Can't create a symbolic variable

I am trying to create a new variable x so I run

syms x

Unfortunately, Matlab stays as 'busy' for around 5 minutes and then displays these messages

>> syms x
Error using mupadmex
Internal error with symbolic engine. Quit and restart MATLAB.

Error in symengine

Error in sym (line 189)
      symengine;

Error in sympref>implementedSymprefs (line 142)
 y = {'FourierParameters', sym([1,-1]), 'MuPAD', 'sym';...

Error in sympref (line 81)
iSymprefs = implementedSymprefs;

Error in syms (line 195)
calledFromBase = mupadmex('', 8);

Warning: Failed to initialize symbolic preferences.
> In syms (line 195) 
Error using mupadmex
Internal error with symbolic engine. Quit and restart MATLAB.

Error in sym>cell2ref (line 1303)
S = mupadmex(y);

Error in sym>tomupad (line 1241)
  S = cell2ref(numeric2cellstr(x));

Error in sym (line 215)
              S.s = tomupad(x);

Error in syms (line 197)
toDefine = sym(zeros(1, 0));

I have indeed tried restarting Matlab. I have also tried resetting my paths, and rehashing the toolbox cache. I have even reinstalled Matlab, yet the problem persists.

Any help?

Answer 1

[Walter Roberson]

https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/399235-whenever-i-type-in-syms-x-and-run-it-matlab-seems-like-it-s-being-looped-and-i-also-can-t-stop-it#answer_318834

[Gerardo Mondragón]

Oh, I hadn't found that other topic. Anyway, thank you!