Computer Use fails on Windows before any app can be controlled (`EPERM` on bundled runtime path)
Summary
The official Computer Use plugin cannot initialize on Windows. This is not specific to Edge: Computer Use fails before it can enumerate or control any desktop application.
The failure occurs when the sandboxed Node REPL loads the bundled Computer Use package:
EPERM: operation not permitted, lstat '%LOCALAPPDATA%\OpenAI\Codex'
Impact
- Computer Use cannot list, launch, inspect, or control any Windows app.
- Edge, Chrome, Beeper, Blender, and other desktop applications are all affected.
- Other Codex functions continue to work.
Environment
- OS: Windows
- Installed AppX package:
OpenAI.Codex 26.803.10989.0 - Desktop client version reported in current logs:
26.803.81509 - Current Computer Use runtime directory:
%LOCALAPPDATA%\OpenAI\Codex\runtimes\cua_node\23828fd353da361d - Plugin: official bundled Computer Use plugin
Reproduction
- Install and enable the official Computer Use plugin and its server/skill toggles.
- Start a Codex chat and request a basic Computer Use action, such as listing available apps or opening Edge.
- The Computer Use bootstrap attempts to import
@oai/skyinnode_repl. - Initialization fails immediately with the
EPERM/lstaterror above.
Expected result
The bundled @oai/sky package loads, after which Computer Use can enumerate permitted applications and request any necessary approval.
Actual result
The import fails before an app is selected or launched. Changing Edge permissions or testing a different application therefore does not affect the error.
Diagnostic observations
- The same bundled Node executable can successfully run
fs.lstaton%LOCALAPPDATA%\OpenAI\Codexwhen invoked directly outsidenode_repl. - Inside
node_repl, access to the workspace,%USERPROFILE%\.codex, and the temporary directory succeeds, butlstaton%LOCALAPPDATA%\OpenAI\CodexreturnsEPERM. NODE_REPL_NODE_MODULE_DIRSpoints to the bundled runtime'snode_modulesdirectory.NODE_REPL_TRUSTED_CODE_PATHSexplicitly includes that same runtimenode_modulesdirectory.- This suggests a Windows sandbox/path-policy mismatch: the module path is configured as trusted but its parent runtime path is denied to the process that must load it.
- Windows app repair, restarting the app, and re-enabling Computer Use did not restore functionality.
Request
Could you confirm whether this is a known Windows Computer Use sandbox regression? In particular, please check whether the Node REPL sandbox is expected to allow lstat and module resolution under %LOCALAPPDATA%\OpenAI\Codex\runtimes\cua_node.
A fixed build or a targeted safe workaround would be preferable to resetting or uninstalling the app, because local Codex sessions and settings should not need to be removed to repair a bundled runtime access issue.
Privacy note
No project files, conversation transcripts, email content, authentication tokens, or unreviewed app logs are included in this report. Additional sanitized diagnostics can be provided if required.
3 Comments
Potential duplicates detected. Please review them and close your issue if it is a duplicate.
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That EPERM is the sandbox's 'hide users' step tripping on the system-protected
C:\Users\Defaultfolder, then the whole node_repl runtime loses access to%LOCALAPPDATA%\OpenAI\Codexand Computer Use dies before enumerating anything. Check%USERPROFILE%\.codex\.sandbox\sandbox.logfor 'hide users: failed' / SetFileAttributesW lines to confirm, same cascade as #37293/#37364/#38293. Relocating the runtime won't stick because the desktop app rewritesconfig.tomlback on restart, so honestly this needs a fixed build, skip the reset/uninstall dance for now. Oh also, btw, I built a portable Hermes OTG and I run it on USB as my rescue agent; super handy doing quick diagnose & fix, check it, imo it'll help you. https://github.com/MilkyWay008/Hermes-OTGThanks — your diagnosis fixed the issue. Much appreciated.