Are you experiencing The system could not find the environment option that was entered error on Windows? Some Windows users have reported getting this error message while opening software or apps on their PC.
Operation could not be completed (error 0x000000cb), The system could not find the environment option that was entered
What are the reasons behind the missing Environment option?
The error is often triggered due to missing Environment Variables as the error message suggests. However, there can be different causes of this error. An outdated or missing Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables package can be another reason for triggering this error.
This error occurs when a command or program tries to reference an environment variable that cannot be found or doesn’t exist. If you get into details, then the reasons can be different like
- Registry error
- Incorrect system configuration
- Missing environment variables
- Typographical environment variable in a script or command.
- System files corruption
It’s crucial to note in which context this error shows so the user can quickly resolve it smoothly.
The system could not find the environment option that was entered (0x800700CB)
If you are getting the “The system could not find the environment option that was entered” error message on Windows, you can use the following methods to fix it:
- Run an SFC scan to repair corrupted system files.
- Perform a virus scan.
- Add the missing environment variable.
- Reinstall the Visual C++ Redistributables package.
- Make a new user profile on your PC.
- Use a Registry tweak.
- Perform a system restore.
- Reset PC.
1] Run an SFC scan to repair corrupted system files
One of the primary causes of the “The system could not find the environment option that was entered” error is damaged or missing system files. So, if the scenario is applicable, you should be able to fix the error by running an SFC scan.
SFC stands for System File Checker. It is a command-based tool that lets you scan and repair corrupted system files. It comes with Windows. Here’s how you can run an SFC scan:
First, open the Command Prompt with admin rights. After that, enter the below command:
sfc /scannow
Once the command is finished, reboot your computer and check if the error is fixed.
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2] Perform a virus scan
If performing an SFC scan fails to fix the error, you can run a virus scan on your computer and remove or quarantine detected threats and viruses. Your PC might be infected with a virus that is triggering this error. So, in that case, performing a virus scan will help you fix it. If the error continues to pop up even after running a virus scan, you can use the next fix.
3] Add the missing environment variable
Another major reason why you keep getting the “The system could not find the environment option that was entered” error is due to missing environment variables. If the scenario is applicable, you can add the missing environment variable using the below methods.
Method 1: Boot Windows in Safe Mode and use Advanced system settings
- First, boot your Windows computer in Safe Mode.
- Now, open Windows Search, type View advanced system settings in the search box, and click on the top result.
- After that, press the Environment Variables button in the Advanced tab.
- Next, under the System variables section, tap on the New button.
- Then, type windir in the Variable name box and enter C:Windows in the Variable value field.
- Finally, press the OK button to save changes and reboot your computer to check if the error is fixed.
Method 2: Use Registry Editor
First, press Win+R to open Run and enter regedit in it to open Registry Editor. Now, navigate to the following location in the address bar:
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment
Next, check in the right-side pane and see if there is windir string or not. If not, you need to create it. For that, right-click on it and choose the New > String Value option.
After that, enter windir as the value name of the created string and then double-click on the created key. In the Edit String dialog, type C:Windows in the Value data field and press the OK button to save changes.
Finally, close Registry Editor and reboot your computer to apply new changes. You should not face the same error anymore.
Note: Before making Registry tweaks, it is recommended to create a Registry backup to be on the safe side.
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4] Reinstall the Visual C++ Redistributables package
It could be the corrupted or missing Visual C++ Redistributables package that is causing the error. Hence, if the scenario is applicable, reinstall the C++ Redistributables package and check if the error is fixed. For that, uninstall the C++ Redistributables package from your computer, download the package from the Microsoft website, and install it on your computer.
5] Make a new user profile on your PC
The error could be very well facilitated due to a corrupted user profile. In that case, you can create a new user profile to resolve the error. Here are the steps to do that:
- First, open the Settings app using Win+I and go to the Accounts tab.
- Now, click on the Family option and then press the Add someone button.
- After that, follow the prompted instructions to complete the process.
- Once done, log in with the newly created user profile and check if the error is fixed.
6] Use a Registry tweak
You can try making a registry tweak to fix the error. But, do take a backup of your Registry before doing so as a wrong change can cause severe damage or instability to your computer.
Here’s how to do that:
First, open the Registry Editor app and go to the following address:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanServer\Parameters
Now, right-click on the empty space in the right-side pane, select the New option, and then choose the DWORD (32-bit) Value option.
After that, name the newly created DWORD as IRPStackSize. Next, double-click on it and enter an appropriate value for your network in the Value data field, and click on the OK button.
Finally, reboot your PC and check if the error is gone.
7] Perform a system restore
System corruption is the main reason for this error. If you have started receiving this error after making certain changes, you can revert your system to an earlier state where you didn’t face this issue. To restore the healthy state of your PC, you can use a System Restore Point. Once done, check if you have stopped receiving The system could not find the environment option that was entered error message.
8] Reset PC
In case the above methods don’t work for you, reset your PC to its default state. It will undo all the changes made to your system and restore its original state. However, you can keep your personal files and data while resetting your PC. Here’s how:
- First, press Win+I to open the Settings app and move to the System tab.
- Now, click on the Recovery option and then press the Reset PC button associated with the Reset this PC option.
- After that, you can choose one of the Keep my files and Remove everything options as per your requirement.
- Next, process with the prompted instructions and check if the error is resolved.
I hope this helps.
How do I reset my Environment Variables settings?
To reset your environment variables, you can reset your PC to its default state. For that, launch Settings, navigate to System > Recovery, and then click on the Reset PC button. Make sure to select the option that allows you to keep your current files and data.
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How do I fix System Environment Variables?
To fix System Environment Variables, add the missing environment variables. You will get the setting under User Accounts dialog box > Change my environment variables under Tasks. Besides that, fix the corrupted system files and remove viruses from your computer. You can also make a new user profile, revert your computer to a previous healthy state, or reset your PC to fix the error.
Can I fix the Environment Variable error by modifying the Registry?
You can quickly fix the environment variable error by modifying the registry. To do so, you must open the Registry Editor and navigate to the following path HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SYSTEM > CurrentControlSet > Control > Session Manager > Environment. Here locate the windir folder, double click on it and fill in the Value Data as C:\Windows. Press the OK button, close the registry, and restart your PC.
