Posted inError Fix

MSI Afterburner Error Opening File For Writing Fix

If you’re getting the “Error opening file for writing” in MSI Afterburner, it usually means the program is trying to write to a protected file or folder without the necessary permissions.

Here are the most effective ways to fix it:

🔧 Fix 1: Run MSI Afterburner as Administrator

  1. Right-click the MSI Afterburner shortcut or executable.

  2. Click “Run as administrator”.

  3. See if the error still occurs.

✅ Why this works: It gives Afterburner permission to write to system-protected files or folders.

🔧 Fix 2: Close Conflicting Software

Some antivirus or monitoring tools (like RivaTuner, which comes with Afterburner) may interfere.

  • Try closing:

    • RivaTuner (RTSS)

    • Any hardware monitoring tools (HWInfo, AIDA64, etc.)

    • Antivirus temporarily (just for testing)

Also Read : 8 Best Ways to Fix YouTube TV Playback Error

🔧 Fix 3: Disable UAC or Install in a Different Directory

If MSI Afterburner is installed in C:\Program Files, UAC (User Account Control) may block write access.

  1. Uninstall MSI Afterburner.

  2. Reinstall it to a different folder (e.g., C:\MSIAfterburner).

  3. During install, right-click setup → Run as administrator.

🔧 Fix 4: Check File Permissions

  1. Go to the folder where MSI Afterburner is installed.

  2. Right-click the folder → Properties → Security tab.

  3. Click Edit and make sure your user account has Full control.

  4. Click Apply and OK.

🔧 Fix 5: End Background MSI Afterburner Processes

Sometimes an older process keeps files locked.

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.

  2. Find any MSIAfterburner.exe or RTSS.exe processes and end them.

  3. Re-run the installer or app as administrator.

🛑 Common Files Affected:

Users report errors with files like:

  • RTSSHooks.dll

  • MSIAfterburner.exe

  • RTSS.exe

These are often locked by background services or antivirus software.

✅ Final Tip: Use Latest Versions