Fatal Error on Startup

I deleted MATLAB2018 to download MATLAB2019. However, when I ran the program I got a Fatal Error on Startup, what should I do?

[Sachin Lodhi]

Hi Jorge,

This error indicates that MATLAB is not able to locate or read your MATLAB preferences directory. This could be due to a setting or variable on your system which is causing MATLAB to look for your preferences in a location where you do not have read access.

Typically this happens due to running a configuration script for MATLAB such as ‘config_matlab.sh’ which attempts to set your preferences directory to a non-default location where you do not have read or write access. You should start by removing the portion of the script which sets your environment variable.

This can also be resolved by creating an environment variable to specify your MATLAB preferences directory immediately before starting MATLAB. You should choose a directory where you have both read and write access. The default location is in your home folder. As an example of the command to run before starting MATLAB, see the following:

Linux

export MATLAB_PREFDIR=~/.matlab/R2023a
/usr/local/MATLAB/R2023a/bin/matlab

Mac

export MATLAB_PREFDIR=~/.matlab/R2023a
/Applications/MATLAB_R2023a.app/bin/matlab

This command sets your MATLAB preferences directory to be the default directory inside your home folder. Then, on the next line, the command is to launch MATLAB.

Answer 1

[Neuropragmatist]

You should probably contact Matlab suport:

https://uk.mathworks.com/support/contact_us.html?s_tid=sp_ban_cs

M.