Programs Can't Be Opened and/or Uninstalled After Updating Windows (KB 4560960): "Windows cannot find *.exe. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again."

Question

Hi.

So, last night I was checking for updates using Windows Update, and (unfortunately) I decided to update my Windows 10 Education. There were two updates:

and I just instinctively installed them.

This afternoon, I was trying to open Remote Mouse (a third-party app) via desktop shortcut. Nothing happened, so I tried a few times. Then I tried opening the executable file directly in the install directory. That's when Windows gave me this message: "Windows cannot find 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Remote Mouse\RemoteMouse.exe'. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again."

That's SO WEIRD because how can't Windows find it when I freaking double clicked on the exe file? Like, IT'S THERE.

That's not the worst part. The worst part is, it's happening to a lot of my programs, like:

• Daemon Tools

• Intel Rapid Storage

• Killer Network Manager

• Even Microsoft Office

SH**. Sorry, but I'm really frustrated right now.

I've tried reinstalling some of them to no avail. At some point I couldn't even uninstall them, because Windows couldn't find it (same error).

I've somehow managed to reinstall Remote Mouse and get it to run without errors. I honestly don't know exactly how I did it, but what I remember I did was deleting the install dir on the Program Files dir, and I removed a lot of registry entries containing the words "remote mouse". Now, this method is really impractical if I want to reinstall all my "troubled" programs. I don't even know if it (Remote Mouse) was fixed this way.

I want to uninstall the Updates (KB 4560960) to see if it's really the source of this issue, but apparently I can't.

I also can't exactly reinstall Windows 10 right now because I'm on mobile plan and my ISO is a pretty old version. It would take a lot of time and money (hard to come by these days) to reinstall Windows, update, install my programs (some need internet connection).

So, please, if anyone has any suggestion, a fix, a trick, something, please tell me.

Also, if this issue is really caused by the latest Windows Update (KB 4560960), can somebody at Microsoft please make a fix? Cause I'm currently on a dead end.

Answer 1

Hi,

The best fix is to wait as this is a known problem.

Alternate resolution requires a registry edit:

Right click Start>Run

Type regedit and press enter.

Go to: Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution folder

rename the folders of the apps that do not work and check, like winword.exe to backupwinword.exe and so on.

Answer 2

Hello,

Do you have Avast installed on your machine? If yes please see the below post.

https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=233129.msg1549710#msg1549710

Answer 3

Hello,

Do you have Avast installed on your machine? If yes please see the below post.

https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=233129.msg1549710#msg1549710

Thanks. No, not running Avast on the machine/

Answer 4

Hello,

Do you have Avast installed on your machine? If yes please see the below post.

https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=233129.msg1549710#msg1549710

No, I don't have Avast installed on my machine.

Sumit's registry edit suggestion seems to do the trick, although a bit tedious. So, I'm still waiting for an official fix.