Opera error “Can’t open user profile directory, because you lack sufficient privileges.” after Power Loss

I am getting this message when I try to open Opera:

Opera
Can't open user profile directory, because you lack sufficient privileges. You might want to contact the administrator of this machine.
OK

I am the Admin on my PC and current User name is also on Admin group.
Had 1st power failure few days ago while active on PC, & after restart Opera worked fine.
Then did the recent Opera security update and/ or update to latest Opera and this time the PC was idle and opera had bunch of tabs open, when the 2nd power failure happened.

Solution pathways: ??

Is there a within Opera fix for this? OR Does it have to be a Windows level fix?
Would downloading a full Setup of latest Opera and installing on top (maybe as Admin) work to fix this issue?
Should I do something like a "Take Ownership" on certain folders/ folder tree via Windows Explorer or similar?

Please let me know how to ENSURE I get access to this without losing my profile info. Thanks.

Additional info:

Since, this showed up I figured I should do a typical system check that I do using Image-Health which includes DISM & SFC command via an easy to run Menu system.

DISM ran fine, but SFC stopped at 23% and created at report (most of its lots of Hex/ Binary style info that doesnt share any file/ folder names of issue).

Now, for those saying SFC is not significant, let me repeat - All said checks, that I've used many times have worked fine before.

So, I believe this Opera & SFC both facing permissions issues is kind of connected.

The only other addition was installation of Windows 8.1 Security Rollup before these 2 power failures.

SFC - System File Checker stuck at 23 24% - Windows Resource Protection could not perform the requested operation

Permissions Screenshots combined: PS: At first this was concerning, but then the Read Only attrib is there on the AppData folders of all Applications, so I figure that may be the norm?

Alex S

Posted 2017-05-28T12:49:25.150

Reputation: 811

Provide the ACL for the folder in question. Please provide all relevant tabs ina single screenshot of an appropriate size – Ramhound – 2017-05-28T14:51:43.687

@Ramhound - I suspect the folder in question is "C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Opera Software" - I understand ACLs, but how would you like me to enumerate/ share them with you? I am taking screenshots for now - Is there a better ACL enumeration mechanism? – Alex S – 2017-05-29T11:28:34.580

@Ramhound - Posted screenshots - Any thoughts/ responses? – Alex S – 2017-05-31T07:29:18.520

Answers

Opera Browser stores browser data in two folder in Windows::

"C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Opera Software" (only for cache)
"C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Opera Software" (for all browser/user data and preferences)

Backup bookmarks and you may delete/rename that folders (rd /s /q command) to solve your issue if you have not any valuable data in your Opera browser. Here are the path of that files to be backed up::

Bookmarks:: "C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Opera Software\Opera Stable\Bookmarks"
Preferences:: "C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Opera Software\Opera Stable\Preferences"

tl;dr; delete two folders and run Opera.

Download Opera offline installer:: https://get.geo.opera.com/pub/opera/desktop/

Biswapriyo

Posted 2017-05-28T12:49:25.150

Reputation: 6 640

How are these 4 different? - https://get.geo.opera.com/pub/opera/desktop/45.0.2552.881/win/ - Also I'd like to ensure all my settings and extensions are not lost and usable as they were - https://superuser.com/questions/951095/understand-structure-of-chrome-user-profile-data-to-transfer-to-new-pc-os-avo

– Alex S – 2017-05-29T11:23:38.603

I cant afford to lose all the "data" inside the extensions - This was an issue in Chrome (linked), why I moved to Opera (also based on chromium( and now similar data loss in Opera. – Alex S – 2017-05-29T12:21:35.517

Alright then try takeown and icacls command to set ACL recursively to all files and folders. – Biswapriyo – 2017-05-29T12:24:49.553

I am aware of that option, the issue is - I already have ownership - atleast from what I see in the ACLs - Also compared it to other Applications - Going to try with a different username to see how permissions are similar – Alex S – 2017-05-29T12:26:31.433

Try to set all the owners and Grant permission to 'Everyone' – Biswapriyo – 2017-05-29T12:28:39.870

I just did a TakeOwnership (from being logged into existing Users\Username1) on the existing "Opera Stable" folder under AppData, using the Context Menu (already had it installed) thing from here:

https://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2814-take-ownership-add-context-menu-windows-8-a.html

Upon trying to open Opera I got the same message.

PS: Also, logged into separate Users\Username2 and Opera opens up. So, it seems something inside existing profile is off.

Do I need to create a fresh Profile folder and copy stuff into it or should a Take Ownership be enough?

– Alex S – 2017-05-30T15:44:34.287

I had a similar problem and uninstalled Trend Micro Housecall and opera now works. DRScanner.exe was holding the profile.

Supremehamster

Posted 2017-05-28T12:49:25.150

Reputation: 9