Error 2: The system cannot find the file specified. Even after restarting the printer spooler service

I tried all the suggestions posted and have had no success in restarting my print spooler. Please help.

Original Title: I tried to restart the print spooler as directed, and it returned the message Error 2: The system cannot find the file specified. What does that mean and is it fixable?

Trying to start the Print Spooler Service you see a message like this:

Could not start the Print Spooler service on Local Computer.
Error 2: The system cannot find the file specified.

If you look at the Print Spooler Service in the Services applet, it shows the Print Spooler Service set to Automatic, but it is not running and will not start.

If you look in the Event Viewer System log you will see a message similar to this:

Event Type: Error
Event Source: Service Control Manager
Event Category: None
Event ID: 7000
Description:
The Print Spooler service failed to start due to the following error:
The system cannot find the file specified.

An Error 2 means that the specified file could not be found.

In the case of the Print Spooler Service, the most likely file to be missing is:

I can assure you with 100% certainty that running sfc /scannow will not help you. That is not how SFC works, that is not what it does and that is not what it is for. Plus, if you do not have a genuine bootable XP installation CD of the same Service Pack as your installed Service Pack SFC is going to complain — alot.

You could «try» running sfc /scannow if you are compelled to do so, but it will not help you.

I can also assure you with 100% certainty that the Microsoft automated Fixit troubleshooter will not help you either.

You must replace the missing or corrupt file manually.

We know that XP keep backup copies of critical system files in other places on your system.

When you find a copy of the missing file, copy it and paste it into the c:\windows\system32 folder where it belongs.

Use the Windows Search or Explorer to navigate to the folder where the backup files are, find the spoolsv.exe file, copy it and paste it into the c:\windows\system32 folder where it belongs.

The best place to look for backup copies of missing system files are:

c:\windows\system32\dllcache
c:\windows\ServicePackFiles\i386 (depending on your installation)

If you find a copy of spoolsv.exe is either of those folders, copy and paste it into the c:\windows\system32 folder

When pasting the file into the c:\windows\system32 folder, respond in the affirmative if asked to replace or overwrite the existing file.

See if you can start the Print Spooler Service now.

Reboot your system and test to be sure that things are working properly after rebooting.

If you can’t find the file there, search your hard drive(s) and see if you can find a copy. You could also copy the missing file from a working system using a floppy or USB device, email the file to yourself etc.

If you still can’t find a copy of the spoolsv.exe file, there is one on my SkyDrive you can download to your system to your system.

Deleting the spoolsv.exe file manually would require some extra effort since it is one of the 3498 files that Windows XP automatically looks after. Windows File Protection should automatically replace the file quickly and silently if it ever disappears.

Replacing the file may provide immediate relief for the symptom of the problem but does not actually fix the real problem. which is how did the file ever come up missing in the first place? It is important to fix the actual problem and not just treat the symptom of the problem.

If there is not a copy of the spoolsv.exe file in the c:\windows\system32\dllcache folder, there needs to be. That is where Windows File Protection looks for copies of the 3498 files that is monitors. If the a file is missing from the dllcache folder, Windows File Protection will not be able to replace the file if it ever comes up missing.

Possibilities for critical XP files to come up are some malicious software has afflicted your system or your antivirus or antimalware programs thought the file was infected (maybe is really was) and quarantined/deleted the file.

I uploaded a copy of the XP Pro SP3 file you need to my SkyDrive (everybody has a SkyDrive for sharing files).

You can download it and when you do, put a copy of the file in these folders (assuming Windows is installed on your C drive):

c:\windows\system32
c:\windows\system32\dllcache (that is where XP keeps backup copies of important files).

Here is the link to my SkyDrive and you can look for the file you need there:

When you see the files available for download, you may not see the file extension (.exe, .dll, .cpl, .sys, .zip, etc.), but when you download them they will have the correct extension.

When you download the file (especially if you use Internet Explorer), when you get a chance to save the file, your browser may not save the file with an extension (like .exe, .dll, .cpl, .sys, .zip, etc.) so you will have to manually add the proper extension to the file when you download the file before you save it.

You can download the file with no extension and then rename the file to add the proper extension. You don’t want to try to use a file called spoolsv when the file name really needs to be called spoolsv.exel (if the downloaded file has no extension you will have to change the name of the file to add the proper extension to get it to work.

You then need to put the downloaded files in the correct folders on your system.

That may not solve all your issues, but you will at least be past that part and then we can fix the rest.

Somehow I knew a Microsoft engaged Support Engineer «expert» would suggest running SFC and the Fixit. this tells me that they have not bothered to reproduce the problem and see if their own ideas work This is a real shame that these «expert» keep repeatedly sending folks on these wild goose chases, but that is how they do things around here.

Windows error system cannot find the file specified

Вопрос

Добрый день, недавно столкнулся с такой проблемой.

Имеем файловый сервер с диском

8TB, который презентован с внешнего хранилища. На этом диске есть несколько папок, предоставленных по-отдельности в общий доступ. В сумме они занимают около 4TB.

Для бэкапа этого сервера имеем отдельный SCDPM 2012 build 4.0.1908.0 с ленточной библиотекой, но без выделенных HDD. На DPM создана PG, объединяющая все сетевые папки этого 8-терабайтного диска.

При попытке создания точки восстановления на ленту через 4-10 часов копирование завершается с ошибкой «The system cannot find the file specified (0x80070002)»

Я подозреваю, что в течение такого долгого копирования с большой вероятностью возникает какая-то сетевая проблема и бэкап полностью фейлится.

В данный момент я подумываю о разделении одной большой PG на несколько меньших, но по какой-то причине консоль не позволяет мне этого сделать. Если я удаляю сетевую шару из одной PG, то не могу добавить ее в другую, вновь созданную PG. Мне сообщается, что «Other Items of this datasource are members of another protection group.»

Теперь собственно вопросы:

1) Есть ли какой-то способ победить ошибку «The system cannot find the file specified (0x80070002)» без переконфигурации PG?

2) Можно ли вообще разделять PG, которая защищает ресурсы, расположенные на одном физическом диске?

«The System cannot find the file specified» on Windows 10 Login

I upgraded from Windows 7 to Windows 10 a few weeks back on my PC. Everything was going really good until yesterday when I tried to login to my windows account it was hanging and then read the message, «The System cannot find the file specified». I tried to login on all profiles and the problem persisted and would not let me in.

Any ideas on what could have caused this? More importantly, any ideas on resolutions?

Thanks for the support,

Thank you for contacting Microsoft Community. I understand that you are getting error » The System cannot find the file specified » while logging in to User Accounts . I will surely help you to fix this issue.

This issue could have occurred due to these reasons:

1. Conflict between third party applications.

2. Corrupt System Files.

Try the steps listed here:

Method 1:

I suggest you to boot the computer to Safe Mode and check if the issue occurs. If the issue do not occur in Safe Mode, I suggest you to set the computer in a clean boot state and check if it helps.

Step 1:
I suggest you to refer the article to boot to safe mode.

Step 2:
If the issue do not occur in Safe Mode, perform a clean boot and check. Setting the system in a clean boot state will help to identify if any third party applications or startup items are causing the issue.

How to perform a clean boot in Windows
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135

Warning: After clean boot troubleshooting steps, refer to the section «How to reset the computer to start as usual after troubleshooting with clean boot» in the provided link to return your computer to Normal startup mode.

Method 2:
If the issue persists, I suggest you to perform SFC (System File Checker) Scan from Safe Mode and check if it helps. SFC scan will scan for corrupt system files on the computer and replace them.

a. Click on Start button and type cmd in the search box.

b. Right-click on the “cmd” option and select “Run as Administrator”.

d. Type “sfc /scannow” without quotes and hit Enter.

Note: Do not close the Command Prompt Window until the verification is 100% complete. The scan results will be shown after this process is finished.

Hope this information helps. Reply to the post with an updated status of the issue so that we can assist you further.

The system cannot find the file specified? Solve the problem!

Here you will find out:

• everything you need to know about “system cannot find the file specified” error

• reasons why you having that error

• how DiskInternals Uneraser can help you

• methods how to fix the error the system cannot find the file specified

Are you ready? Let’s read!

Overview of of the “system cannot find the file specified” error

If you are reading this article, then most likely your monitor is showing a message saying that the system cannot find the file specified. Yes, this is a fairly common error for Windows users. And, of course, you have a question: How do I fix the “system cannot find the file specified” error? Is it possible? First things first, let’s learn why this error happens.

Reasons for the “system cannot find the file specified” error

To begin with, hare are the main factors that can lead to a “system cannot find the file specified” error:

• Registry problems, such as invalid keys

• Problems with a connection

• Wrong file resolution

• Source volume may contain disk errors

• During backing up of files, something went wrong and caused a “system cannot find the file specified” error

As you can see, the factors are quite serious, so take seriously the choice of how to the fix the “system cannot find the file specified” error method.

Method 1. Start with Antivirus Check

First of all, check your system for viruses and other malware using a powerful antivirus application. Very often, files can be damaged precisely because of viruses and other malware. Therefore, do not overlook this method.

If it didn’t help, it’s not big deal; proceed to the next solution.

Method 2. Update Your Windows

Often, when Windows offers to update the system, users neglect this recommendation, postponing this action for later. Unfortunately, inaction can lead to errors, like “the system cannot find the file specified”. Therefore, upgrade Windows using the following recommendations:

Press Windows + I at the same time, then click on the “Update and Security” tab.

Now left-click on the “Check for Updates” tab. Check for updates and install them. At the end of the process, restart the operating system.

If this solution does not help, proceed to the following.

Method 3. Use SFC to Solve the Error

SFC scanning is another good option to fix the “system cannot find the file specified” error. To do this, open the command line by right-clicking on Start and selecting Command Prompt (as administrator).

In Command Prompt, type the following command: “sfc /scannow”. Now press Enter. After scanning and correcting errors, restart the computer and check if the “system cannot find the file specified” error is fixed.

Method 4. Correct System Log Files

It is often possible to fix the “system cannot find the file specified” error using system log files. Do the following:

Go to the directory C: / Windows / INF

Then, in the INF folder, find the setupapi.dev.log file and open it by double-clicking the left mouse button.

At the same time, press and hold the Ctrl and F keys. A new line will appear where you need to enter the following: “cannot find the file” and hit the Enter key. You will see the missing files. Select the desired one, copy it and paste it into the Windows / INF folder.

It is also recommended to reinstall the driver and restart the computer.

* If you never worked with the log files — better skip that method.

Method 5. Update or Reinstall Drivers

If you have installed some driver on your computer and get an error, you should try to reinstall the latest installed driver; maybe the whole problem is there.

Right-click on Start and select Device Manager. Right-click on the driver. From the list, select Delete.

Download a new driver version and install it.

You can also check for driver updates by selecting the driver and right-click “Search for updates”; maybe they are outdated and thus caused the system to display the “system cannot find the file specified” error.

Method 6. Restore Your Missing Files

You can also recover missing files using DiskInternals Uneraser. This method guarantees you a positive result.

If you are recovering files for the first time and you are afraid that you will do something wrong, do not worry. DiskInternals Uneraser includes a Recovery Wizard, which will help you at all stages of data recovery. Rest assured, you simply will not have a chance to do something wrong.

This application will restore files of absolutely any type and size.

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The built-in Preview function will show you the capabilities of this software and confirm that the file will be recovered correctly. You can use the free, full-featured trial version of the program right now by downloading it.

Errors like “the system cannot find the file specified” are undoubtedly serious, and DiskInternals Uneraser will do everything it can to solve your file recovery problem quickly, easily and efficiently.