Err Msg: Cannot Find 'C:\Program' or One of Its Components

ID: Q220956

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0
Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

SYMPTOMS

When you start your computer, you may receive the following error message:

Cannot find C:\Program or one of its components.

Or, if there is a C:\Program folder on your computer, the folder may open automatically when you start your computer.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if you have America Online (AOL) Instant Messenger installed. Windows NT cannot read past the space in the "C:\Program Files\Aim95\Aim95.exe" value located in the following registry key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Name: AIM
Type: REG_SZ
Data: C:\Program Files\aim95\aim95.exe -cnetwait.odl

RESOLUTION

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys And Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it. If you are running Windows NT, you should also update your Emergency Repair Disk (ERD).

To resolve this issue, use the appropriate method:

Method 1

In AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), click Setup.

On the General tab, click to clear the Start AIM when Windows Starts check box.

This removes AIM from the Run key in the registry.

Method 2

View the following key with Registry Editor:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

If any value contains a space (such as "C:\Program Files"), edit the value and place quotation marks (") at the beginning and end of the value. For example,

"C:\Program Files\Aim95\Aim95.exe"

instead of

C:\Program Files\Aim95\Aim95.exe

MORE INFORMATION

This problem can occur if you clear the "Start AIM when Windows Starts" check box and then later select it again.

When AIM is initially installed, it adds itself to the Run key in the registry using the MS-DOS version of the path (C:\Progra~1\Aim95\Aim95.exe). If you clear the check box and then select it later, AIM add the setting using long file names but no quotation marks (C:\Program Files\Aim95\Aim95.exe).

The third-party products discussed here are manufactured by vendors independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding these products' performance or reliability.

Additional query words:

Keywords : kb3rdparty kbenv kberrmsg
Version : winnt:4.0
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbprb