"Can not find the specified file" error (code 0x80070002): causes and methods of repair

Error with the message that the system can not find the specified file, for some reason, most often appears in Windows 7, although it is rightfully considered one of the most stable and popular OS in this world. With what it is connected and how to eliminate such a problem, now it will be considered.

When does the system error "Error: can not find the specified file"?

If we proceed from the description and nature of the failure itself, it is easy to conclude that the system for some reason can not find the file due to its absence on the computer or a remote server. In the simplest case, this can be explained by removing some programs that require a restart of the system to complete the uninstallation. But if you try to start the program before rebooting, the user will receive a notification that Windows can not find the specified application file.

However, the most common problem is the functioning of the "Update Center" and the system service responsible for its operation. All reasons to consider it is simply impossible, because even in the descriptions provided by Microsoft Corporation, they can find more than five thousand. Sometimes error 0x80070002, which indicates unidentified files, can appear both during installation, when creating a backup, and when recovering. Elimination of this problem will be considered separately.

"Can not find the specified file" error: install updates

Since the most common cause is the installation of updates, it's necessary to start with this. In Windows, you need to use the appropriate section to fix the problem, which can be called from the "Control Panel".

If the user watches the error exactly when trying to load the necessary updates, you just need to activate the manual search because the system can not automatically find them. If they are found, it remains only to agree with their installation. Sometimes the reason may be a violation of the Internet connection, but for obvious reasons, such situations are now not taken into account.

Correcting the date and time settings

When searching for the latest updates, error 0x80070002 may also appear due to the fact that the system time does not correspond to the real one.

Trying to change the time and date directly in the system is not worth it, since it may not give the desired effect. The best option is to set the correct parameters in the BIOS when the computer or laptop starts.

Restarting the Update Service

Actions with the "Update Center" may not result in the desired result, because a service failure could occur in the service responsible for its operation (in this case, a search can also give a warning that the system can not find the specified update file). In this case, you will need to manually restart this system process.

To perform such actions, you use the services section, which can be called through the computer's administration menu, but it's better to use the "Run" console (Win + R), where you should write the combination of services.msc.

Here you need to find the appropriate process and simply stop it with a special button in the menu for editing settings and settings.

Immediately restart the service or do it after an immediate reboot is impossible (in this case, the message that the system can not find the specified file will appear again when the update is attempted). You can stop the corresponding process (wuauserv) from the command line using the net stop command, and restart through net start.

The second step is to open the "Explorer" or any other used file manager and in the main system directory (Windows) find the subdirectory SoftwareDistibution. There are two options for action. You can completely try to delete its contents, but this is unlikely to work. And you can just rename the folder, adding it to the name Old. Only after such manipulations can you return to the services section and activate the stopped process again.

System Restore Check

As already mentioned, the error associated with the fact that the system can not find the specified file can occur when creating backups or when the system is rolled back to the previous state. In the first case, you can immediately start the command console, in the second - only when you boot from a removable media.

In the simplest form, when there is a stable Internet connection, you can first check the integrity of the system components (sfc / scannow), and then apply the state and restore scan command directly, as shown in the image above.

Utilities for automatic error correction

For cases where for some reason the system can not find the specified file (if it is really connected with the above processes), you can use some automated tools to solve the problem without user intervention.

The easiest and most popular is the utility Fix It Center, developed directly by Microsoft Corporation. In parallel with it it is desirable to apply and the program of search of absent system libraries DLL Suite. Only in this case, you can be sure that the error message will not be issued again. By the way, the first program fixes not only the failures of the "Update Center", but also a bunch of other problems, for example, concerning the connection to the Internet.

What else could the error be related to?

Regarding the installation of updates, a crash can be caused not only by updating the system itself. Often, identical errors can occur when you try to find or install updates for other Microsoft products. First of all, this applies to MS Office. If the user sees that the updates for Windows are installed, and for other programs do not want, you just need to disable their search and subsequent integration into the system.

It remains to add that the choice of a remedy directly depends on the reason that caused it. And the tools for the update service are not always suitable for troubleshooting when creating backups or when rolling back to the previous state.