Windows Cannot Find Specified File Path

marielynn · 04 Nov 2017

Something strange recently happened. My programs still open, such as internet or my webroot program. But my documents do not open (i get the windows cannot find specified file error" it also says "explorer.exe at the top. I think its a permissions issue?? I tried right clicking on the documents folder, nothing opens here either.

My start menu will not open either. I have also tried running sfc /scannow and it wont work at all, i get an error here too.

spunk · 04 Nov 2017

What does the error say?
Your User Profile may have become corrupted and Windows loaded a Default User Profile.
Browse to C:\Windows\Users\[UserName] and double click the Documents folder. Are your documents there?
If so, you may need to create a new user profile, restart the computer and login as that user, then copy the user files from your old profile to the new. [Fix] Corrupt User Profile Error In Windows 10

marielynn · 04 Nov 2017

spunk said:

What does the error say?
Your User Profile may have become corrupted and Windows loaded a Default User Profile.
Browse to C:\Windows\Users\[UserName] and double click the Documents folder. Are your documents there?
If so, you may need to create a new user profile, restart the computer and login as that user, then copy the user files from your old profile to the new. [Fix] Corrupt User Profile Error In Windows 10

I cant open my documents folder to check. I still have to log in to my regular account like always

The error i get when i click on documents is "Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the permissions to access the item" and has "explorer.exe" at the top of the box

spunk · 04 Nov 2017

Be sure you are logged in as Administrator. Take Ownership of the folder or directory.

dalchina · 05 Nov 2017

Something strange recently happened.

Hi, starting with that... let's see if you had an update about that time.
Please post a screenshot of your Update History.

(Settings, search, Update H ... you can launch Settings if you press Windows key + X and click Settings)
To post a screenshot please use the Insert Image icon above your post to the left of the video icon. Then Browse to your image, select it and upload it. E.g. png, jpg. Thanks. (For more guidance on screenshots, see the tutorial in the Tutorial section).

Do you have System Restore enabled, and any useful restore points?
Note: if you recently upgraded to build 1709, all previous restore points will have been removed, as they should be.

marielynn · 06 Nov 2017

dalchina said:

Hi, starting with that... let's see if you had an update about that time.
Please post a screenshot of your Update History.

(Settings, search, Update H ... you can launch Settings if you press Windows key + X and click Settings)
To post a screenshot please use the Insert Image icon above your post to the left of the video icon. Then Browse to your image, select it and upload it. E.g. png, jpg. Thanks. (For more guidance on screenshots, see the tutorial in the Tutorial section).

Do you have System Restore enabled, and any useful restore points?
Note: if you recently upgraded to build 1709, all previous restore points will have been removed, as they should be.

I tried pressing win + x and nothing comes up.
@spunk, i cant do that because i cant open my file explorer at all.

marielynn · 06 Nov 2017

heres a picture of the error. Imgur: The most awesome images on the Internet+

I also cant edit admin settings or open anything with win + x

spunk · 07 Nov 2017

What happens when you go to This PC and click on C: ? Does it open File Explorer?
Or Right click the TaskBar or Press CTRL+ALT+DEL and start the Task Manager. In the Task Manager Go to File/Run New Task and in the Run box type explorer.exe and press enter. Does this open File Explorer?
Try pressing the Win key+S to open Search up or go to Cortana and type CMD. Right click the CMD results and Run As Administrator. In the Elevated Command Prompt type SFC /scannow and press enter. This will replace any missing system files.
If all else fails, in the Elevated Command Prompt Enable the Hidden Administrator account. Log out as you and login as the Hidden Built in Admin and make the changes to your account.

dalchina · 07 Nov 2017

The basic problem is we don't know what happened. Was it
- a Windows update?
- a Windows upgrade?
- your disk failing?
- a burst of cosmic rays?
etc

If you can't do much with your installed Windows, then
Let's start by checking your disk:
a. Download and create Kyhi's bootable disk from the top of the Software and Apps section (use a different PC to do that)
b. Boot your PC from that, not your internal disk
c. Run HD Tune (Available from the desktop you should see)
- Health tab and Error scan
Post a screenshot or photo of the results.

What Windows build do you have?
Then use file explorer to examine your Windows folder. Note: your system drive will probably not now be C: so look carefully for the right drive letter.
Open the Windows folder, type exp to find explorer.exe and right click it

Windows Cannot Find Specified File Path-1.jpg

What is your build number?

If the disk check is ok:

Do you have any System Restore points?
a. Use a Win 10 installation medium (DVD or bootable USB disk)
(Win 10 iso's are freely downloadable, and instructions how to do that and create a bootable medium are available in the Tutorial section).
Boot from that and via Repair your computer, navigate to Troubleshooting, Advanced Startup options.
Click System restore and see if you have any available restore points; note the dates and post back.

It would be useful to know what your update history is, but offhand I don't know how to get that easily without booting into Windows.

Note: we continually urge users to use disk imaging routinely so they can recover from many difficult situations relatively quickly and without technical help.. even if their disk fails or their PC is unusable (other hardware problems excepted).