'Access denied to local.dat' error message

[dking02]

Are other users seeing the following 'Access denied to local.dat' error message in their Home Updater .log file?

    ERROR  Failed to write bytes due to an error: Access to the path 'C:\ProgramData\PatchMyPC\local.dat' is denied.

I happened to notice many instances of this message on multiple machines while trying to track down another but apparently unrelated issue. The error appears to be harmless but started to appear on or about 16-Apr-2026 which coincides with the release of Home Updater version 5.4.4.0. Both the log file and the local.dat file referenced in the error message are located in the Logs Folder (default = C:\ProgramData\PatchMyPC\) which can be accessed via the 'View Logs Folder' button at the bottom right of the Home Updater 'About' panel.

Sample excerpt from .log file
[2026-08-29 00:00:02]  INFO  Started application v.5.4.5.0
[2026-08-29 00:00:02]  INFO  Updater.ini is valid and up to date.
[2026-08-29 00:00:02]  INFO  Protocol homeupdater registered successfully.
[2026-08-29 00:00:03]  INFO  Check Apps from Scheduled Task has been started.
[2026-08-29 00:00:03]  ERROR  Failed to write bytes due to an error: Access to the path 'C:\ProgramData\PatchMyPC\local.dat' is denied.
[2026-08-29 00:00:03]  INFO  Notify user about 1 outdated app(s).
[2026-08-29 00:00:33]  INFO  Notification was dismissed by timeout (30000 seconds)
[2026-08-29 00:00:33]  INFO  Check Apps from Scheduled Task has been finished.
[2026-08-29 02:00:02]  INFO  Started application v.5.4.5.0
[2026-08-29 02:00:02]  INFO  Updater.ini is valid and up to date.
[2026-08-29 02:00:02]  INFO  Protocol homeupdater registered successfully.
[2026-08-29 02:00:02]  INFO  Check Apps from Scheduled Task has been started.
[2026-08-29 02:00:03]  ERROR  Failed to write bytes due to an error: Access to the path 'C:\ProgramData\PatchMyPC\local.dat' is denied.
[2026-08-29 02:00:03]  INFO  Notify user about 1 outdated app(s).
[2026-08-29 02:00:33]  INFO  Notification was dismissed by timeout (30000 seconds)
[2026-08-29 02:00:34]  INFO  Check Apps from Scheduled Task has been finished.
[2026-08-29 02:08:19]  INFO  Started application v.5.4.5.0
[2026-08-29 02:08:19]  INFO  Updater.ini is valid and up to date.
[2026-08-29 02:08:19]  INFO  Protocol homeupdater registered successfully.
[2026-08-29 02:08:19]  DEBUG  View MainViewModel has been loaded
[2026-08-29 02:08:19]  INFO  Started [Apps Catalog loading] operation...
[2026-08-29 02:08:20]  ERROR  Failed to write bytes due to an error: Access to the path 'C:\ProgramData\PatchMyPC\local.dat' is denied.
[2026-08-29 02:08:21]  DEBUG  View InstalledApplicationTabViewModel has been loaded
[2026-08-29 02:08:21]  INFO  [Apps Catalog loading] operation has been completed. Execution time: 1.3507729 seconds.

[dking02]

Given the disappointing lack of a single response (0 out of 69 views at the time of this reply) to this simple request for other users to check if they were also seeing the same error message in their log files, I resorted to locating a recent post on another topic where the originator had attached a diagnostic .zip file. The included log file showed the same error occurring frequently beginning on 2026-05-04, about one week after updating to v5.4.4.0 and continuing to the end of their log file on 27-Jul-2026. This indicates that this error message is likely systemic and warrants an explanation or correction by the PMPC staff.

Therefore, PMPC staff please respond.