The system cannot find the files specified is an internal error that appears under different conditions and situations. You may encounter this error while trying to launch an application lying at a specific path, running a command prompt, installing drivers, and so on. The issue refers to the error code 0x80070002, which can be tricky to fix.
Usually, when one of the crucial files required to facilitate a process is missing, the chain of processes is broken, and the system cannot find the file-specified error. The ultimate solution to this is to reinstate the unavailable file. In case the file has been deleted or removed by a security program, you should try to recover it.
In this post, we will examine some of the ways you can get rid of the error.
3 Ways to Fix the System Cannot Find The File Specified
Fix 1 – Use CHKDSK Command On Your PC
One of the most common reasons for this error is that the drive often becomes corrupt and inaccessible. This means any file or application in that particular drive will become corrupted or appear lost. Hence, as soon as you initiate a process to fetch those files, the system may not find the specified file error on your PC.
The best way to handle this is by cleaning the drive in question. Thanks to the CHKDSK command, you can do it in just a few steps –
Step 1 – Launch the command prompt on your PC.
Step 2 – In the command prompt, use the following command –
chkdsk x: /f /r where x denotes your drive.
Step 3—Hit enter after the command and let it finish the process. This way, the PC will check your drive for errors and resolve them simultaneously.
All your data is now cleaned. You can now try to initiate the same process again, but only this time, the error will not appear. If it appears again, chances are that the CHKDSK command has removed the corrupted file necessary for the process.
In such a situation, there are only two things you can try –
- Find the exact file online and save it again at the same destination
- Recover the file on your PC and restore it to the original file.
While it seems that finding a file and placing it on the drive is easier than recovering a lost file, the opposite is true. You may not be able to get your hands on the same file, considering its conditioning and use case. However, you can recover the file using a data recovery application like Advanced File Recovery.
All you have to do is –
- Download the application and install it on your computer.
- Launch the app and specify the type of file you have lost. If not, you can select all files to recover.
- Let the application find the deleted file. Check the results once you find the file, select it, and specify the destination where you want to recover it.
- Once you’ve completed everything, allow the app to recover the file, and you’re good to go.
Review – Advanced File Recovery: The Easiest Way to Recover Files
This way, your drive will be fixed for errors, and the deleted files will be recovered instantly.
Fix 2 – Run a Malware Scan Using Windows Security
If you have manually checked and the file is available, but the process keeps giving you back the file, the system cannot find the file specified error, and chances are that malware is causing the error. The best way to handle this is by using Windows Security on your PC and running a malware scan.
Step 1 – Go to the start menu and search for Windows security.
Step 2 – Launch the app and click on Virus and Threat Protection. 
Step 3 – Use the Quick Scan option to initiate the scan.
Step 4 – Once the scan is over, restart your PC for any changes to take effect.
Step 5 – Try launching the process again.
If a virus or malware is detected, it will be resolved, and the error system cannot find the file specified and will not appear again. However, the chances of that are quite low, considering the issue usually appears when the file is inaccessible. Hopefully, the malware detected will be removed using Windows security, and the file will become accessible again. If it does not work, you can go for a third-party security suite with multiple shields to guard against such impacts of malware and other malicious files.
Fix 3 – Install Windows Updates
In case the issue has appeared while you were trying to restore using a backup or creating a backup, there are chances that the outdated nature of your OS is causing it< When there is a new version of Windows available to install, the files are automatically updated to work with the latest version. Hence while working with an older version, issues such as the system cannot find the file specified error may appear.
Ideally, you should update your PC regularly. The auto-update feature should do it when you restart or boot your PC. However, in case you have that turned off, simply follow these steps –
Step 1 – Press Win+I to open the system settings.
Step 2 – From the left pane, select Windows Update.
Step 3 – Click on Check for Updates. This allows the system to fetch the latest updates if available.
Step 4 – Click on the Download and Install button when it shows that the update is available.
Step 5 – The PC will restart and update your PC with the latest version of the OS.
After updating the PC successfully, the incompatibility should be resolved, and hence, the error should be resolved.
Other than these fixes, you can also try removing the application/process that is showing the error and reinstalling it. Sometimes, when you download an app from a website, the files are not properly downloaded, and hence, a missing file or cannot find the file specified error appears.
The error appears differently depending on the situations that present themselves. However, the most common issue is that the file is either corrupted or lost from the PC. Fix 1 and Advanced File Recovery are your best options to fix the error once and for all.
I hope these fixes and the steps help you get rid of the error. Whenever you come across any error on Windows, keep in mind that it is fixable. All you have to do is visit Systweak Blogs, and you will find your solution! Bookmark this post for future reference, and feel free to drop your feedback in the comments below. Thanks for reading, and good luck!
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