Providing more evidence of the issue by running cabal with -v flag:

...

...

Linking...

C:\Program Files (x86)\Haskell Platform\2009.2.0.2\bin\ar.exe -r dist\build\libHSCabal-1.8.0.4.a dist\build\Distribution\Compiler.o dist\build\Distribution\InstalledPackageInfo.o

...

...

...

Registering Cabal-1.8.0.4...

C:\Program Files (x86)\Haskell Platform\2009.2.0.2\bin\ghc-pkg.exe update - --global --no-user-package-conf --package-conf=dist\package.conf.inplace

Creating C:\Users\Ralph\AppData\Local\Temp\Cabal-1.8.0.411920\Cabal-1.8.0.4\dist\setup(and its parents)

C:\Users\Ralph\AppData\Local\Temp\Cabal-1.8.0.411920\Cabal-1.8.0.4\dist\setup\setup.exe install --verbose=2

directory dist\doc\html\Cabal does exist: False

Creating C:\Program Files (x86)\Haskell\doc\Cabal-1.8.0.4 (and its parents)

setup.exe: permission denied

cabal: Error: some packages failed to install:

Cabal-1.8.0.4 failed during the final install step. The exception was:

exit: ExitFailure 1

cabal-install-0.8.2 depends on Cabal-1.8.0.4 which failed to install.

C:\Users\Ralph>

From: haskell-cafe-bounces@haskell.org [mailto:haskell-cafe-bounces@haskell.org] On Behalf Of Ralph Hodgson
Sent: Monday, May 17, 2010 12:18 AM
To: haskell-cafe@haskell.org
Subject: [Haskell-cafe] Windows 7 Permission Denied Problem on Cabal

Following a successful install of the Haskell Platform on MAC OSX,  I proceed to update my Windows PC.

Frustration followed. I am blocked by a "Permission Denied" error when I do a "Setup install":

>ghc --make Setup

[58 of 58] Compiling Main             ( Setup.hs, Setup.o )

Linking Setup.exe ...

>Setup configure

Configuring Cabal-1.8.0.4...

>Setup build

Preprocessing library Cabal-1.8.0.4...

Building Cabal-1.8.0.4...

Registering Cabal-1.8.0.4...

>Setup install

Setup: permission denied

>

I changed the permission on folders in the "Haskell Platform" directories to "full control", without any effect.

I have searched the web for help but  could not find my problem. Can't help but think it is something trivial but what?

Help appreciated.

Ralph Hodgson, @ralphtq