Windows 10: Start menu file explorer error

when accessing file explorer through the start menu only, I get this error:

C:\Windows\explorer.exe Windows cannot access the specified device path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item.

going to the path stated and launching the program works fine and pinning it to the taskbar works but for some reason this won't.

any ideas would be helpful.

:)

 

Windows 10 Start Menu File Explorer button error "Windows cannot access the specified device ..."

Hi All,

I have a strange error with windows start menu today! Please check the attached two images:

Notes (before reproducing steps):

• My laptop is up without restart for 11 days till now, I am a software engineer.
• I have ended the explorer processes and relaunched it from the task manager.
• File Explorer button in the start menu opens "This PC".
• I can open the Explorer normally by
  • Menu Button + E
  • File Explorer pinned to the taskbar
• 
  I can't open the File Explorer by Start Menu > File Explorer Button
  
• 
  I don't want to restart, I have a lot of work on other desktops, restart solves this problem. Obviously, it is a bug.
  

Steps to reproduce the error:

• open the start menu
• click on file explorer button
  • an error message appears with "Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item".

Step 1:





Step 2 & result:





Steps were taken trying to resolve the issue:

• I tried to restart the explorer process from task manager, but with no success.
• I tried to replace the shortcut the file explorer button points at, but still with no hope.
• I checked the permissions of the "explorer.exe" process in "Windows" folder, and I have the correct permissions. I even tried to double click the file "explorer.exe" and it normally opened the explorer without a problem!

I guess it is a problem with the File Explorer button itself in the start menu (A GUI problem), maybe a corrupted registry key!

Software and Hardware Specs:

Windows 10 Pro x64

Version 1709

OS Build 16299.309

Dell Inspiron 7559

Quad Cores i5 2.3 GHz

8 GB Ram

Thank you very much.

 

File explorer icon from taskbar dissappears while working on it

Hi,

To assist you with your concern, we suggest you pin the File Explorer from the Start Menu by following these steps:

• Click the Start Menu.
• Right-click File Explorer.
• Choose Pin to taskbar.

If you need further assistance, feel free to reply to this post.

 

Inability to open file explorer from start menu


I am not able to open the file explorer through the option on the start menu, or by clicking on the file explorer pinned to the task bar. When I click the pinned file explorer the window that pops up says "Windows cannot find ''. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again." I am able to navigate through to my files by going to the start menu file explorer's jump list (clicking the arrow to the right of the file explorer option on the start menu). All of these issues began after I had been messing around with custom themes. I ran UltraUXThemePatcher_3.0.4 and then I changed the following files (themeui.dll,uxinit.dll, and uxtheme.dll). Next, I ran a registry editor file that made it so I can take ownership via right click. I also followed these steps in this article: [Windows 10 Tip] Remove Icons from Navigation Pane of This PC - AskVG
up to the end of "Part 2: Remove Quick Access Icon From Navigation Pane of This PC".
The last thing I did was install a custom icon pack.