Docker Compose Up gives "The system cannot find the file specified." error

Solution 1:

I just forgot to start "Docker for Windows" which resulted in that error.

Solution 2:

You and I may or may not have the same problem. In the link posted by @Haken Lid above, the issue is with the PATH environment variable not having the correct version of Python.

BUT, for me, the issue was that I had not set all of my environment variables, by running

eval $(docker-machine env <vmname>)

before I ran the docker-compose <any command>.

Solution 3:

Run docker-compose with the Docker Quickstart Terminal. It will solve your error.

The Docker Quickstart Terminal is mostly a regular shell but allows to create a default machine. It can be used to connect to other machines as well:

eval $(docker-machine env <MACHINE_NAME>)

Solution 4:

Make sure Docker for Windows is up and running in the system tray. That was my problem.

Solution 5:

I had this problem with a fresh install of Docker on Windows 10. My issue was that I hadn't actually run Docker first; I just installed the .msi and ran "docker-compose" from the command line.

Once I ran Docker, (and followed a few more post-installation steps, to include logging out of and restarting my computer) I was able to run docker-compose without issue.