Java NullPointerException when trying to uninstall Vivado 2016.3 or to install 2017.3

[welo_zhaw]

Hi All,

I was trying to make some room on my drive by removing Vivado 2016.3. When I launch the uninstaller, I get an error message:

There was an error loading installation data. Please refer to the log file (...) for more information.

The log file is attached to this post.

I had the same kind of trouble when I installed Vivado 2017.3. There, I was able to install only when I ran the installer from sudo bash. If launched in a normal shell, I would also get NullPointerExceptions and graphical issues in the installer.

I'm working on Ubuntu 16.04.

[hemangd]

Hi @welo_zhaw,

Try to delete the contain of AppData\Roaming\Xilinx\Vivado. You will find this directory in USER directory. 

After deleting this content , check whether you face this java Nullpointer error or not.

Regards,

hemangd

[welo_zhaw]

Hi @hemangd,

The path you mentioned looks like a Windows path. I'm working on Ubuntu. Would you happen to know where I would find the corresponding directory on Ubuntu?

Regards, welo_zhaw

[hemangd]

Hi @welo_zhaw,

Usually, when you write pwd in tcl console, it lets you know the default working directory that is used when the Vivado tool is opened. 

Regards,

hemangd

[welo_zhaw]

Hi @hemangd,

Using the 'pwd' will give me the workspace path. I don't think erasing the workspace will achieve much except deleting my work.

Again, my goal is to launch the Uninstaller for Vivado 2016.3 and I can't launch it because of the NullPointerException. These NullPointerExceptions have started occurring during the installing I of Vivado 2017.3.

The contents of the logfile I attached to the initial post don't provide a lot of information, but to me it looks like a problem in the installer api.

Is it safe to just erase all the directories belonging to the Vivado 2016.3 install?

Regards,
welo_zhaw

[welo_zhaw · Accepted solution]

The solution is to use the xsetup tool that is stored in the correct location. For every Vivado version, there are TWO copies of the xsetup tool!

1) /opt/Xilinx/Downloads/Vivado_2017.3/xsetup

2) /opt/Xilinx/.xinstall/Vivado_2017.3/xsetup

You must use the second tool, as the first one will not work.

Also, you need to run it from a sudo bash, just running it as sudo will not work.

I don't understand why Xilinx puts two copies of the tool on my disk, and why only one of them will work.