6 Ways to Fix the System Cannot Find the File Specified in Windows 11/10/7
Quick Navigation:
- Part 1. Reasons why the System Cannot Find the File Specified in Windows Occur
- Part 2. How to Fix the System Cannot Find the File Specified in Windows
- Solution 1: Run Anti-virus software to prevent malicious attack
- Solution 2: Update Windows OS
- Solution 3: Check the System Log Files
- Solution 4: Change your Registry
- Solution 5: Uninstall and Reinstall the Drivers
- Solution 6: Format External Hard Drive
- Part 3. How to Recover Lost Files While Fixing the System Cannot Find the File Specified
You can see the error "the system cannot find the file specified" while doing Windows 7 backup, connecting an external hard drive, or update Windows 10. There are many reasons that cause the issue. No matter what, you should learn the ways to fix it in the first place. Here are 6 useful ways for how to fix the system cannot find the file specified in Windows 7 and Windows 11/10 introduced for your references. If any data lost or deleted during the fix, try Deep Data Recovery to retrieve them, the sooner the better.
The error message, 'the system cannot find the file specified' is a common error that Windows users experience. You can get the error message when accessing an external hard drive, local hard drive, USB, or while using Disk Management, launching a program, or installing a driver on your PC. Whatever the reason why you get the 'the system cannot find the file specified', rest assured that you can resolve it on your own with the following 6 useful methods.
Part 1. Reasons why the System Cannot Find the File Specified in Windows Occur
The "the system cannot find the file specified" error can occur due to various reasons. Some of the most common causes of this issue include:
- Virus Attack
- Problem with an external hard drive connection
- Accidentally deleted
- Missing driver file
- Missing or corrupted files for the specified software
- Wrong registry keys
- Wrong file permission settings
- Disk error within the source volume
- Backup errors
Part 2. How to Fix the System Cannot Find the File Specified in Windows
The "Windows 7: The system cannot find the file specified" error can be frustrating, but it's often a sign that there's a specific issue that needs to be addressed. Since there's no one-size-fits-all solution, the first step is to identify the root cause of the error. Once you've determined the reason, you can apply the corresponding solution to resolve the issue.
Solution 1: Run Anti-virus software to prevent malicious attack
The "System Cannot Find the File Specified" error in the Windows 11/10 command prompt can be caused by malicious attacks, cyber threats, and viruses. To resolve this issue, it's essential to take proactive steps to protect your system.
Solution 2: Update Windows OS
If your Windows operating system is outdated, it may be causing the "System Cannot Find the File Specified" error. To resolve this issue, it's essential to update your Windows OS and install any pending updates on your system.
1. Click Windows + I simultaneously.
2. Select the 'Update & Security option from the displayed menu.
3. Click on 'Check for updates' to reveal all pending updates.
4. Install all pending updates and restart your system when the updates finish.
Solution 3: Check the System Log Files
If the first two solutions have not resolved the issue, it's time to dig deeper and investigate the system log files. This can be a crucial step in identifying the root cause of the error and finding a solution.
1. Open the 'C:/Windows/INF' directory and proceed to open the 'INF' folder
2. Locate the 'setupapi.dev.log file and double click on it to open.
3. Press Ctrl + F key together and type 'cannot find the file' in the search bar that is displayed after pressing the keys. Click Enter to start the search.
4. Check the result generated and copy and paste the missing file that is in the Windows/INF folder.
5. Reinstall the driver again and reboot.
Solution 4: Change your Registry
In some cases, the error message 'The System Cannot Find the File Specified' can be resolved by modifying specific registry keys. If you're experiencing this issue, try the following steps to see if they resolve the problem:
1. Long press on the 'Windows + R' key and type 'Regedit' in the displayed window. Click on Enter.
2. Look for 'KKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion'.
3. Expand the menu and locate the 'RunOnce' tab. If you can't find this key, simply click the 'CurrentVersion menu and select 'New > Key' from the generated menu.
4. Type 'RunOnce' as the new name for the key and navigate to 'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ on the left pane.
5. Expand the menu again check to see if the 'RunOnce' key has been created successfully.
6. Close the Registry Editor and then restart the Windows.
Solution 5: Uninstall and Reinstall the Drivers
If you've downloaded the drivers from the manufacturer's website and are still experiencing the error code, try uninstalling and reinstalling the drivers to resolve the issue. This is a simple and effective troubleshooting step that can often resolve the problem. To do this, follow the steps below:
1. Navigate to the 'Control Panel' and choose 'Device Manager'.
2. Enlarge the category to find the device that you want to uninstall.
3. Right-click on the specific device name and select the 'Uninstall' option.
4. confirm the 'Delete the driver' software for this device' by clicking the 'Ok button. This will uninstall the drivers.
5. Reinstall the driver and reboot your PC.
Solution 6: Format External Hard Drive
For the external hard drive if the Problem occurs while inserting the External Hard Drive on the Computer. Sometimes, the error message 'the system cannot find the file specified in Windows 11/10 command prompt' might be because of an issue with an external drive. If this is the case, you should format the drive. The steps below explain how to do this.
1. Keep the external hard drive connected with your computer. Click on 'This PC' to open the folder.
2. Locate the external hard drive and right-click on it. Select 'Format' and choose the 'Quick Format' option.
3. Click 'Start' to start the process. When the formatting is complete, try to perform the command to see if the issue has been resolved.
Part 3. How to Recover Lost Files While Fixing the System Cannot Find the File Specified
If you're experiencing issues with the error message "the system cannot find the file specified" in Windows, and in the process of troubleshooting, you've lost some files, don't worry. Fortunately, there's a solution to recover your lost data. The Deep Data Recovery tool can help you retrieve your lost files.
Are you looking for a safe and effective way to recover lost files from your storage devices? Look no further than Qiling, a powerful file recovery tool that can help you retrieve files completely from various storage devices, including memory cards, disks, partitions, USB flash drives, RAW drives, and more.
1: Download and install the best free data recovery software for Windows on your PC. Launch it and select the file types you will like to recover. All file types are usually highlighted when you launch the software, so you need to uncheck them and select the specific file types that you want. When you are done, click the 'Start' button to start the process.
2: Select the location where you want to scan for the data. This may include a specific location or partition. After the selection, click 'Scan' to recover deleted files in Windows 11/10, Windows 7, and macOS.
3: Check the scan result and preview to see that your preferred files have been recovered. Click 'Recover' to recover and save the files. If you want to search further, use the 'Deep Scan' mode.
Are you experiencing the frustrating error message "the system cannot find the file specified" while trying to perform a backup in Windows 7? This issue can be caused by a variety of factors, including corrupted system files, incorrect file paths, or issues with the backup process itself.
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