Err Msg: Program Not Found. Windows Cannot Find Microsoft.exe (228903)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition
  • Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition
  • Microsoft Windows 98
This article was previously published under Q228903

SYMPTOMS

When you double-click a file to open it in Windows, you may experience the following symptoms:
  • You may receive one of the following error messages:
    Program not found. Windows cannot find Microsoft.exe. This program is needed for opening files of type '<Filetype>'.
    Program Not Found. Windows cannot find <Program>. This program is needed for opening files of type '<Filetype>'.
    This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action. Create an association in My Computer by clicking View and then clicking Options.
  • The Open With dialog box may open.

  • An Open With dialog box appears on the desktop every time the computer boots up. On Windows Millennium Edition systems a Caution dialog appears warning that the user is attempting to open a (file type). Clicking Open With brings up the standard dialog; clicking Cancel makes the dialog disappear,however it will reappear the next time the machine boots up to the desktop.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if the file you are trying to open is not associated with the correct program or the registry entries for the program are missing or damaged.

A file that has no program associated with it is placed in the Start Up group. This behavior can occur if a shortcut to an executable that is loading from the Startup Group has been pointed to a file that has no program associated with it, instead of pointing to the correct executable file.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this behavior, associate the file you are trying to open to use the correct program. To do this, follow these steps:

Windows 98

  1. Click Start, point to Settings, click Folder Options, and then click the File Types tab.
  2. In the Registered File Types list, click the file type you are trying to open, and then click Edit.
  3. In the Actions box, click Open, and then click Edit.
  4. Click Browse to locate the appropriate program, and then click Open.
  5. Click OK, click Close, and then click Close.

Windows Millennium

  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
  2. On the Tools menu, click Folder Options.
  3. Click the File Types tab.
  4. In the Registered File Types box, click the file type that you are attempting to open, and then click Advanced.
  5. In the Actions box, click Open, and then click Edit.
  6. Click Browse to locate the appropriate program that you want to use to open the file type, and then click Open.
  7. Click OK, click OK, and then Close.

MORE INFORMATION

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:12/20/2004
Keywords:kbenv kberrmsg kbprb KB228903
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.