"The specified path does not exist. Check the path, and then try again." After messing with my registry editor

Question

So, I was trying to change the default download location of windows 10 to make file saving on photoshop easier so I didn't have to go through a long convoluted process of saving files I saved onto my hard drive when I could just make those files save on that folder. After I did this I reset my PC and not only did it not work but it also gives me this: The specified path does not exist. Check the path, and then try again. On almost every program I try to use when I click the icon, and doesn't even let me open some (like photoshop, which was the original issue I was trying to fix funnily enough). Now, I have completely lost interested in the photoshop issue, I just want to fix my computer so I can actually use it. Please tell me how to fix this because this is causing me greatly more issues than the previous one I had. Also, I try to reset the registry with a backup I had saved previously before this and it doesn't work.

For example, when I try to open steam: C:\Users\PCName\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar\Steam.Ink

The specified path does not exist.

Check the path, and then try again.

This basically applies to most programs I try and open so this is the only example I need to give.

Answer 1

Hello Matt, this is Emily.

It sounds like the issue is with a user profile corruption. These system paths are not meant to be modified as they have organic relationship in so many places.

To fix this new issue, it might be tedious, but I believe it can work.

Back up your user folder data located in C:\users\your username folder. Back them up to external drive for example.

Once you have the data secured. Create another local admin user. Type netplwiz in the search on the taskbar and hit enter. When launched, click on "Add". On the next window, click on the bottom where it says to create an account without Microsoft email. This will allow you to define your own username. Make sure it doesn't contain space or special character. Set it up as a local user.

When the above user is created, back to the main netplwiz page, double click on this new user, go to the Group Membership tab, make it administrator. Save the change.

Restart the computer. Sign into the new user you created

Type sysdm.cpl in the search on the taskbar and hit enter, go to Advanced tab, click on the "Settings" button at the User Profile section. Then delete the old user profile.

Restart the computer, sign into the old user. It will take a bit longer to sign in as it has to recreate your user profile. Once in, your apps and programs should work. You can then transfer your data back into your user profile folder.

Answer 2

My document was a pdf . None of the online answers worked. Finally I right-clicked on the pdf and went to propoerties. Down at the bottom were attributes. I clicked "hidden" and it finally disappeared - for good I hope.