why does this ERROR message keep popping up on my home screen windows 11

A clean boot is the safest way to identify which startup application or third-party service is repeatedly trying to run a setup file that no longer exists.

Isolate the program causing the popup

1. Press Windows key, type msconfig, and open System Configuration.
2. Select Services.
3. Check Hide all Microsoft services—do not skip this protection.
4. Select Disable all, then Apply.
5. Open the Startup tab and select Open Task Manager.
6. In Startup apps, note or screenshot which items are enabled, then disable all enabled items.
7. Close Task Manager, select OK, and restart the PC.

This creates a clean-boot environment containing only essential Windows components; some third-party functionality may be temporarily unavailable ^1^.

• If the popup disappears: one of the disabled startup items or services is responsible. Re-enable half, restart, and repeat until one item triggers the popup. Testing halves is faster than enabling items individually.
• Once identified, go to Settings → Apps → Installed apps and either repair, reinstall, or uninstall that application. If it is unfamiliar, leave its startup entry disabled rather than launching it.
• If the popup remains: the trigger is not one of those third-party startup items or services. Return to normal startup before proceeding to the later checks.

To restore normal startup:

1. Open System Configuration again.
2. On General, select Normal startup.
3. Re-enable the services and startup applications, except the item identified as responsible.
4. Restart Windows.

Windows also supports disabling a known startup application directly through Task Manager → Startup apps → select the application → Disable ^2^.

Repair or remove the identified application

For an application you recognize:

1. Open Settings → Apps → Installed apps.
2. Select the application’s … menu.
3. If Advanced options is available, select it and try Repair.
4. If repair is unavailable or unsuccessful, uninstall and reinstall the application from its official publisher.

Windows documents repair, reset, and uninstall as the supported recovery options for incomplete installations or corrupted application data ^3^.

Do not download a random DLL, installer, “registry cleaner,” or temporary file advertised as a replacement. The message does not identify which file is missing or prove that Windows itself is damaged.

If the application is unfamiliar or suspicious

Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan:

1. Save open work—the computer will restart.
2. Open Windows Security → Virus & threat protection → Scan options.
3. Select Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan).
4. Select Scan now.
5. After Windows restarts, check Windows Security → Protection history.

The offline scan runs without loading normal Windows, making it harder for persistent malware to hide or defend itself ^4^.

If the clean boot does not stop the popup, capture a screenshot showing the complete window, including its title bar, and note whether it appears immediately after sign-in or only after opening a particular program. Those details are required to identify the executable; Error 2 alone only says that the launching process could not find the requested file.

References

1. Windows 11
2. Configure Startup applications in Windows | Microsoft Support
3. Windows 11
4. Virus and Threat Protection in the Windows Security App | Microsoft Support