Could not load or run specified in the registry. Make sure the file exists on your computer or remove the reference to it in the registry.

Posted by Bogdan on November 25, 2010 | 31 Comments

Is there a common error that I just run into and I want to share with you.
I installed last month a pretty old piece of software (Borland C) and today I remove it. As usual, I start with control panel -> programs list and click on the remove button after select Borland C. It was a little strange because I didn’t get an wizard to assist me during uninstall process. I assumed that the software is not removed and I went to check the folders were it’s installed (C:\ETC/BC5/). I deleted the BC5 folder and I thought that if the software files are gone and it’s no longer appear in the programs list it means that I got rid of it for good.

But I was wrong. Next time I opened my computer I got this desktop error:

Could not load or run “C:\ETC\BC5\PIPELINE\reminder.exe” specified in the registry. Make sure the file exists on your computer or remove the reference to it in the registry.

This reminded me that all the programs are not just some files on a hard drive, it also mean changes in windows registers. If you run into a similar problem you have to clean some register to fix it.

To do that you have to follow some easy steps:

1. click on Start button and type regedit and hit enter key

It will open the Registry Editor

2. Browse to HKEY_CURRENT_USER -> Software -> Microsoft -> Windows NT -> CurrentVersion -> Windows

3. Remove the “Load” field by right clicking and delete.

4. Restart computer.

This worked for me and hope you’ll find useful to.


Posted in Support, Tutorials | Tagged , , , |

31 thoughts on “Could not load or run specified in the registry. Make sure the file exists on your computer or remove the reference to it in the registry.

  1. Janette says:

    What is the “Load” field? When I follow steps above, and (in step 2) open “Windows” I only have one entry there… (Default) REG_SZ (value not set). So where’s the “Load” field that I’m supposed to right-click on and delete?

    1. bogdan says:

      Do you have any error message as that described above? Could you tell me the exact error that you have?

  2. Abby says:

    It says “unable to delete all specified values”.

    Any suggestions?

  3. xol says:

    after removing the file from the registry the message didn’t appear again, thanks a lot!

    1. Vanessa says:

      Which file? All im etting is: (Default) REG_SZ (value not set). What did you do to get rid of it?

  4. Kodani says:

    How do you remove it every I do it wont delete let alone move

  5. Vanessa says:

    The same with me as Janette. I do not have a “Load” option as well. All it says is: (Default) REG_SZ (value not set). And I am not getting an error message. I just want to know how to fix this registry desktop error. Please Help!

  6. bogdan says:

    If you want to remove a field (like “Load”) just right click and delete.

  7. jen says:

    H. Installation of Help Files
    —————————–
    If you do install Borland C++ 5.02 over an existing
    5.0 installation, you must delete all of the hidden
    .GID files in the BC5\HELP directory before using
    the online Help system again. Otherwise, you will see
    a gray dialog with an OK and Cancel button and no error
    message when you try to use Help.

    hi mr bogdan, i have some problem here. i had install borland c++ 5.02 over
    existing borland c++ 5.0 which i can’t uninstall or remove since my borland appear error “can’t create C:\BC5\BIN\bcwdef.OBR”.

    after i read
    INSTALL.txt above i couldn’t find .GID files. so is that ok if i just delete bc5 folder or what should i do to intall correctly.tq

  8. bogdan says:

    Hi jen.

    If you don’t actually need BorlandC for your C language training I highly recommend you to use a newer software such as Microsoft Visual Studio or Eclipse.

    I order to uninstall your current version of Borland just delete whatever files you may created on installation processes. After you deleted all the files you just go back to your programs list and try again to remove it. You should be able to remove it from there just because it does not have it’s files any more.

    Hope that works :)

  9. valya says:

    It says “unable to delete all specified values”.

  10. justin says:

    dude you ROCK
    thx for the big help

  11. James says:

    Thanks a lot, it worked.

  12. Mihai says:

    Thanks
    Nice and easy
    It worked !!!

  13. Hunter says:

    Right click the folder “windows” in the current version when in the explorer, then go to permissions, mark the “full control” for everyone, and then hit apply and OK. you should be able to modify & delete the registry key now.

  14. mohammed says:

    Thanks Hunter – U are a star – and moreso thank you Bogdan. You whizz….:)))

  15. Carlos G says:

    Lo maximo amigo. solucionado con su aporte.

    saludos

  16. Guru vishnu says:

    Thanks… it’s easy to do this one.

  17. Jmark says:

    thanks guys ..

  18. tsetso says:

    Bogdan, it gives me “unable to delete all specified values”.

  19. Kelly A. says:

    I get an error like too but mine mentions the following:
    C:\Users\KELLIT~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\71b5fffd00028e4a.exe

    I tried to delete in the registry but I wouldn’t allow me to delete it.

  20. Andri says:

    need some help here pls….it gives me unable to delete all specified values

  21. monther ajawi says:

    thank you hunter for “full control” thank you veryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy much

  22. hitesh says:

    He dude i did as you suggested got rid of LOAD file.

    there is one more file on the same page run – having that same “square” sign should i remove that as well ???

    and there is one more error Desktop error… and same message.. how to remove that??

    Let me know ASAP

    Thanks.

  23. Maikol says:

    Thanks Bro

    Very good

  24. Zoe says:

    Thank you so much, I was having this problem for a week Im so glad with your help its finally sorted :)

  25. Shailesh says:

    Yes Hitesh, I also had the same problem I deleted the run file with many “square” sign on it and the problem got resolved.

  26. Aaron says:

    Thanks! I had to right click the windows folder al select full control to delete the registry key, but it worked like a charm. A million thanks!!!

  27. rodger says:

    I did it and the problem still exists.

  28. Geek says:

    Thank you

  29. hari says:

    Awesome… thanks to Hunter and Bogdan. Ever considered consulting for Microsoft Corp.!

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