Windows XP can't open files access denied

[mattd7uk]

[h=1]Hello,

 

When I try to open any application be it a Browser, MS Office app, or even right click on the shortcut the following message appears.

'Windows cannot access specified device, path, or file you may not have the appropriate permission to access the item.'[/h]Typing this message into Google it appears this is quite common. One link took me to a windows troubleshooting site with 6 possible remedies to resolve this problem. Only problem, many require right clicking on the file or application and going to properties which I can't do.

 

I am using another User Account on my PC which works fine, but I need to access my Excel, Word docs from the other User account.

 

You assistance would be greatly appreciated.

 

Matt

[KenB]

Hi Matt and welcome to ExTS

 

Can you access / right click on the applications if you boot up in Safe Mode ?

Switch on > constantly tap F8 about once per second > select Safe Mode from the list of options.

 

Graphics will look a bit odd due to minimal drivers.

[mattd7uk]

Hello Ken,

 

To be honest, the files/apps that I was able to right click on in safe mode were more or less the same ones as far as I could tell that I could right click on in normal mode. I right clicked on some, went to properties but permission had been ticked in all boxes so that wasn't the problem.

 

In order to open excel or word I have to go through My Computer > C Drive > Documents and Settings, as when I click on my documents anywhere else it comes up blank.

 

I tried the instructions from the link below but that didn't resolve anything.

 

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2669244

 

 

Matt

[KenB]

Try this:

 

Go to My Computer > C Drive > Documents and Settings ........... as you did before.

Find the .exe and right click on it > Copy

Go back to the Desktop and right click on the Desktop > Paste.

 

If this works for Word ( and the rest ) ........... delete the problem icon by right clicking > delete.

 

============

 

If you have a lot of problem icons try a System Restore to a date when you know they were working.

Start > Run ....type in ......msconfig ......ENTER

click on "Launch System Restore"

Follow the screen prompts.

 

All data / files / photos etc will be fine.

[mattd7uk]

Hello Ken

 

I could not do system restore in normal mode as the message 'Windows cannot access specified......' appeared when I typed msconfig and pressed Enter.

 

I then did system restore in Safe mode, went back 6 weeks, well before this problem occurred and nothing has changed, problem appears exactly the same.

[RandyL]

So the exe files work but not the shortcuts? Try creating a new shortcut. Navigate to the exe file. Can you right click the exe file. If so select "Send to">"Desktop (Create shortcut)".

 

On a side note Shift+F10 will bring up the right click context menu.

 

This might also be a case of having a virus or it could be your antivirus program or firewall blocking it. I have heard of AVG doing this in the past.

 

the files/apps that I was able to right click on in safe mode were more or less the same ones as far as I could tell that I could right click on in normal mode.

Does this mean that you did not have access to some files or folders in safemode?

[KenB]

Matt

 

.... Try creating a new shortcut. Navigate to the exe file. ........".

 

On a side note Shift+F10 will bring up the right click context menu.

 

This might also be a case of having a virus or it could be your antivirus program or firewall blocking it.

 

I suggested creating a new shortcut in post #4 .............. Have you tried this ?

To use SHIFT + F10 as Randy suggests you will need to click on or highlight the folder / shorcut

 

Try turning off your firewall.

 

Download MBAM from here: ( you want the FREE version )

click here

 

Install > update ( important ) > run the quick scan

MBAM will produce a log.

Copy this and paste it here please.

[mattd7uk]

Windows security

 

If I go through Start > Programs and click on MS word or Excel it doesn't work. The same with any Browser. The destop shortcuts don't work, including AVG.

 

The only way I can open files is when I go specifically to Start > My Computer > C Drive > Documents and settings and then the file opens.

If I right click on any of the MS applications and go to 'Send to' only the last 4 options come up removable disk options.

 

I can create a shortcut and duplicate it but if the original doesn't open neither will the shortcut.

 

I can't create a log using the MBAM as in that user account the browser doesn't open. IE opens on the desktop but pages just keep opening and shutting down and security messages popping up. I can post the log from this user account but will that be any good?

 

Also, I can't remember how to get to the firewall as it's no longer in the right bottom corner of the screen and the desktop icon AVG doesn't open.

[KenB]

Hi Matt

 

Can you check the following for me please:

 

Open the Registry Editor

Start > Run ......type in .......regedit .......ENTER

 

Then click the + next to each of the following ..... ( you will need to scroll down )

 

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT....Exefile....Shell....then click on .....Open

You are looking for ( on the right side ) .....

 

EditFlags:REG_BINARY:00 00 00 00

Then go back and click the + next to Open and click on Command

[ HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT....Exefile....Shell.....Open .......click on .....Command ]

You should see ..

 

Default Value :REG_SZ: "%1"%*

 

Do you ? ( they MUST be exactly as I typed )

 

PLEASE take care in the registry and DO NOT alter anything or delete anything.

 

If you are seeing anything different from the above can you copy it and let me know.

If the above are not there then this is probably the cause of your problem.

[mattd7uk]

Windows cannot access specified device, file or path

 

Hi Ken,

 

When I go to that User Account and go to Start > Run and type in Regedit and then Enter the usual message comes up

 

'Windows cannot access specified device, path, or file.....'

 

Matt

[KenB]

Hi Matt

 

I really sounds as if your User Profile is corrupt.

 

One last go - can you access regedit if you boot up in Safe Mode ?

[mattd7uk]

Just tried in safe mode and same thing happened.

 

About 2-3 weeks ago the family picture on the desktop disappeared, didn't think much off it and then soon after this windows message appeared when I tired to open any file or application.

 

What happens when the User profile is corrupted and how did this happen? Don't want it happening to other User Accounts.

[KenB]

What happens when the User profile is corrupted and how did this happen?

The causes are numerous.

Could be Malware; bad Hard Drive; RAM; weak PSU; something that you have installed / uninstalled ............. the list goes on.

 

I have continued below ..... but realised that part of the "solution" is to use right click ...... which you can't

Try this first:

Start > Run ......type in ....cmd ....... ENTER ( Hopefully a DOS command prompt will open )

If it does ........ type in ......sfc /scannow ..........ENTER ( space after sfc )

 

This will check the system files and ( hopefully ) fix any problems it finds.

You can run this twice as often it will fix things on the second pass.

 

If this doesn't help ............

 

Try creating a new account and give it Admin rights.

Copy a desktop icon from the old account ( one that would not open before ) and paste it into the new one.

See if this opens.

 

Let me know how you get on so far.

 

If it does you should be able to transfer all account data across ( not one at a time obviously )

 

This fix continues - but you need to be able to right click on the old account.

Unless you can right click "My Computer" ..........can you ?

[mattd7uk]

Hi,

 

I am able to right click on my computer, so I can do 'select all' and move files. I can open the files in another user account anyway. I tired CMD but when I type it into RUN and press ENTER the error windows message comes up again. I don't think putting any command into Run in the corrupt account will work.

 

Also, when I downloaded the MBAM there was a desktop icon as per normal. As I felt I longer required it I tired to delete it but an error messages comes up in Add/remove programs saying "C:\programs files is missing...please correct...or obtain a new copy." This is not a major concern right now but was wondering.

 

To compound matters I may have accidently deleted some components of XP when I was trying to clean up some space on Thursday evening. I did manage to run a system restore in the Administrator account, in safe mode, to go back to 2 hours before I removed things. Unfortunately, even though the excel and word images came back on the files, when I try to open any file in any user account and there are 3 accounts, the message about needing to install CD comes up. Of course in the corrupt account the 'Windows cannot access file.... etc etc comes up.

 

I tried again to do a system restore going back weeks and months yesterday, yet even when it seems to work and the blue line is going across the box and it takes an hour to finish the message comes up, was unable to restore to date ....

 

This was also the problem when I typed in CMD, sfc/scannow in the two good user accounts, a message about needing to install CD comes up. According to system properties I have MS Windows XP, Media center edition, Version 2002, Service Pack 3. I don't have the CD.

 

Is there anyway I can get system restore to go back and also If I am to purchase a new CD, of ebay, for example, do I have to get the same copy or what happens if I get a new version, will my files format over?

 

Many thanks for your help.

 

Matt

[KenB]

Hi Matt

 

There are a couple of "fixes" from Kelly's Korner that we can try.

Kelly has supplied registry fixes for XP for years and her downloads can be trusted.

 

click here

 

Read the text at the top of her page before downloading anything.

 

Try these "fixes" one at a time.

 

Try these two first.

#349 right side = Right Click Error

#57 right side = Restore the Run Command

 

#56 right side = Enable/Disable Right Click Context menu

#203 right side = Restore Right Click Properties

#175 right side = Restore Right Click inf/install

 

We need to try to get right click working.

 

If I am to purchase a new CD, of ebay, for example, do I have to get the same copy

YOU MUST get the same version - e.g. XP Home

You would need to use your original Product Code from the Microsoft sticker on your machine.

 

If you had a copy of XP we would be able to try a "Repair Install"

This would effectively re-install the OS ..... keeping your files etc intact.

 

We could do this with a borrowed disk if you have access to one.

[mattd7uk]

I can right click on my old account and the options come up. Depending on the application I can open up properties or go to delete or to Open but then it doesn't always work.

[mattd7uk]

I am looking at getting a XP Home edition again. I saw this on ebay (Below) and was looking to get it. You mentioned Product Code. There is a small rectangle sticker on the top of the base unit with Product key and a mixture of numbers and letters about 20 in total. How do I use code/key when I am looking at replacing my XP edition as I thought provided the versions match up that is sufficient?

 

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Windows-XP-Home-Edition-Service-Pack-3-CD-CoA-License-Key-SP3-PC-from-UK-/271263387894?pt=UK_Computing_Software_Software_SR&hash=item3f288ed0f6

[KenB]

Hi Matt

 

So - right click actually works and you get something like this:

 

http://help.unc.edu/files/2012/04/1114-1.jpg

 

Then when you click on Properties that is OK BUT Run doesn't work ................ Please confirm :)

 

If this is the case then the .exe is corrupt on the icons.

 

If you right click on an Office icon that doesn't launch > Properties > Target

What is listed there?

Also what is listed in "Start in"

 

=====================

 

EDIT

sorry - didn't see your last post.

 

If you are totally reinstalling then the new product key ( 25 characters ) should be used.

 

If you are trying a Repair Install then, if requested, the old product key would be needed.

 

Just for info:

That OS you are looking at on eBay is for a Dell machine and would have been distributed with a new Dell.

It probably says something like "For Distribution with new Dell Machines Only"

It is not boxed.

 

I would be very sceptical about that particular disk.

[mattd7uk]

Ok, some the icons on the desktop are IE, Adobe, AVG for example. On IE I can right click get similar options to the ones in your attached picture, I can rename, create shortcut but properties won't work. On Adobe icon and AVG I can rename, shortcut and properties all work. Of course, trying to open any of them the windows error message comes.

 

If I go to Start > All Programs > Mozilla the error message comes up.

 

Start > All Programs > MS Office - Word, Excel, any of the MS office, I can right click and select, rename, properties for example.

 

Start > My Computer > Files Stored on this Computer > the documents appear blank when opened.

 

Under the C Drive > Via Documents and Settings The documents do open, or did before I may have uninstalled XP.

 

A message appears when clicking to open the Documents Folder which says

 

'These files are hidden. This folder contains files that keep your system working properly. You should not modify it's contents'

 

'Show contents of this folder' When I click the Excel and Word Docs appear and would open before XP uninstalled.

 

I do have a Dell Machine.

[KenB]

When I click the Excel and Word Docs appear and would open before XP uninstalled.

XP Uninstalled ???

I am confused now.

You have uninstalled XP ?

 

If you have a DEll machine that CD would probably be OK - but please be aware it is STILL probably not legal.

I suspect that it was for distribution with new Dell machines.

 

You MAY be able to use your the CD you link to ... to do a Repair Install.

Failing that - a complete reinstall of your system using the new Product Code.

 

I suggest that you copy to an external medium anything that you do not want to lose.

[mattd7uk]

This problem occurred about two weeks ago and I emailed you on the 18th. At that point excel and word opened but I had to go through C Drive > Documents and Settings as I stated. However, as I mentioned in number 14 post, yesterday morning, whilst removing some programs on Thursday eve, I may have uninstalled some components of XP, as all the exe docs wouldn't open and lost their normal excel/word picture look. I managed to do a system restore to before I did the removal of programs and the excel and word cover pic on the files came back. Unfortunately, when I click to open, a message about needing to install CD etc comes up.

 

I guess if I copy the docs onto a stick drive they should open somewhere else.

[KenB]

I guess if I copy the docs onto a stick drive they should open somewhere else.

The documents should open on another pc with any similar or newer version of Office.

If the version of Office is older then there may well be problems.

( Open Office - which is free - would get around this problem if it occurs )

 

What do you want to do regarding your XP problem ?

Buy a disk and try the Repair option ..... maybe reinstall

or

Continue trying to locate a solution ?

 

I don't mind which way you decide :)

[mattd7uk]

I am going to try to open the docs on another PC tomorrow, to make sure the data hasn't been lost. Tried system restore and went back a week, but problem still there message comes up when I click to open Word, saying Click Ok, or find folder containing installed package 'MAINSPC.MSP'

 

I will decide tomorrow about getting XP. Thanks

[KenB]

Hi Matt

 

No problem :)

Let me know how you get on opening the files on a second pc.

[mattd7uk]

Hi,

 

At the moment I'm using Open Office to view my excel and word docs. Haven't yet got the XP copy.

 

Matt