Windows cannot find 'C:\Program Files......

[crusty raven]

Adobe programs I have been using, like Lightroom, suddenly won't open, I get the  message that Windows cannot find any of the programs.  I click on the .exe file in the sub directory and get the same message.  No Adobe programs work.  I uninstalled all of them and downloaded Adobe Creative Cloud as a starter but get the same message again.  Somehow a windows update or ?? has changed the file associations.  Need help fast.  Oh, Photoshop Elements is included in the group that won't open.

[Michael J. Hoffman]

Please give us the full error message, and include a screen shot if you can. Are you having trouble with other software, or just Adobe products?

Mike

[crusty raven]

The full message:   Windows cannot find 'C:\Program Files (x86) Adobe\Adobe Creative Cloud\ACC\Creative Cloud.exe'.  Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again.

I have uninstalled all adobe programs that I was using thinking I could reinstall them to make them work but upon reinstalling Creative Cloud, I see that the problem is still there and reinstalling more programs won't solve any issues.  I have my install disk for Lightroom 6, a program that I have used for a long time, as well as other adobe programs.  None work, except Adobe Acrobat Pro, the pdf reader.

Everything worked fine until last Friday morning, Good Friday, when I tried to use Lightroom and got the above message.  Then tried other Adobe programs, all with the same message.

[crusty raven]

OH, I tried Microsoft Tech on chat line.  They gave up after going thru about 4 different tech people.  They said it is an Adobe problem.

[crusty raven]

Here is a screen shot of the message.

[Peru Bob]

Program Files (X86) is for 32 bit applications.

It should be looking in Program Files instead.  Look there and see if you can open the programs directly from the exe files.

What version of Premiere Elements and what version of Windows?

[crusty raven]

The Creative Cloud App is located in: C:\Program Files(x86)\Adobe\Adobe Creative Cloud\ACC\Creative Cloud.exe.  this is a free download from Adobe, when working, gives access to all Adobe programs.  Right now, it is the only photoshop program loaded on my hard drive.

Clicking on the program.exe brings up the same dialogue as clicking on the desktop icon.  Same with all Adobe programs.  Windows cannot find the program.

Adobe Photoshop Elements is vs. 13, I believe.  This one was a download program for which I have no disk and since I uninstalled all Adobe programs, I will have to see if Adobe has my record of purchasing it so I can get it back when the programs will work again.

[crusty raven]

OH, I am running Win 10.

[crusty raven]

I just installed Lightroom from my disk and it loaded into Program Files, Not (x86).  It gives the same:  Windows cannot find program, even clicking on the program.exe file in the sub directory.  Same as the Creative Cloud Program.

[Peru Bob]

Uninstall all Adobe applications, use the Cleaner Tool, and reinstall:

Use the Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool to solve installation problems

[crusty raven]

After reading all I could find on the problem, I uninstalled all Adobe  programs involved(that wouldn't open) and ran the cleaner tool.  Then I installed Adobe Creative Cloud to see if the problem still existed.  It does.  None of the above solved the problem.  With all of the other programs I have installed on my computer, formatting the HD and reinstalling from scratch is not an option.  All other programs work as intended.  It is just Adobe Photoshop and related programs that don't work anymore.

[Peru Bob]

Try using the chat option here:

Contact Customer Care

[crusty raven]

Thanks for the Adobe chat link.  I spent about 4 hours on a remote connection today while an Adobe Tech guy tried to find an answer fiddling with my computer.  He finally applied a work around where my program would work.  He determined that the problem lies with the Microsoft Operating System.  There is no problem with the Adobe software and since it is now working, I can complete some projects.  I appreciate all of you chipping in to help.  We will all see more of this problem as time progresses, I'm sure.  In my chat yesterday with a Microsoft tech, he disowned the problem after not finding a solution.  Actually, I talked to 4 different Tech people after disconnects.  They threw in the towel, whereas the Adobe Tech stayed with me until we had my programs working.  Thanks again fellas.

[Peru Bob]

It's good to hear that you are up and running again.

[Michael J. Hoffman]

I’m trying to imagine your process:

1. You ran CC Cleaner Tool

2. You downloaded and installed a new copy of th Creative Cloud Desktop app.

   (Is that right? Downloaded directly from the adobe.com website?)

3. You started the Creative Cloud app from the icon on your desktop, and it gave the error you noted above?

Key point: Photoshop, Lightroom, and other software isn’t installed yet? Only the CC desktop app?

Mike

[crusty raven]

Just to see what would happen, I installed Lightroom from my disk and the problem is the same, no change.

[medha sharma]

Hi,

Could you please tell me which version of Photoshop Elements were you using?

Thanks,

Medha

[crusty raven]

Version 13

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

[crusty raven · Accepted solution]

Here is the correct answer:  A certified Microsoft tech specialist, found the problem, AVG had inserted some blocking entries to all of my Adobe programs and none would work unless the program.exe file was renamed, a workaround solution.  The tech specialist deleted all AVG registry entries from the Adobe programs and now I have normal operation of the programs as they were designed.  I uninstalled the AVG program as soon as the registry was cleaned.  All is well again.

[elmarday]

It may well be that other anti-virus programs are blocking the opening as I used to have AVG.  It was removed and Webroot was installed and the same problem occurred.  Ren-naming the .exe file is the workaround.

[jstmechell2]

This worked!!  Thank you.   I just changed the exe. file name and boom lightroom loaded right up.   Thank you

[emperorc5418592]

Turned off AVG. still same prblem. Windows 'cannot find adobe.exe'. but I DO FIND IT in the exact path it says it cant find.