[node.js] What could cause an error related to npm not being able to find a file? No contents in my node_modules subfolder. Why is that?

I'm trying to run npm install in the angular project folder I got from ASP.NET Boilerplate and I'm getting an error that is "related to npm not being able to find a file."

D:\Dev\AspNetBoilerplate\MyProject\3.5.0\angular>npm install
npm WARN deprecated @types/[email protected]: This is a stub types definition for Moment (https://github.com/moment/moment). Moment provides its own type definitions, so you don't need @types/moment installed!
npm WARN [email protected] requires a peer of @angular/compiler@^2.3.1 || >=4.0.0-beta <5.0.0 but none is installed. You must install peer dependencies yourself.
npm WARN [email protected] requires a peer of @angular/core@^2.3.1 || >=4.0.0-beta <5.0.0 but none is installed. You must install peer dependencies yourself.
npm WARN optional SKIPPING OPTIONAL DEPENDENCY: [email protected] (node_modules\fsevents):
npm WARN optional SKIPPING OPTIONAL DEPENDENCY: Error: EPERM: operation not permitted, rename 'D:\Dev\AspNetBoilerplate\MyProject\3.5.0\angular\node_modules\.staging\fsevents-8cc0601e\node_modules\are-we-there-yet' -> 'D:\Dev\AspNetBoilerplate\MyProject\3.5.0\angular\node_modules\.staging\are-we-there-yet-cedb4a6a'

npm ERR! path D:\Dev\AspNetBoilerplate\MyProject\3.5.0\angular\node_modules\@angular-devkit\build-optimizer\node_modules\typescript
npm ERR! code ENOENT
npm ERR! errno -4058
npm ERR! syscall rename
npm ERR! enoent ENOENT: no such file or directory, rename 'D:\Dev\AspNetBoilerplate\MyProject\3.5.0\angular\node_modules\@angular-devkit\build-optimizer\node_modules\typescript' -> 'D:\Dev\AspNetBoilerplate\MyProject\3.5.0\angular\node_modules\@angular-devkit\build-optimizer\node_modules\.typescript.DELETE'
npm ERR! enoent This is related to npm not being able to find a file.
npm ERR! enoent

npm ERR! A complete log of this run can be found in:
npm ERR!     C:\Users\Jack\AppData\Roaming\npm-cache\_logs\2018-03-21T19_33_18_250Z-debug.log

I can clearly see that this is happening because my node_modules subfolder contains only a single folder structure with no files within it. That structure is:

node_modules\@angular-devkit\build-optimizer\node_modules

I have node 8.9.4, npm 5.6.0, and angular-cli 1.5.0 installed as well as typescript 2.0.0. The latter two packages have been installed globally.

Here is the package.json file contents:

{
    "name": "MyProject",
    "version": "0.0.0",
    "license": "MIT",
    "angular-cli": {},
    "scripts": {
        "ng": "ng",
        "start": "ng serve --host 0.0.0.0 --port 4200",
        "hmr": "ng serve --host 0.0.0.0 --port 4200 4201 --hmr -e=hmr",
        "test": "ng test",
        "pree2e": "webdriver-manager update --standalone false --gecko false",
        "e2e": "protractor"
    },
    "private": true,
    "dependencies": {
        "@angular/animations": "^5.0.3",
        "@angular/common": "^5.0.3",
        "@angular/compiler": "^5.0.3",
        "@angular/core": "^5.0.3",
        "@angular/forms": "^5.0.3",
        "@angular/http": "^5.0.3",
        "@angular/platform-browser": "^5.0.3",
        "@angular/platform-browser-dynamic": "^5.0.3",
        "@angular/router": "^5.0.3",
        "@aspnet/signalr": "1.0.0-preview1-28189",
        "@types/bootstrap": "^3.3.33",
        "@types/jquery": "^3.2.12",
        "@types/jquery.blockui": "0.0.28",
        "@types/jquery.validation": "^1.16.3",
        "@types/lodash": "^4.14.62",
        "@types/moment": "^2.13.0",
        "@types/moment-timezone": "^0.2.34",
        "@types/signalr": "^2.2.33",
        "@types/toastr": "^2.1.33",
        "abp-ng2-module": "^1.3.0",
        "abp-web-resources": "^3.3.0",
        "animate.css": "^3.5.2",
        "block-ui": "^2.70.1",
        "bootstrap": "^3.3.7",
        "bootstrap-select": "^1.12.2",
        "chart.js": "^2.6.0",
        "core-js": "^2.4.1",
        "famfamfam-flags": "^1.0.0",
        "flot": "^0.8.0-alpha",
        "font-awesome": "^4.7.0",
        "jquery": "^3.1.1",
        "jquery-countto": "^1.2.0",
        "jquery-migrate": "^3.0.0",
        "jquery-slimscroll": "^1.3.8",
        "jquery-sparkline": "^2.4.0",
        "js-cookie": "^2.1.4",
        "lodash": "^4.17.4",
        "moment": "^2.18.1",
        "moment-timezone": "^0.5.13",
        "morris.js": "^0.5.0",
        "ngx-bootstrap": "^2.0.2",
        "ngx-pagination": "^3.0.3",
        "node-waves": "^0.7.5",
        "push.js": "1.0.4",
        "raphael": "^2.2.7",
        "rxjs": "^5.5.2",
        "signalr": "^2.2.1",
        "simple-line-icons": "^2.4.1",
        "spin.js": "^2.3.2",
        "sweetalert": "^2.0.8",
        "toastr": "^2.1.2",
        "ts-helpers": "^1.1.2",
        "web-animations-js": "^2.3.1",
        "zone.js": "0.8.18"
    },
    "devDependencies": {
        "@angular/cli": "^1.5.4",
        "@angular/compiler-cli": "^5.0.3",
        "@angularclass/hmr": "^2.1.3",
        "@types/jasmine": "^2.5.38",
        "@types/node": "^8.0.27",
        "codelyzer": "^3.1.2",
        "jasmine-core": "^2.5.2",
        "jasmine-spec-reporter": "^4.2.1",
        "karma": "^1.4.1",
        "karma-chrome-launcher": "^2.0.0",
        "karma-cli": "^1.0.1",
        "karma-coverage-istanbul-reporter": "^1.3.0",
        "karma-jasmine": "^1.1.0",
        "karma-jasmine-html-reporter": "^0.2.2",
        "nswag": "^11.12.7",
        "protractor": "^5.1.1",
        "ts-node": "^3.3.0",
        "tslint": "^5.7.0",
        "typescript": "2.4.2"
    }
}

When I run npm install, I can see the packages being downloaded into the .staging folder. At the point that the finalize command is run (see the log below), I can see that the package folders are being consolidated and copied somewhere, but that somewhere does not appear to be my node_modules subfolder other than the first set of subfolders as I have shown above. When the npm install completes, the .staging folder is deleted and all that I have left is that partial folder structure.

Admittedly I am new to Node development - I usually work on our ASP.NET Web API backends. I'm trying to get my development environment in sync with our front end developer's development environment. I have spent most of the day looking for a solution. I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling Node. I've tried different versions that match our front end developer's environment. I've tried using the latest versions of angular-cli and typescript and have fallen back to the versions I reference above in hopes that the "requires a peer" warnings would be resolved. I have searched for similar answers on this site. The closest one I have found remains unanswered.

Here is the end of the "complete log" referenced in the npm error output:

19577 silly saveTree | `-- [email protected]
19577 silly saveTree +-- [email protected]
19577 silly saveTree +-- [email protected]
19577 silly saveTree `-- [email protected]
19578 warn [email protected] requires a peer of @angular/compiler@^2.3.1 || >=4.0.0-beta <5.0.0 but none is installed. You must install peer dependencies yourself.
19579 warn [email protected] requires a peer of @angular/core@^2.3.1 || >=4.0.0-beta <5.0.0 but none is installed. You must install peer dependencies yourself.
19580 warn optional SKIPPING OPTIONAL DEPENDENCY: [email protected] (node_modules\fsevents):
19581 warn optional SKIPPING OPTIONAL DEPENDENCY: Error: EPERM: operation not permitted, rename 'D:\Dev\AspNetBoilerplate\MyProject\3.5.0\angular\node_modules\.staging\fsevents-8cc0601e\node_modules\are-we-there-yet' -> 'D:\Dev\AspNetBoilerplate\MyProject\3.5.0\angular\node_modules\.staging\are-we-there-yet-cedb4a6a'
19582 verbose optional SKIPPING OPTIONAL DEPENDENCY:
19582 verbose optional Please try running this command again as root/Administrator.
19583 verbose stack Error: ENOENT: no such file or directory, rename 'D:\Dev\AspNetBoilerplate\MyProject\3.5.0\angular\node_modules\@angular-devkit\build-optimizer\node_modules\typescript' -> 'D:\Dev\AspNetBoilerplate\MyProject\3.5.0\angular\node_modules\@angular-devkit\build-optimizer\node_modules\.typescript.DELETE'
19584 verbose cwd D:\Dev\AspNetBoilerplate\MyProject\3.5.0\angular
19585 verbose Windows_NT 10.0.16299
19586 verbose argv "C:\\Program Files\\nodejs\\node.exe" "C:\\Program Files\\nodejs\\node_modules\\npm\\bin\\npm-cli.js" "install"
19587 verbose node v8.9.4
19588 verbose npm  v5.6.0
19589 error path D:\Dev\AspNetBoilerplate\MyProject\3.5.0\angular\node_modules\@angular-devkit\build-optimizer\node_modules\typescript
19590 error code ENOENT
19591 error errno -4058
19592 error syscall rename
19593 error enoent ENOENT: no such file or directory, rename 'D:\Dev\AspNetBoilerplate\MyProject\3.5.0\angular\node_modules\@angular-devkit\build-optimizer\node_modules\typescript' -> 'D:\Dev\AspNetBoilerplate\MyProject\3.5.0\angular\node_modules\@angular-devkit\build-optimizer\node_modules\.typescript.DELETE'
19594 error enoent This is related to npm not being able to find a file.
19595 verbose exit [ -4058, true ]

Please advise.

In my case I tried to run npm i [email protected] and got the error because the dev server was running in another terminal on vsc. Hit ctrl+c, y to stop it in that terminal, and then installation works.

In my case, this error happened with a new project.

none of the proposed solutions here worked, so I simply reinstalled all the packages and started working correctly.

If it happens, then it means you have to upgrade your node.js. Simply uninstall your current node from your pc or mac and download the latest version from https://nodejs.org/en/

Try the following steps:
1. Make sure you have the latest npm (npm install -g npm).
2. Add an exception to your antivirus to ignore the node_modules folder in your project.
3. $ rm -rf node_modules package-lock.json .
4. $ npm install

I had the SAME issue today and it was driving me nuts!!! What I had done was upgrade to node 8.10 and upgrade my NPM to the latest I uninstalled angular CLI

npm uninstall -g angular-cli
npm uninstall --save-dev angular-cli

I then verified my Cache from NPM if it wasn't up to date I cleaned it and ran the install again if npm version is < 5 then use npm cache clean --force

npm install -g @angular/cli@latest

and created a new project file and create a new angular project.

The following steps work for me:

1. npm cache clean -f
2. rm -rf node_modules
3. npm i

Following what @viveknuna suggested, I upgraded to the latest version of node.js and npm using the downloaded installer. I also installed the latest version of yarn using a downloaded installer. Then, as you can see below, I upgraded angular-cli and typescript. Here's what that process looked like:

D:\Dev\AspNetBoilerplate\MyProject\3.5.0\angular>npm install -g @angular/cli@latest
C:\Users\Jack\AppData\Roaming\npm\ng -> C:\Users\Jack\AppData\Roaming\npm\node_modules\@angular\cli\bin\ng
npm WARN optional SKIPPING OPTIONAL DEPENDENCY: [email protected] (node_modules\@angular\cli\node_modules\fsevents):
npm WARN notsup SKIPPING OPTIONAL DEPENDENCY: Unsupported platform for [email protected]: wanted {"os":"darwin","arch":"any"} (current: {"os":"win32","arch":"x64"})

+ @angular/[email protected]
added 75 packages, removed 166 packages, updated 61 packages and moved 24 packages in 29.084s

D:\Dev\AspNetBoilerplate\MyProject\3.5.0\angular>npm install -g typescript
C:\Users\Jack\AppData\Roaming\npm\tsserver -> C:\Users\Jack\AppData\Roaming\npm\node_modules\typescript\bin\tsserver
C:\Users\Jack\AppData\Roaming\npm\tsc -> C:\Users\Jack\AppData\Roaming\npm\node_modules\typescript\bin\tsc
+ [email protected]
updated 1 package in 2.427s

D:\Dev\AspNetBoilerplate\MyProject\3.5.0\angular>node -v
v8.10.0

D:\Dev\AspNetBoilerplate\MyProject\3.5.0\angular>npm -v
5.6.0

D:\Dev\AspNetBoilerplate\MyProject\3.5.0\angular>yarn --version
1.5.1

Thereafter, I ran yarn and npm start in my angular folder and all appears to be well. Here's what that looked like:

D:\Dev\AspNetBoilerplate\MyProject\3.5.0\angular>yarn
yarn install v1.5.1
[1/4] Resolving packages...
[2/4] Fetching packages...
info [email protected]: The platform "win32" is incompatible with this module.
info "[email protected]" is an optional dependency and failed compatibility check. Excluding it from installation.
[3/4] Linking dependencies...
warning "@angular/cli > @schematics/[email protected]" has incorrect peer dependency "@angular-devkit/[email protected]".
warning "@angular/cli > @angular-devkit/schematics > @schematics/[email protected]" has incorrect peer dependency "@angular-devkit/[email protected]".
warning " > [email protected]" has incorrect peer dependency "@angular/compiler@^2.3.1 || >=4.0.0-beta <5.0.0".
warning " > [email protected]" has incorrect peer dependency "@angular/core@^2.3.1 || >=4.0.0-beta <5.0.0".
[4/4] Building fresh packages...
Done in 232.79s.

D:\Dev\AspNetBoilerplate\MyProject\3.5.0\angular>npm start

> [email protected] start D:\Dev\AspNetBoilerplate\MyProject\3.5.0\angular
> ng serve --host 0.0.0.0 --port 4200

** NG Live Development Server is listening on 0.0.0.0:4200, open your browser on http://localhost:4200/ **
Date: 2018-03-22T13:17:28.935Z
Hash: 8f226b6fa069b7c201ea
Time: 22494ms
chunk {account.module} account.module.chunk.js () 129 kB  [rendered]
chunk {app.module} app.module.chunk.js () 497 kB  [rendered]
chunk {common} common.chunk.js (common) 1.46 MB  [rendered]
chunk {inline} inline.bundle.js (inline) 5.79 kB [entry] [rendered]
chunk {main} main.bundle.js (main) 515 kB [initial] [rendered]
chunk {polyfills} polyfills.bundle.js (polyfills) 1.1 MB [initial] [rendered]
chunk {styles} styles.bundle.js (styles) 1.53 MB [initial] [rendered]
chunk {vendor} vendor.bundle.js (vendor) 15.1 MB [initial] [rendered]

webpack: Compiled successfully.

In my case, I had to create a new app, reinstall my node packages, and copy my src document over. That worked.