CSIL Windows Known Issues
- To find out more about the various servers referenced on this page, click here.
- The myUserID on this page means a specific user's SFU Computing ID.
System Access
- I cannot create file/folder on U: drive.
- I cannot create a 10MB file while there is 1 TB free space on U: drive!
- I lost access to U: (my home directory) all of a sudden.
- I cannot get the CSIL Windows running properly; Helpdesk says my profile may be corrupted.
- I cannot access the Internet.
- I cannot open my project by double-clicking the project icon on the U: drive.
- Some applications cannot write to "freesia"!
- The computer stops responding while I sign-out.
- I cannot sign-out, the computer complains that my profile has exceeded the quota.
Development Tool: Microsoft Visual Studio
- Please check out this page for all the Q&As on using Microsoft Visual Studio in CSIL.
Development Tool: NetBeans
Development Tool: Python
I cannot create file/folder on U: drive.
The symptoms:
- the U: is properly mapped
- there is space available on U:
- user cannot create file/folder on U:
- user cannot create file/folder in their sfuhome/ in the SSH window connects to a CSIL CPU server
- this may happen to other people too
All these indicate there are technical issues with the ITS' file server.
In this case, the CS helpdesk cannot assist you; please contact help line of SFU asap. You will find more information on this page.
I cannot create a 10MB file while there is 1 TB free space on U: drive!
This is a known issue: the 1TB free space you see is shared among thousands of SFU users, not only to you.
You may have reached the quota limit on your SFU Home.
To check out how much space you've used on your SFU Home, please select all of the files and folders (include hidden and system objects) on you U: drive and check the properties.
Once you got this number, you could calculate the real free space you have on your SFU Home by check against the quota limit on IT Services site.
I lost access to U: (my home directory) all of a sudden.
There are two common causes:
- You've reached your disk quota limit; you cannot write on it before you clear out some space (delete some files).
- The U: drive isn't correctly mapped to your home directory. Please reboot the workstation and try again.
Other symptoms of the similar issue (which a reboot will help):
- manually mapping to U: fails
See the next Q&A for other options.
I cannot get the CSIL Windows running properly; Helpdesk says my profile may be corrupted.
The Windows User Profile is a system level file containing some of your personal preferences such as your Windows Explorer settings, desktop appearance settings, DSN, environment settings, etc.
Every CSIL Windows user is using roaming profile with folder redirection.
There are numerous factors that can cause the profile to become corrupted: exceeding your disk quota for profile, an incomplete sign out, even a slow network connection.
To restore your CSIL Windows profile back to its original settings, you must email helpdesk.
Unfortunately, all modifications you've made to your profile are wiped out after we reset it.
There is a hard quota of 300 MB on your CSIL Windows profile.
- This should be sufficient for any configuration changes and links that you may want to put into your menus or onto your desktop.
-
However, if you put a file (not a link) in your "Documents" or "Desktop" folders,
the entire file is placed into your profile directory and you may end up exceeding your profile quota.
- Note: This will lead to corruption of CSIL Windows profile.
- We strongly recommend that you do not put anything other than shortcuts into these two folders.
The most likely cause is: your CSIL Windows profile has become corrupted.
- To reset CSIL Windows profile, please email helpdesk.
There might be another (unlikely) cause: the workstation is prepared/reserved for an in-lab examination. Please be sure to check out the lab schedule.
I cannot open my project by double-clicking the project icon on the U: drive.
There are two usual reasons:
(1) The application's association with the file extension is broken.
- The OS associates particular file extensions with particular applications.
- (e.g., .docx for Microsoft Word, .psd for Adobe Photoshop).
- The user of the computer may edit/repair the associations, but these alterations may be overwritten without advanced notice.
- A workaround: try to open the project inside the specific application.
(2) Your profile has become corrupted.
Please email helpdesk for a reset of CSIL Windows profile.
Some applications cannot write to "freesia"!
freesia.csil.sfu.ca is the file server stores CSIL Windows users' profiles. Every CSIL user has 300MB on this server.
Unfortunately, some applications write their configuration files (or worse, even the executables) to user's profile folder.
The error message "cannot write to \\freesia\userdata\myUserID\" generally indicates there is no enough free space for you.
Please try the following steps:
-
Move all files from the "Desktop"
and "Documents"
folder to U: drive.
- This act should free up enough space.
- U: is the SFU Home for every SFU user.
- U: is the only recommended storage space for regular CSIL users.
-
Use the File Explorer, navigate to folder
"\\freesia\userdata\myUserID\"- check to see if any application folder is huge in size.
- for such folders, you may safely delete those.
- just a reminder: most of these folders and/or files are hidden.
-
Check (and change) the permission settings on folder
"\\freesia\userdata\myUserID\"- to ensure you have Full access to it and to all child folders/files.
- Check then empty the recycle bin on the Desktop to reclaim space.
If these clean-up actions did not fix the problem, please contact helpdesk.
I cannot sign-out, the computer complains that my profile has exceeded the quota.
As you've known, we are using roaming profile for all users in CSIL - and there is a quota limitation on each user's profile on the network storage.
- When you sign-out from a CSIL Windows computer, the computer will try to copy the local cached portion of user profile to network storage.
- If the local cached portion of user profile cannot be fit into the network storage, data loss will occur.
- Since the OS must ensure there is no data loss, it has to prevent user from sign-out.
- To resolve this issue: user must clean up profile, and then the sign-out process continues.
So, the profile clean-up steps:
- First, follow the instructions on this Q&A to clean up the redirected portion of user profile.
- Then, work on "C:\Users\myUserID\" folder (holds the local cached portion of user profile), this folder should be less than 50 MB.
To sign-out forcefully (warning: may cause the corruption of the profile), try this:
-
Please hit key combo Ctrl-Alt-Del to get the "Windows Security" window,
and then click on the "Switch user" option.
- (Please note - this is the only time to use this method in CSIL)
-
Now, hit Ctrl-Alt-Del again to get the "Windows Security" window,
then click on the soft power button (at the bottom-right corner) and select "Restart"
- * ignore the warnings to force restart.
-
(The workstation will restart and the local cached profiles will be cleaned.)
- a special cleanup cronjob (implemented by helpdesk) will be triggered to achieve this.
Please note: do not hold down the power button to restart or shutdown the workstation.
- we have seen too many corrupted workstations caused by improper shutdown,
- and we have to rebuild every corrupted workstation from scratch!
The computer stops responding while I sign-out.
- Please hit key combo Ctrl-Alt-Del to get the "Windows Security" window, and then click on the "Task Manager" button.
- The Task Manager will pop up.
- Right-click any application with status "Not Responding" click "End task".
- When all "Not Responding" applications are ended, the sign out process continues.
Please refrain from using the "switch user" method in CSIL.
- the last user's applications still consume resources which affect the current user of the computer.
- the last user's profile may grow out of control and render the specific account unusable.
Please make sure you see the sign-in screen (with customized CSIL Windows image) before you leave the spot!
If you do not sign-out properly,
- anyone else sitting in front of the workstation will be able to continue using the workstation under your name (use your SFU Computing ID);
- who will gain full access of your personal data on SFU networks;
- and your identity may get stolen!
I cannot find JDK folder on CSIL Windows workstations.
On all CSIL Windows hosts, JDK is installed here:
C:\Program Files\Java\jdk
The JDK documents are under
C:\Program Files\Java\jdk\docs
Technote: We have dropped support for 32bit JDK/JRE. All of our Windows hosts are using 64bit JDK/JRE on the 64bit OS. If you notice any compatibility issue with certain applications, please inform the application vendor for updates.
I cannot compile my Java program in JCreator.
The most common reason is that the JCreator does not have JDK home path setup properly.
Please follow these steps to set it up:
- launch JCreator
- navigate to menu Configure -> Option
- on the left pane click JDK Profiles
- delete all existing profiles
- click New... button
- navigate to folder C:\Program Files\Java\jdk
- for Documents folder, use folder C:\Program Files\Java\jdk\docs
- click button OK a few times to save the settings
- try to compile your program
I encounter compatibility issues with Java environment in CSIL.
Since Summer 2026, we have Java 25 LTS 64bit installed on all CSIL Windows hosts.
Please check out the release notes of JDK 25 LTS.
If you grab some sample codes from the Internet, please make sure they are compatible with Java 25 LTS 64bit in CSIL.
Please chat with the instructor if you cannot resolve the compatibility issues on your own.
NetBeans says "JVM creation failed".
This is a known issue with NetBeans.
Please try to launch NetBeans by using the following command line (please note: this is a single line):
"C:\Program Files\NetBeans\bin\netbeans.exe" -J-XX:MaxPermSize=128m
- You may want to save this as a shortcut on your desktop.
Here is a bug report.
I cannot create workspace under Eclipse.
The default workspace path may look like this:
\\???\myUserID\eclipse\workspace
Unfortunately, Eclipse does not recognize this UNC (short of Uniform Naming Convention) path.
To create your own workspace, simply use MS-DOS style path like
U:\eclipse\workspace
The possible symptoms include (but not limit to):
- cannot create new project;
- many menu items are grayed out;
- popup dialog shows errors;
- & etc.
Please follow these steps:
- close/terminate all running instances of Eclipse
- launch File Explorer
- navigate to the folder: \\freesia\userdata\myUserID
- delete this folder: .eclipse
- delete this folder as well (if you have it): eclipse
If these steps did not fix the issue,
please try to follow the instructions listed in
this Q&A
to clean up CSIL Windows profile.
I have troubles using Eclipse for Android development.
Here are a few helpful points.
Step 1:
- Launch Settings
- key-in env in the "Find a setting" field
- select "Edit environment variables for your account"
- just under "User variables for UserID" section in the newly open dialog box, click New... button
-
in the newly open dialog box,
for Variable name, type ANDROID_SDK_HOME
for Variable value, type \\freesia\userdata\myUserID\android1 - Click OK button a few times to save the settings
Step 2:
- Launch Eclipse
- Navigate to menu Window -> Preferences
- on the left pane, click Android
-
for SDK Location on the right pane,
type C:\Program Files (x86)\Android\android-sdk - click OK button
- Navigate to menu Window -> Android SDK and AVD Manager
- in the newly open dialog box, create a new virtual device, then emulate it
A gentle reminder: be patient - the emulator is on the slow side...
IDLE (Python GUI) won't start!
Sometimes when IDLE starts, it prompts the following error message:
"
Subprocess Startup Error: IDLE's subprocess didn't make connection.
Either IDLE can't start a subprocess or personal firewall software is blocking the connection.
"
Here is the workaround (a fix is under research):
- launch File Explorer
- find (or create) a file with .py extension
- right click this file, select "Edit with IDLE"
Now, the IDLE (Python GUI) should start.
Open a PDF file within a browser only shows a blank page.
The most possible cause is the "Protected Mode" of Adobe Reader. Please follow these steps:
- launch Adobe Reader from Start menu.
- within the Adobe Reader, navigate through menu item: Preferences...
- in the newly opened Preferences dialog window, click Security (Enhanced) on left pane
- on the right side, at the top, UN-check the Enable Protected Mode at startup
- click OK button to save settings, close Adobe Reader.
- restart the browser, window will open and PDF content will show up.
A gentle reminder: we have received many reports on issues related to "viewing of PDF in browser"; we strongly recommend viewing PDF outside of any browser.
Open a PDF file with filled forms but the filled information seems missing.
The symptoms:
- when the PDF is opened, it looks like it is not filled in.
- but, when click any input box, the filled data of this specific field shows up;
- click another field will make the previous one disappears again.
- the printout of this document does not have filled info either.
- basically, this filled file is totally useless.
The most possible cause is: this specific PDF file was filled out by using the Mac Preview app instead of Mac Acrobat.
The only right thing to do is: ask the person who created/saved/filled PDF file to re-fill the PDF file using a proper application.
- we only recommend Adobe Acrobat Reader
- always fill the outside of any browser.
Print a PDF file within a browser but the printout is not the same as on the screen!
The short answer: Disable the in-browser viewing of PDF, period.
There are many known issues of viewing PDF files in-browser. And there is no fix provided by any vendor yet.
The best way for viewing/printing PDF files is to use Adobe Reader (or Adobe Acrobat Pro if you have license) - outside of any browser.
Here is our summary of how to disable in-browser viewing PDF files.
For Mozilla Firefox (v62+):
- It will not display PDF contents within the browsing window - it always saves/downloads it first. Good move!
For Google Chrome (v89+ Enterprise)
- launch Google Chrome
-
click button "Customize and control Google Chrome"
(aka the three vertical dots on the right side of the address bar) -
on the left pane, click Privacy and security
- on the right pane,
> expand Site settings
> expand Additional content settings
> expand PDF documents
- on the right pane, turn On the option Always download PDF files
- done!
For Microsoft Edge (v103+):
- launch Microsoft Edge, use key combo Alt+F and choose Settings
-
on the left pane, click Cookies and sites permissions
-
on the right pane,
expand Site permissions
> All permissions
> PDF documents - on the right pane, turn On the option Always download PDF files
- Done.
The only shortcut to launch Matlab is Matlab 2022b on any CSIL Windows workstation.
From time to time, CSIL users encounter Matlab launching issues.
When this happens, please reset the settings of Matlab by launching reset_Matlab.bat on Start menu.
If the issue persists, please report this to helpdesk - be sure including the name of the workstation.
Matlab runs, but certain Matlab functions are missing.
We list two known cases here, please try the fix/workaround accordingly.
Case 1: Matlab has trouble with the work directory (e.g., a UNC path)
- please close all running Matlab instances, and start the Matlab with the work directory on on U:\
- (the shortcut to Matlab on the Start menu in CSIL has work directory on U:\)
Case 2: The Matlab configuration is corrupted.
- re-initialize the Matlab may solve the problem.
- please close/terminate all running Matlab instances,
- please reset the settings of Matlab by launching reset_Matlab.bat on Start menu.
If the issue persists, please report this to helpdesk.
After I create and save a new function within Matlab, it says cannot find it.
We've seen many reports like this when the user functions are saved on the U: drive (SFU Home).
The exact cause is still unknown and we are investigating. Here is a workaround:
run "rehash path" in Matlab to update function and file system caches.
Just a reminder: please keep saving files to U:, not anywhere else.
I want to save my file to PostScript instead of sending it to the printer.
When print, there is a check box on the dialog box read "print to file". When you check this box and hit print, a file will be generated instead of paper output. The generated file is basically a PostScript file.
There is NO CHARGE if you save as a PostScript file.
I want to save my file to PDF instead of sending it to the printer.
The best way to generate a PDF file is: print to a pseudo-printer "Microsoft Print to PDF".
There is NO CHARGE if you print to PDF.
Please see more on this Q&A.
Mozilla Firefox won't start and claims that "Firefox is already running".
Under Windows, Mozilla Firefox stores all configurations as part of user's profile (the Application Data to be precise). Since we are using roaming profile and folder redirection feature on CSIL Windows systems, the Firefox may not work properly - it is not capable to handle concurrent use of Firefox under multiple sign-ins.
We recommend using either Google Chrome Enterprise edition or Microsoft Edge as they work better with the roaming profile with folder redirection feature on Windows.
If a web site is designed for Mozilla Firefox only, please try the following 2 methods:
Workaround #1: remove the "lock file":
- close every Firefox session within all CSIL Windows sessions
- launch File Explorer, within this Explorer window
- navigate to folder
\\freesia\userdata\myUserID\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles
- please put in your own SFU Computing ID
- locate and browse into the profile folder, which has a random name
- locate and delete the file parent.lock
If this workaround does not work for you, please try the next workaround and report to helpdesk about this.
Workaround #2: create a new profile for Firefox
- close all Firefox sessions within all CSIL Windows sessions
- locate the shortcut of Mozilla Firefox, make a copy to the desktop
- right-click the new Firefox shortcut, select "Properties"
- on the "Target" field, add "-P csil1 -no-remote" to the end of the line
- click "OK" button to save the new shortcut
- double-click the new shortcut to launch Firefox
- follow the prompts, create a new profile, set it as the default.
- next time, use this new shortcut to run Firefox
be warned: this workaround will remove all your Firefox configurations, including bookmarks etc.
Extra notes:
For resolving the same issue on a CSIL Linux host, click here.
For more information from the vendor on this issue, click here.
Many applications are missing from the CSIL Windows workstation I'm using!
One thing for sure is: all the necessary applications for CMPT students are installed properly and they are in working order on every CSIL workstation.
Here is a workaround if you encounter this situation: run the following command so you could find all the shortcuts you need for launching the applications:
explorer c:\programdata\microsoft\windows\startm~1\programs
Tech note: This is a bug of Windows "Start Menu" sub-system; we are still searching for a solution.
Is your question not on the list? Have you checked the CSIL Windows FAQ? If you have done that as well, please email helpdesk.
