Solved Windows can't find .exe file after I double-click it

Trying to launch nord-vpn .exe file. I have no idea WTF is going on here:



SFC /SCANNOW didn't find any issues.

I uninstalled/reinstalled... I removed .NET Framework 3.5 and 4.8 and reinstalled them... nothing helps.

Any ideas?
It only happens with this app.


OS info:
Edition Windows 11 Pro
Version 22H2
Installed on ‎06/‎10/‎2022
OS build 22621.900
Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.22638.1000.0

System info:
Device name CM-NR200P
Processor 11th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i9-11900KF @ 3.50GHz 3.50 GHz
Installed RAM 32.0 GB (31.9 GB usable)
Device ID 3825838A-1A74-48B5-A00C-7BCD729DAB7B
Product ID 00330-80100-64717-AA539
System type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor
Pen and touch No pen or touch input is available for this display

Open regedit , go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
and on the meu bar 'edit' / 'find' , put in NordVPN.exe.
Press F3 to continue searching for the application entry where the .exe resides.
Look for the word Debugger.
If it is there delete it. If not, it's something else.

I found two instances of DEBUGGER, pointing to CCleaner, though I have removed CCleaner a while ago.


HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\nordvpn.exe\74c4a09c914ee62a_PD

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\nordvpn.exe\74c4a09c914ee62a_PD

Delete those Debugger keys, your app will start.

CCleaner does not like to be uninstalled.
I found the solution to your problem myself.

Thank you very much!

My pleasure.