# Workaround: Failed to start server

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/workaround-failed-to-start-server/89997>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [5 August 2024 08:16 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/workaround-failed-to-start-server/89997 "2024-08-05T08:16:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![sott1981](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@sott1981](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/sott1981)\
**Post date:** [5 August 2024 08:16 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/workaround-failed-to-start-server/89997/1 "2024-08-05T08:16:50Z")

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Hi  
i got an issue with Starting up node red.

Error: Failed to start server

Versions: Node red 3.1.8, nodejs 20.16.0

Error is with running npm in line  
[project dir]\node\_modules@node-red\registry\lib\installer.js:584:27

Workaround:  
change

const npmCommand = process.platform === 'win32' ? 'npm.cmd' : 'npm';

to

const npmCommand = 'npm';

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<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:** [5 August 2024 08:47 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/workaround-failed-to-start-server/89997/2 "2024-08-05T08:47:37Z")

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The better "workaround" is to update to latest Node-RED where this issue[is already fixed](https://github.com/node-red/node-red/pull/4652) 😉

The issue was NodeJS changed something for security reasons that place restrictions on spawning `.bat` and `.cmd`.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![sott1981](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@sott1981](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/sott1981)\
**Post date:** [6 August 2024 05:30 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/workaround-failed-to-start-server/89997/3 "2024-08-06T05:30:18Z")

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😃 Seems to be more easy...  
Thanks.. just have seen that this error was discussed allot.

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/1X/d073cd938eafa2e558d7c2cd59003b3ef4963033.png) [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [4 November 2024 05:31 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/workaround-failed-to-start-server/89997/4 "2024-11-04T05:31:14Z")

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