Installation Win 11

Windows 11 version 24H2; all current updates
Privoxy 4.0.0-1, downloaded from SourceForge, and then from 
www.privoxy.org/sf-download-mirror

BLUF: Privoxy runs, but I want to suppress the "Fatal error: can't check
configure file" message at start up.

I've been using Privoxy for >20 years. I have a vague memory of using
something called JunkBusters. This is the first time I've had to
configure anything. But I'm setting up a Win 11 box.

I haven't been able to get Privoxy to run with the "Run automatically at
startup" option, so that's unchecked. After installation, the Startup
directory is empty.

The log file is in C:\var, created w/ default permissions. The config
file is edited to point Privoxy to that. This eliminates the fatal log
file error.

I ran "privoxy --install" and changed the service Startup Type to
Automatic. I don't need to change the default system user.

I uncommented a couple of debug options & checked the log file. Privoxy
is happily writing to the log file & the entries indicate that it's
doing what it's supposed to be doing, so the service is reading the
config file. However, I get the fatal config file error message at
startup. I got it before I created the service and after I created the
service. I get it with all service startup type settings. It doesn't
seem to be the service that is generating the error message. Apparently
Privoxy is creating another instance that runs at startup, generates the
error message, and dies. The system user has full rights on the config
file & the Privoxy directory. The Task Manager is showing only 1
instance of Privoxy.

How do I either suppress the error message, or stop Privoxy from running
the briefly-lived second instance?

Bob Hall