--- khelpcenter/kcmhelpcenter.cpp

+++ khelpcenter/kcmhelpcenter.cpp

@@ -321,6 +321,7 @@

 void KCMHelpCenter::load()

 {

+  findWriteableIndexDir();

   mIndexDirLabel->setText( Prefs::indexDirectory() );

   mListView->clear();

@@ -675,6 +676,12 @@

   enableButtonOK( count != 0 );

 }

+void KCMHelpCenter::findWriteableIndexDir()

+{

+  QFileInfo currentDir( Prefs::indexDirectory() );

+  if ( !currentDir.isWritable() )

+    Prefs::setIndexDirectory( KGlobal::dirs()->saveLocation("data", "khelpcenter/index/") );

+}

 #include "kcmhelpcenter.moc"

 // vim:ts=2:sw=2:et

--- khelpcenter/kcmhelpcenter.h

+++ khelpcenter/kcmhelpcenter.h

@@ -146,6 +146,11 @@

     void advanceProgress();

+    /**

+     * Find a user-writeable location for the indices, if the current location

+     * is not.

+     */

+    void findWriteableIndexDir();

   private:

     KHC::SearchEngine *mEngine;