Are you currently seeing a "the system cannot find the path specified" error on your Windows figurer? There are many other reasons you meet this message, from simple mistakes such as typing a wrong path on your Command Prompt or a program installation failure.

However, it could also mean that there are registry issues in your system, such every bit invalid keys or, worse, a virus attack. That's why if you see this error, don't take information technology lightly. Here are half dozen fixes you can do to solve this problem right away.

1. Check Your Organisation for Viruses

Virus attacks may not exist the most common reason you run into the "the organization cannot find the path specified" fault. Only it'due south best practice to check your system for viruses earlier you continue with other fixes. This ensures that your computer is safe and gratuitous from threats before y'all brainstorm tweaking system settings.

If y'all have a third-party antivirus plan installed on your computer, you tin can run it to check for threats. However, if y'all don't take one, you tin can utilize the congenital-in antivirus program on your program, chosen Windows Defender. Here's how:

  1. Press and hold Win + I keys to open Settings.
  2. So, click Security & Update > Windows Security.
  3. Next, printing Virus & threat protection.
    virus and threat protection
  4. Lastly, click Quick Scan.
    quick scan

The scan may accept a while if you take a lot of files saved on your computer. In one case information technology's done and no threats are constitute, get to the following fixes. If it found some threats, quarantine the files and check if information technology stock-still the problem.

ii. Verify the File's Path

If y'all've been getting this error message on the Command Prompt, cheque whether you're typing the right path or not. Well-nigh of the fourth dimension, this is a human mistake where users are putting in the wrong path or proper noun on the control line. And then, go through your command again and ensure that the path is typed correctly.

If y'all're getting this error when trying to download files to your system, check if your default download folder is changed and ensure that the download location you lot accept exists in your organization.

3. Delete Any Invalid Paths in the Environment Variable

An environment variable contains information that can touch on how running processes will behave in your system. And so, if y'all run a program on your reckoner from the command line, the PATH surroundings variables play an integral role by saving the directory path that can be searched.

To understand how it works, imagine a computer with two different directories. If you lot are trying to run a programme currently in a different directory, your organisation will search the directories recorded in the PATH variable. If the program is available in any directories, your system can run it without problems.

Even so, if you lot put in an invalid path variable, the process will exist disrupted, causing the "the system cannot find the path specified" error. Then, the best mode to fix this trouble is to delete the invalid paths from the Environment Variable.

Follow the instruction below to remove the paths:

  1. On your estimator, open File Explorer.
  2. And then, look for This PC path on the left-side navigation, right-click on it and choose Backdrop.
    this PC properties
  3. In the new window, click the Advanced system settings link on the right-side section.
    advanced system settings
  4. From the Advanced tab on the System Properties window, click the Environment Variables button.
    environment variables
  5. Nether the User variables department, cheque the Path variable by clicking on it and pressing the Edit push. This will brandish all the user variables.
    path user variables
  6. Adjacent, check if the paths are right and functioning. To do this, just copy the path and paste information technology on the accost bar of the File Explorer. This will allow you to encounter if the File Explorer can find the path. If you can't find information technology, the path is incorrect, and you have to Delete or Edit it. Practise this on all the paths provided on the path variable. Once done, press OK.
    edit user path variables
  7. Then, under the System variables section, click the Path variable and press the Edit button.
    path system variables
  8. Repeat step six to check if all the paths are working.
    edit system path variables

You can all view all the path variables in the Control Prompt. Only type echo %PATH% and press Enter. Yet, information technology won't tell you if the path is invalid or not.

4. Check Your System'southward Registry

If you have edited the AutoRun keys in the Registry Editor, it might exist the reason why you're getting a "the system cannot find the path specified" fault. The AutoRun keys role by performing a control automatically when opened. If the information specified in the keys is wrong, errors may occur. Follow the instructions below to solve this issue.

  1. Press and hold Win + R keys to open Run. Then type Regedit and press Enter.
  2. On the Registry Editor, copy this text
    regedit
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Command Processor and paste information technology on the address bar.
    registry editor address bar
  3. Next, cheque if in that location is an AutoRun key. If there is, Delete or Modify the data.
    Autorun key
  4. Lastly, check if you lot're even so having the same issue.

5. Run an SFC Scan

If none of the methods above work, yous tin run a System File Checker (SFC) scan to look for corrupted files in your organization and prepare them automatically. Here's how:

  1. Press and concur Win + R keys to open Run. Then type cmd and press Enter.
    cmd
  2. On the Command Prompt, type sfc /scannow and printing Enter.
    sfc scan now
  3. If SFC finds errors but can't repair them, type this command after exe /Online /Cleanup-epitome /Scanhealth and press Enter.
  4. And then, type exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth and hit Enter.
  5. Restart your computer and see if it fixes the issue.

6. Update Your Copy of Windows

The last thing you demand to do to ready this error is update your Windows arrangement. Running an outdated system can cause various issues to your system, including the "the organization cannot discover the path specified" mistake. Follow the steps below to upgrade your Windows:

  1. Open the Settings app on your arrangement by pressing and holding Windows + I keys.
  2. From Settings, go to Update & Security > Windows Update.
  3. Then, click the Check for Updates button if at that place are any updates, download and install them.
    check for updates
  4. Restart your PC and cheque if yous're however experiencing the same error.

An Error-Free Windows Once again

Most of the time, the "the organisation cannot find the path specified" error is oft caused by an invalid path or corrupted files in your system. Subsequently doing the fixes mentioned in a higher place, your system should run smoothly without errors. If you're trying to run a program and getting this error, finding the right install location of the software may help fix the problem.

4 Ways to Notice a Plan'due south Install Location on Windows

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About The Writer

Kim Fernandez (62 Manufactures Published)

Kim is a technical author who is passionate nigh creature welfare and the environment. A author by day and a reader at nighttime, she takes pleasance in acquiring new knowledge. She is an experienced researcher and ad executive. In an alternating universe, she is a professional model.

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