NI Package builder error "deployment\files.json"

[jyoung8711]

Today I went to create a NI Package from LabVIEW 2020 SP1, and during the build process I received an error saying 

I had never built a package through LabVIEW before, but I have through NI Package Builder, however I'm using a new computer, so I switched over to the NI Package builder, and tried to build a similar package (from a LabVIEW EXE), and the package built fine, but when I went to build an installer I received a very similar message:

Indeed, when I check that path, there are no files there at all! the directory doesn't even exist....

I've done the following:

- Checked with 32/64 bit software

- Ran in Administrator mode

- Uninstalled/Resintalled BOTH NI Package Manager AND NI Package Builder

Nothing resolves these issues... I'm running 20.6 software for Manager/Builder, and LV 2020 SP1.

The system is VERY fresh (just started working from it in February of this year.  I have an older system where I could use the package builder just fine... I also checked there and there were a variety of files inside the "Deployment" directory...

Any suggestions on what to do here?

This is very frustrating...

[jyoung8711 · Accepted solution]

I've managed to solve this problem.

After trying several older versions of both package builder, and package manager (and STILL not getting things to work), I uninstalled package manager deleted (after backing up) the remaining "C:\Program Files\National Instruments\NI Package Manager" and %ProgramData%\National Instruments\NI Package Manager folders.

After running the NI Package manager installer again, the "deployment" folder magically re-appeared, and things worked again...

I'm still confused as to why the folder wouldn't be there, or would disappear in the first place, but the problem is now resolved.