Article ID : S500006920 / Last Modified : 11/04/2018Print

Why does an error message occur when a very long file/program name is entered in the Run text box?

    Err Msg: Windows cannot find (file name). Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again. To search for a file, click the start button, and then click Search.

    Microsoft has verified this symptom.
    If the total number of characters in the path of the file exceeds 255, the error message appears.

    To avoid this symptom, the file name entered should not exceed 255 characters in total.

    For more information, please refer to the following solution in Microsoft's technical support website.
    Article ID: Q281675
    Last Reviewed: August 4, 2001
    Title: Error Message When You Use Run Command to Start a Program with a Long File Name.
    URL: https://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb