Why do I get an unexpected exception when activating MATLAB?

When activating my MATLAB, I receive the error:

 There was an unexpected exception:

 c:\ program files\ matlab\ r2009a\ licenses\ license_username_123456_R2009a.lic (Access is denied) See the log file (C:\ Temp\ aws_username.log) for more details.

Answer 1

[MathWorks Support Team]

This error can occur if you do not have permissions to write the license file in the MATLAB folder. In most cases when activating MATLAB, a license file is created in the MATLAB installation folder. If you do not have write permissions to this folder, you will not be able to activate MATLAB.

To determine if you have write permissions in the MATLAB folder, you can try creating a new file in this directory, or moving the license file into this directory. If this fails, then you do not have write permissions in this directory.

As a workaround, you can run the activation with administrator rights or have someone who has administrator rights launch the activation for you.