WinFix: GPO Policy Error “The system cannot find the path specified”

I encountered GPO Error message “The system cannot find the file path specified.” when editing Group Policy for Default Domain Policy or Default Domain Controller Policy.

Upon investigation, the GPO policy folder in SYSVOL is also missing.

Issues

Editing GPO Policy failed with error message The system cannot find the path specified

Investigations

GPO Policy is stored in %SYSVOL%\domain\Policies{GPO_GUID}  folder and if the GPO GUID folder including subfolder (User and Machine) is missing, GPO will raise this error.

 

Solution 1:

There are two ways:

1. If you have multi Domain Controller, you can restore the content from another DC
2. Restore from backup

Solution 2:

Rebuild the missing GPO Policy folder structure

 

Steps:

2-1. Open Active Directory Users and Computers

2-2. Add Display Name in view column

2-3. Enable Advanced Features

2-3. Navigate to [Domain]\System\Policies

2-4. Right Click on affected GPO policy to copy GUID including curly bracket

2-5. Navigate to your Domain SYSVOL folder (%SYSVOL%\domain\Policies)

2-6. Create New Folder for GPO Policy:

• Create New GPO Policy Folder and rename it with GPO GUID
• Create two new subfolder (Machine and User) under GPO GUID folder

2-7. Edit GPO Policy from Group Policy Management Console

 

References:

1. MS KB253268: Group Policy Error Message When Appropriate Sysvol Contents Are Missing