"Windows Cannot Find Openme.exe" Error Message When You Start Windows (811154)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SYMPTOMS

When you start Windows, you may receive an error message similar to the following:
Windows cannot find openme.exe
Note: If you look for references to this file in the System Configuration Utility (msconfig.exe), or in the Startup program group, they are not there.

CAUSE

This issue may occur when the Openme.exe file has been removed by your antivirus program, but a reference to the file remains in your registry.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, remove the reference to Openme.exe from the registry. To do this, follow these steps:WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.
  1. Click Start, and then click Run.
  2. Type regedt32, and then click OK.
  3. Locate the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
  4. Click the Winlogon key. In the right pane, look for the following:
    Name: Shell
    Data: explorer.exe openme.exe
  5. If you see the values listed in step 4, right-click Shell, and then click Modify. Delete openme.exe, and then click OK (leave explorer.exe).
  6. Quit Registry Editor, and then restart the computer. See whether the issue is resolved.
  7. If the issue is still not resolved, start Registry Editor again (steps 1 and 2), and then click Find on the Edit menu.
  8. Search for openme.exe.
  9. If you find Openme.exe on a shell key for Explorer.exe, modify the key by deleting Openme.exe (as in step 5).
  10. Restart the computer, and then see whether the issue is resolved.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:5/27/2003
Keywords:kbprb KB811154
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