Could not delete application because "no Qt platform plugin could be initialized"

Question

I would like to re-install MikTex because several files from the app have recently been quarantined, and I deleted them. I would like to re-install MikTex but cannot, with the message "Could not delete application because 'no Qt platform plugin could be initialized' "

Answer 1

The error message "Could not delete application because 'no Qt platform plugin could be initialized'" typically indicates that there is an issue with the Qt framework used by the application. This can happen if the application is not properly installed or if some of its components are missing or corrupted.

To resolve this issue and successfully reinstall MikTeX, you can try the following steps:

1. Close Any Running Instances: Ensure that all instances of MikTeX and related applications are closed.
2. Check for Quarantined Files: Since you mentioned that some files were quarantined, check your antivirus or security software to see if any necessary files for MikTeX have been quarantined or deleted. Restore them if possible.
3. Remove Residual Files: Manually delete any remaining files or folders related to MikTeX from your system. Look in the installation directory and any related folders in C:\Program Files or C:\Users\<YourUsername>\AppData.
4. Use the Control Panel: Try uninstalling MikTeX through the Control Panel under "Programs and Features". If it fails, you may need to use a third-party uninstaller to ensure all components are removed.
5. Reinstall MikTeX: After ensuring that all components are removed, download the latest version of MikTeX from the official website and install it again.

If the problem persists, consider checking the MikTeX community forums or support for additional troubleshooting steps specific to the application.

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References:

• Error when trying to uninstall an application: Error opening installation log file. Verify that the specified location exists and is writable
• Reinstalling a Feature or Application