Windows cannot find C:\Windows\regedit.exe

paret said:

I recently installed windows 7 pro x64 on a brand new computer that I built myself. My computer has two separate drives: A 64GB Kingston SSD used as a boot drive and a 500GB WD HDD. I installed windows 7 on the SSD and intend to use this drive ( C: just to store the operating system. I want everything else stored of the HDD which I labeled as my E: drive. To avoid program files from being installed on my C: by default ( Like microsoft office, which does not ask you the location where you wish to instal) I changed the default instalation diretion in the registration. Here is exactly what I did

- run regedit from cmd
-accesed HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
-changed ProgramFilesDir PATH from C:\Program Files to E:\Program files ( which I created myself), along with several other default paths
-Rebooted to allow changes to take affect

When the computer rebooted I tried to run regedit again and an error notification came up that says:

Windows cannot find C:\Windows\regedit.exe. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again.

Im assuming I made a mistake when entering the new path names but I can no longer view the registry to see ifthat is the case because no matter what I do I cannot get regedit to run. I have been looking around everywhere for a solution.
here are a list of solutions/possible causes that I have found, but that do not work in my case

-Malware, I understand this probibly is mostly commonly cause by malware or some virus. But my computer is brand new and I have yet to connect it to the internet, and I am the only one who has used it ( im working on a different pc right now)

-tried running regedt32 or regedit32 or REGEDIT or pretty much any other combination of the words 'reg' 'edit'

- Yes the regedit.exe does exist in the system. When I open C:\Windows I can see the regedit application, and yes it is stored as an application, and yes regedit32.exe is stored in C:\Windows\system32

I would realy like to find a solution to the problem that does not involve re-instaling windows or regedit, there has to be a way because liek I said it was probably cause by some typo and I know that the file is not corrupt or damaged.

You can check the current setup (path) if you can open a cmd window. type cmd in search then "path" that will tell you where windows thinks it should be looking. If the correct path (c:\%path%) is correct then you may just need to add regedit's location in path.

I suspect that wont help. I suspect you should restore from a backup if one exists, or do a repair install from the win 7 dvd.

Ken J

In addition to zigzag's suggestions,


You could first try replacing the Software hive in \Windows\System32\config with the one in \Windows\System32\config\RegBack.

You would need to do that offline - from a boot disc for example.

If you know where to look in the registry, you can access it from a boot disc - win 7 dvd/repair disc fror exmaple.

Go to command prompt, type regedit, in regedit main window click on HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.

Click File >Load Hive, browse to your windows\system32\ regback software hive, select it - give it a name , e.g. PE_SOFT.

Find the key(s) you altered - export it (them ) to HD .

Click on PE_SOFT, unload Hive.

Repeat loading Hive - this time pick up \Windows\System32\config Software hive - give the same name , eg PE_SOFT.

DELETE the keys you altered.

Click File >Import - browse to the reg file you just saved and import it.

Unload PE_SOFT.

Reboot.


If that is too complicated, you can use free paragon fre rescue kit boot cd - boot it , select Normal Mode>File Transfer Wizard.

Rename \Windows\System32\config\ to SOFTWARE .OLD.

Browse to \Windows\System32\config\regback and copy the backup software hive from there to \Windows\System32\config

If not sure what you altered - you can copy all the hives from regback, instead of just the SOFTWARE hive

when I tried to view the enviroment variables to check the PATH I got another error notification that says Windows cannot find C:\Windows\system32\SystemPropertiesAdvanced.exe ..... Does that ring any bells with anyone?

SIW2 said:

In addition to zigzag's suggestions,


If you know where to look in the registry, you can access it from a boot disc - win 7 dvd/repair disc fror exmaple.

Go to command prompt, type regedit, in regedit main window click on HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE...

I cannot cannot acces the registry no matter what I do, typing regedit just gives the error prompt

Navigate to C:\Windows\Regedit - Right Click on Regedit and Run as Administrator