Windows cannot find "Pleasewait.exe"

[ddrawer]

I just updated to windows 10. It boots to an error Windows cannot find "Pleasewait.exe". Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again. If I click "OK" on the error my PC reboots, fails to boot, runs a repair, fails to boot again, and then I can manually run the system repair. After that it boots normally, but gets the same pleasewait.exe error.

I have reboot with a clean boot and do not get the error in safe mode. I have tried disabling all startup processes and the error still occurs. I have also run an sfc scan and found no integrity violations.

What can I do to fix this?

 

[basroil]

You probably had some fishy program that was incompatible with 10, so the upgrade removed it. That crappy program didn't uninstall itself properly though, so it left things around.

1) Try checking the startup items to see if you can find that (it's in the task manager now)
2) Check the registry at local_machine\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\run (and also run once, runex, runonceex, as well as current_user instead of local machine) for references to that program
3) If that doesn't work, check the task scheduler to see if there's a task associated with that program.

 

[ddrawer]

Hmm there doesn't seem to be any weird programs in my startup. I've disabled all of them and reboot, and I still get the error.

 

[Paul NZ]

Looks like that file belongs to an activator to activate windows. You're using it to activate windows

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

It can also happen when a program \ software is removed and windows can't find it.

 

[ddrawer]

I believe it is also related to the activator, but everything is activated normally.

 

[SBMfromLA]

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/how-to-fix-pleasewaitexe-is-missing/f895d343-a889-48c7-a1a8-9f5828533c1a?auth=1

 

[ddrawer]

I have already disabled all startup programs and still get the error. I'm not sure how to perform these operations in windows 10.

Enable "Show hidden files, folders and drives" from Tools > Folder Options > View
Click Start > All Programs > Startup
Right click the startup menu > Open all users -- Delete if anything found.
Right click the startup menu > Explore all users -- Delete if anything found.
Right click the startup menu > Open -- Delete if anything found.
Right click the startup menu > Explore -- Delete if anything found.

 

[ddrawer]

Also I have performed a clean boot, and the error still occurs.

 

[Spectralware]

Same problem. I just formatted the pc and everything returned to normal. Do not forget to install the motherboard drivers! =)

 

[ddrawer]

Yeah... after 6 hours now working with Microsoft support. I am almost definitely just going to do a fresh install. Yey windows 10!

 

[Spectralware]

Yep! This is the WORST THING EVER! I know ='(

At least mine is working now. Sure if it start do show problems i will destroy this fucking thing and throw it by the window haha

 

[basroil]

Yeah... after 6 hours now working with Microsoft support. I am almost definitely just going to do a fresh install. Yey windows 10!

Yep! This is the WORST THING EVER! I know ='(

At least mine is working now. Sure if it start do show problems i will destroy this fucking thing and throw it by the window haha

Did you follow the instructions I gave you?

 

[Spectralware]

I checked everything before making my decision so... Everything was fine and the problem was LITERALLY the OS. But as i said, now it's working fine.