Unable to run spyder due to error of "Error reading broker pipe: The pipe has been ended. (0x6D)"

Issue Report Checklist

• Searched the issues page for similar reports
• Read the relevant sections of the Spyder Troubleshooting Guide and followed its advice
• Reproduced the issue after updating with conda update spyder (or pip, if not using Anaconda)
• Could not reproduce inside jupyter qtconsole (if console-related)
• Tried basic troubleshooting (if a bug/error)
  • Restarted Spyder
  • Reset preferences with spyder --reset
  • Reinstalled the latest version of Anaconda
  • Tried the other applicable steps from the Troubleshooting Guide
• Completed the Problem Description, Steps to Reproduce and Version sections below

Problem Description

I’m being faced with the issue that I couldn’t launch spyder due to an error below. “[7756:2332:0604/105603.937:ERROR:broker_win.cc(59)] Error reading broker pipe: The pipe has been ended. (0x6D)” When I launch Spyder, it appears once and then after 5 to 10 seconds, it disappears with (Not responding) message @ the top next to “Spyder (python 3.6)”

I also turned off a firewall/anti-virus system, though it still not working. Your advice would be highly appreciated.

What steps reproduce the problem?

What is the expected output? What do you see instead?

Paste Traceback/Error Below (if applicable)

PASTE TRACEBACK HERE

Versions

• Spyder version: 3.2.8
• Python version: 3.6.5
• Qt version: 5.9.4
• PyQt version: 5.9.2
• Operating System name/version: Windows 10

Dependencies

PASTE DEPENDENCIES HERE

[bruot]

I had the same issue. conda install pyqt=5.6 solved the issue:

conda install pyqt=5.6:

## Package Plan ##

  environment location: C:\Users\bruot\Anaconda3

  added / updated specs:
    - pyqt=5.6


The following packages will be DOWNGRADED:

    pyqt: 5.9.2-py36ha878b3d_0  --> 5.6.0-py36ha878b3d_6
    qt:   5.9.6-vc14h62aca36_0  --> 5.6.2-vc14h6f8c307_12
    sip:  4.19.8-py36h6538335_0 --> 4.18.1-py36h6538335_2

After that, Spyder manages to start.

And if I do conda upgrade pyqt:

## Package Plan ##

  environment location: C:\Users\bruot\Anaconda3

  added / updated specs:
    - pyqt


The following packages will be UPDATED:

    pyqt: 5.6.0-py36ha878b3d_6  --> 5.9.2-py36ha878b3d_0
    qt:   5.6.2-vc14h6f8c307_12 --> 5.9.6-vc14h62aca36_0
    sip:  4.18.1-py36h6538335_2 --> 4.19.8-py36h6538335_0

After that, Spyder crashes at startup again.

[jjczajka]

I was receiving the same error message as the original commentor. I was also only able to get spyder to launch after downgrading to anaconda v 4.4. However, I then ran into the issue where spyder crashed when trying to open a file #3903. I uninstalled Dell Backup and Recovery as described by some users in the thread, which resolved that issue. I next re-updated my anaconda version (5.3.0), and was finally able to get spyder to launch with no issues in the updated version. Perhaps these two issues are linked, and uninstalling the Dell Backup and Recovery will resolve this issue?