MATLAB: Does the installer state “Cannot install in the specified folder because there may be files remaining from a previous installation”

Question

I am installing MATLAB and have reached the point where a location to install MATLAB must be specified. Why does the installer state "Cannot install in the specified folder because there may be files remaining from a previous installation"?

Answer 1

This error message indicates that there are corrupted or leftover files from a previous MATLAB installation in the directory selected in the MATLAB installer. This is common when corrupted files are installed, or the installation process is interrupted. The solution is to specify a new folder as the installation target, or to delete the directory containing the corrupted files. This will remove any MATLAB installation in that folder.

If you are unsure what would be the best solution or encounter issues resolving this problem, contact MathWorks Installation Support for assistance.