There is a file or folder called "c:\Program" which could cause certain applications to not function correctly. Renaming it to "c:\Program1" would solve this problem

Anonymous
2013-09-04T00:43:40+00:00

Original title: "file name warning" message

In the past week or so, I have been getting a warning box that shows up on my desk top (of Windows 8) whenever I boot up.  It says "There is a file or folder called "c:\Program" which could cause certain applications to not function correctly.  Renaming it to "c:\Program1" would solve this problem.  Would you like to rename it now?" and there are 2 options: "rename" or "ignore".  I "Binged" it, and there are some very old discussions about this (like 5+ yrs ago) and the consensus seems to be that it is a Windows issue.  What do I need to do to get rid of it?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Files, folders, and storage

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Anonymous
2015-06-06T12:54:24+00:00

Ok so here is how i SOLVED this problem.

In my case while investigating this on a clients device i found that a VOIP program was causing this issue and the error message popped up, and renaming the folder wont work because the program is running.

So i found the voip program (in the task bar in this case) and closed it. I then found the folder that needed renaming, "c:\program" and renamed it to "c:\program1"

Then restarted the computer and... No pop up.

Hope this helps.

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-09-04T11:59:29+00:00

    Hi,

    • Could you please provide the file location when you click on rename the file?

    I would suggest you to try these steps and let us know the results.

    1. Place the computer in clean boot state and check if there is any program triggering this error message.

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135

    Note:  Once done troubleshooting, follow the steps from “How to reset the computer to start as usual after clean boot troubleshooting” to bring the computer to normal mode.

    1. You may even run a virus scan on the computer to make sure this isn't a virus infection.

    http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/en-us/default.aspx

    Note: Any data files that are infected may only be cleaned by deleting the file entirely, which means there is a potential for data loss.

    Hope these steps might help you to find what is causing the issue. Please do get back with the results.

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-12-17T19:23:12+00:00

    Have you tried adding any program path (eg:  c:\abc\def\ghi) in the PATH variable ?. 

    Please make sure to include semicolon(;) at the end of the path variable.

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-01-29T01:08:44+00:00

    Ok I know this is an old issue now but just thought that as this is one of the top results people get when searching at least some relevant information should be available on the subject.

    Now the reason in most cases that this occurs is because something has been installed on the system in question that has made a new folder on the system drive called c:\program or c:\programs, (where c:\ is the system drive), and installed into that folder. Whether it is adware, a virus or a user/system administrator installed program is inconsequential.

    Window's then brings up the file name warning. It does this because windows uses environmental variables such as %systemroot%, %ProgramFlies%, and also folder structure variable abbreviations such as progra~1 and progra~2 whenever most correctly written programs are installed and or run. It does this so that it can easily find the locations it needs to execute other elements of software, save, and install no matter what drive letter your system uses eg c:, d:, z:\ etc.

    By installing anything to a newly made folder called c:\program, (or %systemroot%\program), windows then, using folder structure variable abbreviations, thinks the folder "Program" is PROGRA~1 where PROGRA~1 used to be "Program Files" and, (in the case of x64), PROGRA~2 used to be "Program Files (x86)". This would then make "Program Flies" become PROGRA~2 and "Program Files (x86)" become PROGRA~3. Any program already installed on the system and also future installs could then be trying to use the wrong folders to save/install/load and may not function correctly.

    As I said sorry to answer such an old thread but I hope this helps someone.

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-01-29T02:26:10+00:00

    Soooooo....WhatShouldOneDoIfThisComesUpAgain?

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