---
title: Write Access Denied on new install
slug: write-access-denied-on-new-install
createdAt: 2025-07-29T02:17:55.378Z
---

## Issue

User gets this error when opening Activate Studio after a new install.

:::BlockQuote
System.Exception: Write Access Denied to //Resources/Studio
   at Innovation.Activate.Resource.SetInfo() in C:\projects\activatev8\Activate.Library\Resource.cs\:line 564
   at Innovation.Activate.AdminTask.EnsureAdminTasksRoot() in C:\projects\activatev8\Activate.Library\AdminTask.cs\:line 805
   at Innovation.Activate.Config.Forms.ImportPackages.Execute() in C:\projects\activatev8\Activate.Config\Forms\ImportPackages.cs\:line 64
:::

This error means that the role that administers Activate has not been set correctly, this could be due to SQL permissions or other reasons.

## Solution

This issue can be resolved by following these steps to correctly set the Administrators role which will allow rights to modify Activate parameters.

1. Run Activate Studio in System mode, `C:\Program Files\Activate\Instances\<instance name>\ActivateStudio.exe /SYSTEM`

::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/Lfto9rn2ELed8aLNOgwlJ/2eGJZCeu60wJev7mlr6l3_image.png" size="56" width="412" height="217" position="center" showCaption="false"}

2. Navigate to Roles > System Roles > Administrators

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/Lfto9rn2ELed8aLNOgwlJ/6scuZa-l2YZtfp3v1ma2j_image.png)

3. Double click the Members parameter



::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/Lfto9rn2ELed8aLNOgwlJ/KRqzkDTjRff5lPNPrT2-c_image.png" size="66" width="526" height="387" position="center" showCaption="false"}

4. Click **Browse**

::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/Lfto9rn2ELed8aLNOgwlJ/r2UX3e2Uoh1UX02lqLT_4_image.png" size="64" width="665" height="611" position="center" showCaption="false"}



5. Search for name of group created for Activate Administrators, select the correct group and click **Ok**

::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/Lfto9rn2ELed8aLNOgwlJ/HxlMJj-pinV0H2nkiZlVZ_image.png" size="86" width="665" height="608" position="center" showCaption="false"}

6. Click **Ok**

::Image[]{src="https://activate.activatelive.com/images/activate/oBnaJz8MNqhLQkWQoWa9uQpM7xX" size="72" width="529" height="390" darkWidth="529" darkHeight="390" position="center" showCaption="false"}



7. Close Activate Studio.
8. Open **C:\Program Files\Activate\Instances\\\<instance name>\ConfigurationWizard.xml** as **Administrator** (you'll need this to save the file)
9. Delete the \<whenUpgrade> line

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/Lfto9rn2ELed8aLNOgwlJ/GLgEYdJjdVkp_uCrT4S-U_image.png "Before")

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/Lfto9rn2ELed8aLNOgwlJ/P2i4WuB-riB4vz6IlkmgX_image.png "After")

10. Open **C:\Program Files\Activate\Instances\\\<instance name>\appsettings.json** as **Administrator** (you'll need this to save the file)
11. Delete the ConnectionString line and the last comma from the ConfigVersion line.





![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/Lfto9rn2ELed8aLNOgwlJ/ZZj5ntmjQgKYkF54xPQ86_image.png "Before")

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/Lfto9rn2ELed8aLNOgwlJ/mbjvcbWBN2v6er8-rcb04_image.png "After")



12. Run **C:\Program Files\Activate\Instances\\\<instance name>\ActivateStudio.exe /INSTALLPACKAGES**
13. Click **Next**

::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/Lfto9rn2ELed8aLNOgwlJ/p967uO6db8F2hHtJNo5Nh_image.png" size="76" width="854" height="741" position="center" showCaption="false"}

14. Select Server Installation, click **Next**

::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/Lfto9rn2ELed8aLNOgwlJ/cnZ-vgT2jcQUBbkBIhux7_image.png" size="64" width="856" height="738" position="center" showCaption="false"}






15. Re-enter Server Name and Database Name, click **Next**.

::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/Lfto9rn2ELed8aLNOgwlJ/HfOstQYq1Cnymk2bPmVKR_image.png" size="84" width="852" height="739" position="center" showCaption="false"}



16. Complete Activate Orchestrator details **including certificate selection** (some details may already be complete).

::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/Lfto9rn2ELed8aLNOgwlJ/WTAhsWa7aU-BTEuSwVQE-_image.png" size="78" width="853" height="736" position="center" showCaption="false"}



17. Complete Activate Web Site creation, **ensure you select a certificate.&#x20;**&#x43;lick **Next**


::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/Lfto9rn2ELed8aLNOgwlJ/whvDabR2sfse9s09B3g4n_image.png" size="72" width="857" height="740" position="center" showCaption="false"}




18. Complete SMTP email properties, click Next






::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/Lfto9rn2ELed8aLNOgwlJ/o9HokTvnOzklUqxCPT4DY_image.png" size="84" width="851" height="735" position="center" showCaption="false"}

19. Click **Finish**

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/Lfto9rn2ELed8aLNOgwlJ/NvEu8iaHi6TjNh8nFJ-t1_image.png)



20. Click **Finish&#x20;**&#x74;o import Activate packages.



![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/Lfto9rn2ELed8aLNOgwlJ/UjW6IHuzlA-e3Z7qyNomH_image.png)

    Activate has now had the issue fixed and the install steps repeated.