# Error while lauching Node-Red: "It looks like serialport didn't compile properly. This is a common problem and its fix is well documented here https://github.com/voodootikigod/node-serialport#to-install"

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/error-while-lauching-node-red-it-looks-like-serialport-didnt-compile-properly-this-is-a-common-problem-and-its-fix-is-well-documented-here-https-github-com-voodootikigod-node-serialport-to-install/11395>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [21 May 2019 22:31 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/error-while-lauching-node-red-it-looks-like-serialport-didnt-compile-properly-this-is-a-common-problem-and-its-fix-is-well-documented-here-https-github-com-voodootikigod-node-serialport-to-install/11395 "2019-05-21T22:31:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jasurf](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/jasurf/32/3260_2.png) [@Jasurf](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Jasurf)\
**Post date:** [21 May 2019 22:31 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/error-while-lauching-node-red-it-looks-like-serialport-didnt-compile-properly-this-is-a-common-problem-and-its-fix-is-well-documented-here-https-github-com-voodootikigod-node-serialport-to-install/11395/1 "2019-05-21T22:31:20Z")

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Hi Guys,  
While I was updating "Node-Red Dashboard" to the latest version, Node-Red crashed on me and when I tried to re-launch it, I started getting this error:  
_"It looks like serialport didn't compile properly. This is a common problem and its fix is well documented here [https://github.com/voodootikigod/node-serialport#to-install](https://github.com/voodootikigod/node-serialport#to-install)"_  
I have tried re-installing NodeJs, Node-Red, npm! What else can I do?  
Has anyone had this error before and what did you do to resolve it? Supposedly it must be a common problem, but the link to GitHub provides no help on this.  
Thank you for your help!

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**Author:** ![dceejay](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/dceejay/32/38_2.png) [@dceejay](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/dceejay)\
**Post date:** [21 May 2019 22:36 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/error-while-lauching-node-red-it-looks-like-serialport-didnt-compile-properly-this-is-a-common-problem-and-its-fix-is-well-documented-here-https-github-com-voodootikigod-node-serialport-to-install/11395/2 "2019-05-21T22:36:46Z")

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What platform are you on ?

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**Author:** ![Jasurf](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/jasurf/32/3260_2.png) [@Jasurf](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Jasurf)\
**Post date:** [21 May 2019 22:40 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/error-while-lauching-node-red-it-looks-like-serialport-didnt-compile-properly-this-is-a-common-problem-and-its-fix-is-well-documented-here-https-github-com-voodootikigod-node-serialport-to-install/11395/3 "2019-05-21T22:40:04Z")

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Windows10.

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**Author:** ![TotallyInformation](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/totallyinformation/32/31_2.png) [@TotallyInformation](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/TotallyInformation)\
**Post date:** [22 May 2019 05:53 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/error-while-lauching-node-red-it-looks-like-serialport-didnt-compile-properly-this-is-a-common-problem-and-its-fix-is-well-documented-here-https-github-com-voodootikigod-node-serialport-to-install/11395/4 "2019-05-22T05:53:02Z")

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Do you have the windows-build-tools installed? If not, Node.js can't compile any binary code.

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**Author:** ![dceejay](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/dceejay/32/38_2.png) [@dceejay](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/dceejay)\
**Post date:** [22 May 2019 06:31 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/error-while-lauching-node-red-it-looks-like-serialport-didnt-compile-properly-this-is-a-common-problem-and-its-fix-is-well-documented-here-https-github-com-voodootikigod-node-serialport-to-install/11395/5 "2019-05-22T06:31:02Z")

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Shouldn't need to. I thought serialport precompiled for windows. Which version of nodejs ?

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**Author:** ![Jasurf](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/jasurf/32/3260_2.png) [@Jasurf](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Jasurf)\
**Post date:** [22 May 2019 14:51 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/error-while-lauching-node-red-it-looks-like-serialport-didnt-compile-properly-this-is-a-common-problem-and-its-fix-is-well-documented-here-https-github-com-voodootikigod-node-serialport-to-install/11395/6 "2019-05-22T14:51:32Z")

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I have updated to the latest 12.3.0. I have have tried completely uninstalling and re-installing as well.  
Nothing seems to work!

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**Author:** ![Jasurf](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/jasurf/32/3260_2.png) [@Jasurf](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Jasurf)\
**Post date:** [22 May 2019 15:58 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/error-while-lauching-node-red-it-looks-like-serialport-didnt-compile-properly-this-is-a-common-problem-and-its-fix-is-well-documented-here-https-github-com-voodootikigod-node-serialport-to-install/11395/7 "2019-05-22T15:58:02Z")

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So, I think I got it! I uninstalled everything, deleted any/all related files I could find, re-installed NodeJs and ran this: "npm install --global --production windows-build-tools"

At least it is running again! I just have to re-install all of my Nodes that I was using and restore my backups! :)👍

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![TotallyInformation](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/totallyinformation/32/31_2.png) [@TotallyInformation](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/TotallyInformation)\
**Post date:** [22 May 2019 20:07 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/error-while-lauching-node-red-it-looks-like-serialport-didnt-compile-properly-this-is-a-common-problem-and-its-fix-is-well-documented-here-https-github-com-voodootikigod-node-serialport-to-install/11395/8 "2019-05-22T20:07:36Z")

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It is easy to forget that not everyone knows the ways of the Node! Yes, on Windows, after installing Node.JS, one should always immediately do a global install of the build tools. Saves lots of bother later.