves/shelf_Polygons.mel. Check write permission //
// Warning: file: C:/Program Files/Autodesk/Maya2018/scripts/startup/syncGlobalOptVars.mel line 70: Failed to save C:/Users/X/Documents/maya/2018/prefs/shelves/shelf_RebusFarm.mel. Check write permission //
// Warning: file: C:/Program Files/Autodesk/Maya2018/scripts/startup/syncGlobalOptVars.mel line 70: Failed to save C:/Users/X/Documents/maya/2018/prefs/shelves/shelf_XGen.mel. Check write permission //
// Warning: file: C:/Program Files/Autodesk/Maya2018/scripts/startup/syncGlobalOptVars.mel line 70: Failed to save C:/Users/X/Documents/maya/2018/prefs/shelves/shelf_Bifrost.mel. Check write permission //
// Warning: file: C:/Program Files/Autodesk/Maya2018/scripts/startup/syncGlobalOptVars.mel line 70: Failed to save C:/Users/X/Documents/maya/2018/prefs/shelves/shelf_MASH.mel. Check write permission //
// Warning: file: C:/Program Files/Autodesk/Maya2018/scripts/startup/syncGlobalOptVars.mel line 70: Failed to save C:/Users/X/Documents/maya/2018/prefs/shelves/shelf_MotionGraphics.mel. Check write permission //
// Error: file: C:/Program Files/Autodesk/Maya2018/scripts/startup/syncGlobalOptVars.mel line 90: colorManagementFileRules: The file cannot be opened: C:/Users/X/Documents/maya/2018/prefs\synColorFileRules.xml //
// Warning: file: C:/Program Files/Autodesk/Maya2018/scripts/startup/preferencesWnd.mel line 111: Save of "C:/Users/X/Documents/maya/2018/prefs/userPrefs.mel" failed //
// Warning: file: C:/Program Files/Autodesk/Maya2018/scripts/startup/preferencesWnd.mel line 111: Save of "C:/Users/X/Documents/maya/2018/prefs/windowPrefs.mel" failed //
// Warning: file: C:/Program Files/Autodesk/Maya2018/scripts/startup/preferencesWnd.mel line 111: Save of "C:/Users/X/Documents/maya/2018/prefs/userRunTimeCommands.mel" failed //
// Warning: line 1: Save of "C:/Users/X/Documents/maya/2018/prefs/pluginPrefs.mel" failed //
// Warning: file: C:/Program Files/Autodesk/Maya2018/scripts/startup/preferencesWnd.mel line 111: Not all preferences were saved. See Script Editor for details. //

I have here a completely clean preference maya and the problem still occurs. I don't understand how this can suddenly happen after 1 day of working as usual, saving my project and starting maya the next day to continue.

What do I do to resolve this?

I ahve read multiple threads and some say remove prefs, others say the env file, non of these threads have given me a proper solution that works.

[WaffleToasters]

Adding, I have tried reinstalling Maya 2018 clean and still the problem occurs.

[WaffleToasters · Accepted solution]

It took me another couple hours and I think I have found the solution.

The solution was not Maya related but Windows 10 related; my user profile had seemingly become corrupted hence why the permissions wouldn't happen.

I created a new user profile, I made this one an admin, copy pasted all the preferences to that one's My Documents and deleted the old profile (after more copy pasting ofc) and seemingly it works as it should. Auto save is working again and when I save the shelves then no 'some preferences could not be saved' message popped up it the log.

Bad thing is, I now have to set up all the other things in the user account since everything was reset (program settings in many programs included). But thank goodness I was able to figure this one out, I had not seen it in other related topics before so hopefully it can be of use for anyone who comes across the same issue.

Easy enough to test cause after making a new user you can use maya while logged into that user and basically see for yourself by repeating the things that didn't work. If so then you can haul all the data over from the other user to that new one (don't forget hidden folder). Make yourself admin and remove the old one.

[albertcallejo]

That's not a true solution

I 'm having the same issue in a new installed W10 ... 

Autodesk must solve it, or give indications and tutorials... completely disappointed with this autodesk issue...

A.