Windows can't find Office file - I'm so confused....

[Diggs]

I have a customer complaining that when they click on Office apps in the Taskbar they get an error message that Windows can't find the file. If they click on the Start menu icon nothing happens. I've verified this and did minor then major repairs of Office then fully un-installed and re-installed and the same thing happens. In fact I can browse to the Office .exe file, double click on it and Windows says it can't find it (see photo). What's going on? I'm confused.

 

[Porthos]

Controlled folder access?

 

[Diggs]

Controlled folder access?

I'm not sure how that is being done. I checked permissions and they look good. If it was controlled folder I shouldn't be able to get into the Office directory to double click the file.

 

[glennd]

Blocked by anti virus?

 

[Diggs]

Blocked by anti virus?

She had McAfee and the first thing I did was remove it along with Avast Updater (not AV) and something called Driver Support 1. I'll N&P tomorrow if needed but would just prefer to get things to work without all the app re-installs this thing will need.

 

[glennd]

She had McAfee and the first thing I did was remove it along with Avast Updater (not AV) and something called Driver Support 1. I'll N&P tomorrow if needed but would just prefer to get things to work without all the app re-installs this thing will need.

Eeww, a computer infested with crapware. Might be time for a thorough de-infesting. Did you browse the installed programs list?

 

[Diggs]

Eeww, a computer infested with crapware. Might be time for a thorough de-infesting. Did you browse the installed programs list?

I did which is where I came up with Avast and that Driver Support crapware. Not much else there. I'm sure it could be user error also as the machine belongs to a little old lady in her early 80s but have no idea what she did.

 

[Markverhyden]

Try Tweaking AIO?

 

[glennd]

machine belongs to a little old lady in her early 80s b

I'm having trouble believing a little old lady in her 80s put that crap on there, more likely her stupid nerdy grandkids.

Anyway, I'm with Mark, if it's a permission issue, Tweaking will probably fix it. It's worth trying if you're looking at N&P anyway.

 

[Diggs]

Try Tweaking AIO?

Good thought. I'll try it in the morning.

 

[nlinecomputers]

Rootkit. Modified shell in registry to point to more than just Windows Explorer.

 

[Sky-Knight]

Yeah, sounds like HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open\command has been mucked with, should be "%1" %*

If a virus appends itself to that line, all exes run through it... you remove the virus and all of a sudden no exes work.

 

[seashore]

My brother called me yesterday with exactly the same issue. I only had 5 minutes to take a remote look and verify the issue, so I told him to remove Avast and call me back later if still the same. He hasn't called back so maybe it's solved - I'll check with him today. Removing Avast/AVG has solved so many client problems in the past.

 

[glennd]

Removing Avast/AVG has solved so many client problems in the past.

 

[seashore]

Apparently removing Avast didn't solve it, says he was already on the verge of replacing the laptop anyway, so he's bought a new one. I've offered to buy the old one for an easy refurb.

 

[Diggs]

Yeah, sounds like HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open\command has been mucked with, should be "%1" %*

No joy. Values are default as you've shown.

I'm running Tweaking.com now as last resort. Decided to let the whole thing run and go have breakfast......

@add - No help from Tweaking.com. Just an endless stream of notifications from Windows that some program has reset defaults. Enough - Spent too much time. Time for a fresh install.

A last parting observation is that on the last shutdown I see something called Teracopy running. Supposed to be an alternative for Windows File Explorer. Seems to be a good suspect for all this wonkiness.

 

[jflitney]

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us...am-files/5b3fe4fc-5ade-4616-89ad-8d2fb4076be0

 

[Diggs]

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us...am-files/5b3fe4fc-5ade-4616-89ad-8d2fb4076be0

You have to know every app affected for this. The problem is too systemic I'll never know all of what is bent/broken. I'm resigned to a N&P to be sure things are right and it doesn't come back to haunt me.

 

[JoeTech]

I just had a customer bring in a desktop yesterday with this problem. I had to do a full windows upgrade from usb and now I can open office and other affected programs. It had Avast cleaner premium and secure browser on it, but not the full av program.

 

[jflitney]

You have to know every app affected for this. The problem is too systemic I'll never know all of what is bent/broken. I'm resigned to a N&P to be sure things are right and it doesn't come back to haunt me.

I had this issue with Avast yesterday. The affected keys have a sub key, you can delete that.