Strange Error Message

maiki

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Windows 8 Pro, latest updates.

Strange error message in last couple days on startup, sometimes at other times.

Explorer.exe (in title bar of message)

In message section-yellow triangle with exclamation point, followed by "Windows can't find the target".

What target?

Explorer is working, as I can open a folder, etc.

I tried SFC /scannow, and it reported no problems.

A Google search of the term found no hits.

Anyone know what is going on?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
Sound like an application that loads when Windows starts up is missing. You can try pressing Ctrl Alt Del and select task manager. At the bottom of the task manager window select "More Details". This will give you tabs to select from - Select "Startup". This will show a list of application that will load when the PC is rebooted and Windows starts up. Right click on each entry and from the menu select "Open File Location" to verify the application exists. If it does not then that is the problem.

Task manager - Startup is kind of limited as to whats being reported so an other option is an application called "AnvirTask Manager". When I load Windows 8 Task manager - Startup on my PC it shows 3 applications, AnvirTask Manager Shows an additional 8 applications for a total of 11.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 64bit
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 960 @ 3.20 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS Sabertooth x58
    Memory
    12 gigabytes
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce GTS 450
    Monitor(s) Displays
    65" Samsung
    Hard Drives
    120GB SSD - OS / EXTERNAL 1TB USB - Data
    PSU
    Ultra X4 Modular 750-Watt
    Case
    Raidmax SMILODON
    Cooling
    Antec Kuhler H2O 620 Liquid CPU Cooler System
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Arc Wireless Keyboard
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless Touchpad T650
    Other Info
    Kinect for Windows
Thanks for the reply.

I have WinPatrol Monitor running, and I usually use WP to tell me about startup programs. Actually, I have disabled most, so have a very clean startup. In fact, besides the essential windows startups, WP is the only additional one.

By the way, I also did a ccleaner registry clean, to see if it would clear up false links in the registry. I chose to clean everything it suggested, and reboot. Did not help, still the same error message.

I looked in Systernals Autoruns too, to see about startup programs, and did not find the culprit.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
Does the event log show anything that may give you a clue? Also you state that you have a very clean start up with the only thing loading being WP. May be WP is the problem. CCleaner didn't find anything as the executable for WP is there and WP it"s self is showing the application is there but maybe WP is calling something it uses that it can't find. Try disabling WP from loading at startup and see if the error goes away.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 64bit
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 960 @ 3.20 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS Sabertooth x58
    Memory
    12 gigabytes
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce GTS 450
    Monitor(s) Displays
    65" Samsung
    Hard Drives
    120GB SSD - OS / EXTERNAL 1TB USB - Data
    PSU
    Ultra X4 Modular 750-Watt
    Case
    Raidmax SMILODON
    Cooling
    Antec Kuhler H2O 620 Liquid CPU Cooler System
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Arc Wireless Keyboard
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless Touchpad T650
    Other Info
    Kinect for Windows
Fortunately, the problem seems to have gone away by itself now. I never figured out what caused it. I hope it doesn't return.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
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