[R] R doesn't want to update packages (Windows 7)

[Duncan Murdoch]

  On 05/10/2010 8:58 AM, Dimitri Liakhovitski wrote:
> Hello!
>
> I've just installed R 2.11.1 on my new home PC. Just the base R. My PC
> has Windows 7.
> R was installed in C / Program Files (x86) / R - R-2.11.1
>
> Then - through the menue - I went to Update packages, chose the mirror
> and R detected the few packages that needed to be updated. After I
> clicked on OK I got the following error message:
>
> >  update.packages(ask='graphics')
> --- Please select a CRAN mirror for use in this session ---
> Warning in install.packages(update[instlib == l, "Package"], l,
> contriburl = contriburl,  :
>    'lib = "C:/PROGRA~2/R/R-211~1.1/library"' is not writable
> Error in install.packages(update[instlib == l, "Package"], l,
> contriburl = contriburl,  :
>    unable to install packages
>
> I've tried several times, then uninstalled R and reinstalled it. Same problem.
> Can it be because R is installed in Program Files (x86) and not in
> Program Files (I have both folders)?

I think both have the same problem:  Windows 7 won't let R write to 
them.  If you install R in your own file space, or you set up your own 
library there, or you run R as an administrator when you want to install 
packages, the problem should go away.

Duncan Murdoch