# NousResearch/hermes-agent · Windows Smart App Control blocks Python during setup

## Open now

- 2 issues, 0 PRs open on GitHub.
- #55004: \[Setup\]: Windows installer consistently fails with "Application Control policy has blocked this file (os error 4551)" during venv setup
- #56554: Windows install fails: "git pull failed (exit 128)" then Smart App Control blocks venv python.exe

Multiple reports and a related fix attempt address Windows Smart App Control policies blocking embedded Python components (including the _ssl module and venv executables) during installation or bootstrapping. The issues span detection, error messaging, and setup failure behavior on Windows 11.

## TL;DR

- 5 member(s): 2 open issue(s), 1 closed issue(s), 0 open PR(s), 1 merged PR(s), 1 PR(s) closed without merging.
- A fix was merged to main in PR #122924. Verify it addresses your case.
- **Recommended:** read PR #122924 (and any competing PRs below) before filing. Confirm the merged change covers your symptom.

## Maintainer resolution verdict

- Internal-tracker verdict over this cluster's issue members: `partially_resolved` · deciding PR(s): `pr-122924`. This is distinct from the fix status above. Weigh it yourself.

## How this cluster was grouped

- Link evidence (`STRUCTURAL_PARTIAL`): some members are connected by structural evidence (shared changed files, or a closing/superseded reference); the rest are joined by an automated relevance judgement over their text.
- Members outside that structural core may belong to a different underlying problem.
- Pairwise link density `0.31`: the share of member pairs that carry a link, counting a structural link in full and a relevance-only link at 0.36. `1.00` means every pair is linked.

## Open related issues

- #55004: \[Setup\]: Windows installer consistently fails with "Application Control policy has blocked this file (os error 4551)" during venv setup
- #56554: Windows install fails: "git pull failed (exit 128)" then Smart App Control blocks venv python.exe

## Closed / duplicate issues

- #63796: \[Bug\]: Hermes Desktop cannot bootstrap on Windows 11 when Smart App Control blocks embedded Python (_ssl)

## Prior & competing PRs

- **#122924: fix(cli): name Windows Smart App Control when it blocks the dashboard runtime**. merged to main · fix tier `verified`
  - maintainer direction: category `merged`; implication `superseded`
  - files: `hermes_cli/main.py`, `hermes_cli/main_dep_hints.py`, `tests/hermes_cli/test_smart_app_control_block.py`
- **#63810: fix(cli): detect Windows Smart App Control blocking embedded Python _ssl module**. closed without merge
  - maintainer direction: category `partial_fix`; implication `needs_llm`; refs `#63796`, `#63810`, `#63810`, `#63810`, `#374151`, `#63796`, `#63810`

## Fix status

- Merged to main in PR #122924 (cited above). No release data is tracked. Verify downstream.
- Fix last verified (merged) `2026-09-25`.
- Subsystem: `apps/bootstrap-installer`