# Unable to start elasticsearch on windows "The system cannot find the path specified."

**URL:** <https://discuss.elastic.co/t/unable-to-start-elasticsearch-on-windows-the-system-cannot-find-the-path-specified/289914>\
**Category:** Elasticsearch\
**Created:** [November 23, 2021, 7:37am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/unable-to-start-elasticsearch-on-windows-the-system-cannot-find-the-path-specified/289914 "2021-11-23T07:37:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![tahseen\_fatima](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/tahseen_fatima/32/67789_2.png) [@tahseen\_fatima](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/tahseen_fatima)\
**Post date:** [November 23, 2021, 7:37am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/unable-to-start-elasticsearch-on-windows-the-system-cannot-find-the-path-specified/289914/1 "2021-11-23T07:37:44Z")

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Hi,

**Use case** : I have to perform an upgrade activity in production environment.  
Upgrade from 7.7.1 version to 7.15.0 on windows 2016 64 bit OS.

Before performing I am doing a testing in a lower environment.  
Where I have downloaded the zip file of easticsearch 7.7.1. But the problem is When I am trying to run elasticsearch it gives me the below error.

> C:\ELK\elasticsearch-7.7.1-windows-x86\_64\>.\bin\elasticsearch.bat  
> The system cannot find the path specified.
> 
> C:\ELK\elasticsearch-7.7.1-windows-x86\_64\>bin\elasticsearch.bat  
> The system cannot find the path specified.
> 
> C:\ELK\elasticsearch-7.7.1-windows-x86\_64\>bin\elasticsearch  
> The system cannot find the path specified.

Below is the java version.

> C:\ELK\elasticsearch-7.7.1-windows-x86\_64\>java -version  
> java version "11.0.13" 2021-10-19 LTS  
> Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment 18.9 (build 11.0.13+10-LTS-370)  
> Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM 18.9 (build 11.0.13+10-LTS-370, mixed mode)

Below are the elasticsearch.yml file

```auto
cluster.name: poc
node.name: node1
#node.master: true
#node.data: true
#node.ingest: true
#path.data: /path/to/data
#path.logs: /path/to/logs

#bootstrap.memory_lock: true

network.host: 172. ****
http.port: 9200
#network.tcp.keep_alive: true

discovery.seed_hosts: ["172. ****"]
cluster.initial_master_nodes: ["172. ****"]

```

Kindly help,  
Tahseen

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Micah\_Barsness](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/micah_barsness/32/83318_2.png) [@Micah\_Barsness](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Micah_Barsness)\
**Post date:** [November 23, 2021, 2:17pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/unable-to-start-elasticsearch-on-windows-the-system-cannot-find-the-path-specified/289914/2 "2021-11-23T14:17:20Z")

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Hi @tahseen_fatima,

can you try switching your slashes to forward?

./bin/Elasticsearch.bat

Or go directly to the bin folder and just type Elasticsearch.bat

Make sure you are in Admin window

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2021, 2:17pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/unable-to-start-elasticsearch-on-windows-the-system-cannot-find-the-path-specified/289914/3 "2021-12-21T14:17:29Z")

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