Warning: Executing startup failed in matlabrc.

I'm using Matlab 2013b (32-bit). When I open matlab I get the following error. How can I fix it?

"This indicates a potentially serious problem in your MATLAB setup, which should be resolved as soon as possible. Error detected was:

MATLAB:nonStrucReference

Attempt to reference field of non-structure array.

> In matlabrc at 192"

[Walter Roberson]

If I recall correctly, there were problems related to that in that time frame. I do not recall the exact cause.

My memory is that in some cases it helps to exit matlab, rename the preferences directory, and restart so it recreates the preferences.

[Walter Roberson]

There was a burst of people having that problem in R2013a, it appears. If I understand the approximate translations correctly, some people found it helped to put in a "cd" command at the end of the Mathworks-provided matlabrc file.

Back in the R2006a time-frame, someone posted a problem in which the same error message occured for reasons having to do with not being able to start java.

Answer 1

[Jan]

The message you show indicates, that it is a warning, not an error. Does Matlab stop with an error in addition?

• If it is a warning, there is a bug inside startup.m , so debug this.
• If it is an error, the error handling with TRY/CATCH fails. Then exc cannot be access by dot indexing. Maybe your Matlab folder has been destroyed. What have you done before? Are you working with admin privilegs (without them it is impossible to change Matlab's toolbox functions by accident)?

[E Sahin]

I'am using thirdy-part tool for business. When I install my app, I get error. But not when I open matlab for the first time. I get it when I close matlab and open it for the second time.

[E Sahin]

Also when I restart my pc, It works fine.

[Walter Roberson]

When you are having the problem, what shows up for

which -all startup

[E Sahin]

I think it is about setup files. There is no file named "startup" in matlab installation directory, I have only matlabrc file about this situation, I have file named "startup.p" in my third-party tool. Also I can't use my business tool.

[Jan]

This means, that the "startup.p" file contains a bug. It is really strange, that this problem occurs only the 2nd time you open Matlab. This could be a racing condition: running a function the first time needs some time to read it from the disk. Then inserting a drawnow or pause(0.02) solves the problem usually. But in your case this is not possible, because the function is stored as encrypted P-file.

There are some methods to examine or change the contents of P-files, but if this is a commenrcial software this might conflict with the license conditions.

Ask the manufacturer of the third-party tool.