File Explorer can't find and open some files.

Question

When using File Explorer and selecting a file, an error message appears saying the file can't be found. It provides the proper C: path to the folder but can't find or open the selected file. What causes this and how does one fix this?

Answer 1

When File Explorer cannot find or open a file despite showing the correct path, it may be due to several reasons:

1. File Not Found: The file may have been moved, deleted, or renamed. Verify that the file exists in the specified location.
2. Path Issues: Ensure that the path is correctly specified. Sometimes, the path might be relative or absolute, and any discrepancies can lead to this error. You can check the path by navigating to it manually in File Explorer.
3. Corrupted Libraries: If the file is part of a library in Windows Explorer, the library link may be corrupted. In this case, you can delete and recreate the library to restore access to the files.
4. File Permissions: There might be permission issues preventing access to the file. Ensure that you have the necessary permissions to view or open the file.
5. File System Errors: There could be issues with the file system itself. Running a disk check can help identify and fix these problems.

To resolve the issue, you can:

• Verify the existence of the file in the specified path.
• Check and correct the path if necessary.
• Delete and recreate any corrupted libraries.
• Ensure you have the correct permissions.
• Run a disk check to fix any file system errors.