If you are operating windows Vista or Windows 7 your MetaTrader plattform might not be running correctly. The most common issues include:
* Metatrader won’t update to the most current version
* Charts / indicators / experts will not save when Metatrader restarts.
* It can’t save history to run back testing.
* Expert advisors won’t run.
* It cannot open a demo account.
* Username and password doesn’t get saved on restart.
* User are unable to save files on Expert folder.
The cause for these issues is that beginning with Windows Vista Microsoft changed the default security settings for the “Program Files” folder, making it so MetaTrader might not be able to save all necessary data to the Hard Drive, this new characteristic on Windows is called User Account Control or UAC.
Note: Windows Vista protects “systemroot” files and folders with permissions created for Windows Resource Protection (WRP), which may only be accessed by the System service. Administrators can read system files and folders but cannot write to them. Note that this differs from previous versions of Windows.
Source: Microsoft Web Site about UAC
There are several ways to fix this issue. Some require you to reinstall MetaTrader on a different folder and some require you to run complex command prompt tasks:
Option 1) The best way to resolve the UAC issue is to install MetaTrader in a different folder from its default location. When installing MetaTrader 4 just after the license agreement, it is possible to change the installation folder for example from C:\Program Files\BestDirect\MT4 to C:\MetaTrader\1MT4.
Then continue with the installation as usual and your MetaTrader 4 will run with no issues.
Option 2) Change the folder permission of the folder where MetaTrader is already installed, this is usually a good option if you have many instances of MetaTrader installed in your system and don’t wish to reinstall them.
a) Find in the windows explorer the folder where you have installed MetaTrader 4, right-click the folder and then click Properties.
b) This will open the property screen for this folder and on the Security tab click on Edit
c) A new screen will open, choose Users, check Full control (Allow) and then Apply.
Choose Trusted Installer, check Full control (Allow) and then Apply.
Select Administrators, check Full control (Allow) and then Apply.
d) Click all OK and you are done.
Option 3) Change the folder permission utilizing the command prompt, this is the most difficult option for non experienced users.
a) Press the Win keyboard key or click on Start button.
b) Type cmd into the Start/Search textbox.
c) Just before pressing enter press and hold Ctrl+Shift then hit the Enter key.
Ctrl+Shift+Enter is the keyboard shortcut that triggers the user elevation to “Run as Administrator”
d) Press continue to confirm the UAC elevation warning prompt.
e) Type the text below in the the command prompt window, substitute the text in “quotes” with the folder path of your MetaTrader installation:
icacls “C:\Program Files (x86)\FXCM MT4 powered by BT” /t /grant %UserDomain%\%UserName%:(OI)(CI)F
f) Hit enter and the command will run for a couple of seconds and it should end with a success message.
It is vital for expert advisors to be able to save information to the hard drive; we highly suggest you follow this tutorial to have your MetaTrader Installation running smoothly.