# Newbie Error Message

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/newbie-error-message/80486>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [11 August 2023 08:24 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/newbie-error-message/80486 "2023-08-11T08:24:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Jewmac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Jewmac](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Jewmac)\
**Post date:** [11 August 2023 08:24 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/newbie-error-message/80486/1 "2023-08-11T08:24:27Z")

</div>

Hi All,

I have not used Node-red in some time and when i go to start node-red I get the following error, can someone point me in the right direction as to how to fix this error.

```auto
11 Aug 16:17:25 - [error] server.failed-to-start
11 Aug 16:17:25 - [error] TypeError: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'then')
    at Object.registerMessageCatalog (/usr/local/lib/node_modules/node-red/node_modules/@node-red/runtime/node_modules/@node-red/util/lib/i18n.js:50:24)
    at Object.start (/usr/local/lib/node_modules/node-red/node_modules/@node-red/runtime/lib/index.js:123:17)
    at Object.start (/usr/local/lib/node_modules/node-red/lib/red.js:102:36)
    at /usr/local/lib/node_modules/node-red/red.js:418:9

```

Many thanks  
Jewmac

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Steve-Mcl](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/steve-mcl/32/4826_2.png) [@Steve-Mcl](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Steve-Mcl)\
**Post date:** [11 August 2023 10:09 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/newbie-error-message/80486/2 "2023-08-11T10:09:50Z")

</div>

> [@Jewmac](#):
>
> I have not used Node-red in some time

So I guess it is an old version you have installed?

Is it possible you have done since installation that could have corrupted the installation?

TBH, i would recommend a fresh install with latest versions of NodeJS and Node-RED.

If you tell use the device and operating system, we can point you in the right direction.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Jewmac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Jewmac](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Jewmac)\
**Post date:** [11 August 2023 10:59 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/newbie-error-message/80486/3 "2023-08-11T10:59:30Z")

</div>

Thank you . Running on Mac OS 13.4.1 (Apple M1)  
Node version 18.12.1

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![zenofmud](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/zenofmud/32/316_2.png) [@zenofmud](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/zenofmud)\
**Post date:** [11 August 2023 12:30 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/newbie-error-message/80486/4 "2023-08-11T12:30:56Z")

</div>

What version of node-red? You can get it from the startup log

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Jewmac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Jewmac](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Jewmac)\
**Post date:** [11 August 2023 14:19 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/newbie-error-message/80486/5 "2023-08-11T14:19:01Z")

</div>

Thank-you to all .... All Fixed.  
My remedy:

```auto
rm -rf node_modules
npm install
npm install -g --unsafe-perm node-red

```

This allowed the system to update to the latest I lost existing flows but i was ok with this as i needed the system to work

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Steve-Mcl](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/steve-mcl/32/4826_2.png) [@Steve-Mcl](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Steve-Mcl)\
**Post date:** [11 August 2023 17:48 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/newbie-error-message/80486/6 "2023-08-11T17:48:20Z")

</div>

> [@Jewmac](#):
>
> I lost existing flows

If all you did was the above commands, then that is very unlikely. Look for `flow*.json` on your drive.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/1X/d073cd938eafa2e558d7c2cd59003b3ef4963033.png) [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [10 October 2023 17:48 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/newbie-error-message/80486/7 "2023-10-10T17:48:38Z")

</div>

This topic was automatically closed 60 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.