signal-desktop-win-6.1.0.exe database startup error

[slyles1001]

Using a supported version?

• I have searched searched open and closed issues for duplicates.
• I am using Signal-Desktop as provided by the Signal team, not a 3rd-party package.

Overall summary

I noticed Signal desktop wasn't running, and tried to start. It errored with this text:

Database startup error:

Error: SqliteError: file is not a database
    at Database.pragma ([REDACTED]\node_modules\better-sqlite3\lib\methods\pragma.js:11:31)
    at getUserVersion ([REDACTED]\ts\sql\util.js:67:13)
    at migrateSchemaVersion ([REDACTED]\ts\sql\Server.js:302:54)
    at openAndMigrateDatabase ([REDACTED]\ts\sql\Server.js:331:3)
    at openAndSetUpSQLCipher ([REDACTED]\ts\sql\Server.js:346:14)
    at Object.initialize ([REDACTED]\ts\sql\Server.js:377:10)
    at MessagePort.<anonymous> ([REDACTED]\ts\sql\mainWorker.js:69:35)
    at [nodejs.internal.kHybridDispatch] (node:internal/event_target:643:20)
    at exports.emitMessage (node:internal/per_context/messageport:23:28)
    at Worker.<anonymous> ([REDACTED]\ts\sql\main.js:56:26)
    at Worker.emit (node:events:527:28)
    at MessagePort.<anonymous> (node:internal/worker:233:53)
    at [nodejs.internal.kHybridDispatch] (node:internal/event_target:643:20)
    at exports.emitMessage (node:internal/per_context/messageport:23:28)

Tried a new install and getting this error:

Steps to reproduce

Download signal desktop for windows
Run installer

Expected result

Signal desktop installed

Actual result

Screenshots

No response

Signal version

7.74.0.0

Operating system

Windows 10

Version of Signal on your phone

7.60.1 (android)

Link to debug log

No response

[scottnonnenberg-signal]

@slyles1001 Can you talk about the history of your Signal Desktop install on this machine? Were there any times when the app or computer shut down abruptly without normal cleanup? Did you copy data between computers? Did you reset your password? These are things that can sometimes cause problems like this.

It would help us if you could provide your debug log. Since the app isn't starting, you can go to the data directory and grab the log files directly: C:\Users\<YourUsername>\AppData\Roaming\Signal\logs

If you'd like to start from scratch, you'll need to go to Add/Remove programs, then fully uninstall Signal Desktop, then install it again. That will delete all of your previous data so you won't see the startup error anymore.

[slyles1001]

Hey Scott, I have been using Signal Desktop for several years. My computer is windows 10 Dell XPS. I don't think there have been any memory issues; normal usage and updates. I haven't done any app updates recently and this is the only system linked to my phone. If there's any hope I'll hold off uninstalling but I know there's a one-week countdown. Thank you!

main.log.1 This was the oldest written file in that folder. I changed to main.1.log for github upload.
app.log
main.log

[scottnonnenberg-signal]

Unfortunately there is just about nothing in those logs, so they won't help us. Can you upload all the files in that folder? We're more interested in the newest ones.

[scottnonnenberg-signal]

Also, why does the title of the issue mention signal-desktop-win-6.1.0.exe - aren't you on Signal Desktop 7.74.0?

[slyles1001]

Unfortunately there is just about nothing in those logs, so they won't help us. Can you upload all the files in that folder? We're more interested in the newest ones.

Those 3 files were the only thing in the folder unfortunately.

Also, why does the title of the issue mention signal-desktop-win-6.1.0.exe - aren't you on Signal Desktop 7.74.0?

I think it wasn't open, and signal doesn't show up in my installed programs for whatever reason. I had written the 6.1.0 in the ticket because there was an old installer in my downloads. I uninstalled and reinstalled, it seems to be working. I'll just close because the logs weren't helpful and it doesn't seem like there's much else to try.