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

Worked for me ;-)

This worked for me also. Found the answere elsewhere but came back to post this for others. 

I Added the server to the trusted list and I was able to run applications from server. The weird part initially for me was that some users were able to use the application and others could not. Now I see that the ones that could not were new users added after ie7 update.

Windows Server 2003R2 Terminal Server.

Did you have to add the server to the trusted list on all of your workstations or did you just add it to the trusted list on the server in question?

Thanks

Oana Diana,

At the very least, can you post what version of Windows you are running, whether or not you are connected to a Network, and have you attempted to boot the computer into Safe Mode?

Oana Diana,

I know that it is not safe to assume, but I assume that this is a personal computer of yours in your home? As far as the "Network" is concerned, how many other computers do you have? Also, what type of Internet connection do you have? One final question, what security software do you have installed (antivirus & antispyware)?

Oddly enough, I just had a situation while performing a repair a few days ago where someone's Trend Micro Internet Security 2007 software became corrupted and was not allowing ANY .exe files or programs to run. I couldn't even open any of the Control Panel files, not to mention "msconfig" from the Run command.

Oana, try this and see if it changes anything: Reboot your computer. As soon as you see the brand logo come up (usually the first screen you see), start tapping the F8 key over and over. This will bring up a Boot Options screen (black background with white text). Arrow down and select "Safe Mode". This will load up a diagnostic version of Windows. It turns off all the unecessary programs and only runs what is necessary to function. See if you have open Display Settings/Control Panel from Safe Mode and then let me know what you find out, ok?

Morning,

Ok, I have Windows XP, and no IE Enhanced Security Component to uncheck.  I am NOT on a network, this is my personal home computer.  I am the administrator and sign on as one.  I can't open executables (MS Word, Adobe Acrobat, Winamp, Windows Live Messenger, etc) without clicking on them many, many times to open. Mention was made to add to my trusted sites, but these aren't sites....????   How do I fix this?

Thanks so much for ANY input at all !!

I also have this same error message.  I just followed the above instruction for Save Mode and that worked as far as letting me download, but only in safe mode.  Now that I'm back, the message still comes up.  What can I do to fix the problem for good. Thanks.

I also have the same error message.  I just finished following the Safe Mode procedure and that allowed me to download, which is great, but now that i'm back, I still get the error. Is there a way to fix this for good?

Synergy, chances are there is a program running in Normal Mode that has prevented access or is changing certain permissions, which explains why you're getting this error message. Please check and see which anti-virus prog you have installed on your computer. If you still have the disc for it, or the ability to re-install it, try to remove it. You "ought" to be able to open the Control Panel and then the Add/Remove Programs link, if you are running Windows XP. I would suggest removing or at least turning off any anti-virus or other "security" software and see if this changes any of your problems. Also, to help us along, do you have Windows Defender installed?

Hi all,

Since I started to run the automatic upgrade of Vista SP1, I am experiencing the same error message windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access this item

I cannot launch anything from desktop, neither from Start>>> ...

On top of this, I cannot even restart the laptop properly, and to go on safe mode I must remove the battery

PLEASE, any suggestions what to do with it???

Thanks!!!

Tim

Tim,

I hate to say this, but you may need to load into Safe Mode, backup all of your files, and then use your Recovery Discs and reload your operating system. Some computers have a Recovery Partition if you don't have your discs. I have had a few friends tell me of some of the bad things that I have happened to their computer since SP1, but then all of the other computer I see in Retail are working fine. There are just too many dang hardware configurations!!! /argh

If you don't already, I would suggest investing in a USB flash drive or an external hard drive so you can save all of your important files and information. From here, you could look into removing just a few programs like security software and see if that makes a difference. Also, follow the steps on the previous pages to check your File Permissions and possibly even Take Ownership of your drive.

Tim, also, are you using this as a Home PC? Do you have any other computers on your network or is this the only one?

Many thanks JustaDaKaje, I do appreciate your advise(s) from also previous postings...

Because I was feeling terribly weak last night (GMT+1), couldnt resist but "play" with new toy Dell laptop.  For what's it worth, here are the description of the problem and solution I found:

Problem:

Updating Vista SP1.  Failed during update. After:

• there was no way to access any applications (exe-s) from neither desktop nor going from Start>>> All Programs>>>...  giving error message "Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have appriate administrator permissions."
• Audio was diabled,
• majority of icons in tray disapeared.
• Couldnt do Restart or Shut Down
• The only was to hybernate it, useless for starting the pc in safe mode
• Didnt recognize network and couldnt even start it, + other issues I couldnt examine

Solution: (that worked for me)

• Downloaded separately Vista SP1 from a 2nd PC;
• Had to remove battery from laptop (too bad!!!) in order to make it restart in Safe mode [turn on PC and press several times F8 till safe mode options screen is displayed]
• Chose Safe Mode with network thus to enable any additional updates
• Un-installed firewall (COMODO)
• Run CHKDSK in command prompt just in case - no problems
• Run SFC /SCANNOW in command prompt just in case - no problems
• Installed from flash memory the Vista SP1 file (some 434 Mb file, which takes some time)
• All worked fine, and when ristarted, the laptop was up and running smoothly
• Re-installed latest version of COMODO firewall

When cantacted Microsoft, aparently they are aware of this issue and they expect it to happen on branded computers (a little dissapointing when you think that branded PC will be the first to test compatibility...)

Hopefully SP2 will be a better one...

Best to all!!!

I have been having the same problem. I don't know if you have fixed it yet, but I found a post on another site regarding AVG Antivirus. It said to open AVG, Click Resident shield, add the directory where the application lives (the one that you are trying to open when you get the error message) to the EXCLUDE list, reboot, and it should work. My problem is, I have AVG free edition, which does not allow you to add anything to the Exclude list.

This problem started for me just a few days ago, I am sure something that came through the automatic updates from AVG did it. I don't get the error message all the time, but it happens most when I try to open IE or my email program, Eudora. I close the error box and usually on the 2nd try I can open, but very annoying. I don't know if this is AVG's way of trying to force people to get the paid edition just so they can add the exclusions, but it's irritating!

Good luck, hope that helps.

Jennifer

Tim,

Glad to hear that you were able to come to a solution. I'm glad to hear that you didn't have to completely re-install just to get things back up and going. Sadly, I've seen quite a few problems recently with the SP1 installation. I had a friend that completely lost control of his mouse AND keyboard... had a lady who's PC would not load past the Mfg splash screen, but when she brought it to me, it was finally loading and then showed the Phase 3 of 3 loading. So yeah, I';m sure there are going to be some concerns that come up with SP1, but we'll get through it!

Jennifer, thanks for the tip with AVG. I'm trying to remember the exact service running from Trend Micro that was causing the blocked .exe files. I found it in Safe Mode, disabled it and then re-booted into Normal Mode and the problem was fixed. Re-enabled it, restarted and the problem was back. I'm sure I could have just searched for a fix with that exact service that was running, but the client's TMAV was expired anyways and she was going to be installing a new software, so I just un-installed, which of course solved teh problem as well.

I'm glad to give the tip, I wish it worked for me! I am still not even sure if that is the true problem for me. I have XP SP2, it's a home comuter, no network, AVG Free, SpyWare Doctor run each day. Scans show no problems. Just a few days ago, when I click any .exe files, i get the error message that was mentioned earlier (Windows cannot access...). I close the error box and try again and it usually works. Sometimes takes a few tries. I've been searching the web, nearly the entire day, and cannot find a good solution. It seems this problem has many different causes and depending on the system, many fixes, but none that have applied to me yet, with the exception of the possible AVG that I can't fix because I have free version. One web site I read said that it has something to do with antivirus programs, like Avast and some others (AVG was mentioned too). Another site said it had to do with IE7. Another said it corresponded with downloading software from the web. ANother said it came with automatic updates from Microsoft, that something is not compatible with anti-virus software.  It's driving me crazy to be quite honest. The microsoft web site said this error message comes up when you try to open more than one program or file at a time. That's not the case with me either! I've tried switching to safe mode, which I can do, but once I am there, I'm not sure where I am supposed to go to check the permissions that people are talking about. I went on the AVG forums and the AVG moderator didn't seem to think it had anything to do with them. Ugh. No easy fixes.

Jenifer, for what's worth:

Luckily you can start yr PC in Safe Mode. Do so, and you may try to unistall one by one certain petential culprits one by one, i.e. AVG, IE7...

A couple of tips: AVG Free version can easily and successfully be replaced by AVIRA, quite helpful and sensitive and not annoying at all antivirus! And it's free, with daily updates. Same you can do with trial version of NOD32 - very powerful AV, but that'll expire every 30-40 days, and it'll simply need uninstall+reinstall. 

If when running XP back in normal mode won't solve the problem, that means that AVG wasn't the culprit. 

Then, insofar surfing through forums on this issue, lots of times firewall could be the culprit / you can try to disable or better uninstall it in safe mode. You can then reinstall replacing freeware versions of ZonaAlarm or Comodo, after hopefully the access issue has been fixed.  If still firewall wasn-t the culprit, try with IE.

IE browser can happily be replaced by Mozilla Firefox, or Opera - both quite stable and less troublesome browesers. Unistalling IE7, in my experience, was downgrading it and not quite easy to be done, therefore when restarting yr PC in Safe Mode, make sure you choose it with network, which would allow to get connected to network.

Give a try...and good luck!!!

Tim

Thanks, I am going to try some of the options. Something else that occurred to me when I started cooking dinner (I do good thinking when I am cooking!)....I ran the defrag a couple of weeks ago and I am positive this started AFTER I did that, although I can't remember how long after...But I think there was about a week from the defrag to when this started happening. Could that have done something?

I don't have an option to uninstall the enhanced security feature, but yet, I'm still getting this error whenever I try to open an Access Database (Office 2007).  Any other advice other than the enhanced security feature.

Eric,

Can you try to open it through OpenOffice. Base?

Or (painfully...)

If you have the installation CDs for Office 2k7, try to uninstall it, then update the SP1, then reinstall again Office 2k7.

Good luck!

I've been following this topic with no luck on anything offered (and there was reallygood stuff in here!).  After reading about possible issues with AVG, it occurred to me that this started when I enabled the antivirus feature on ZoneAlarm Security Suite.  I disabled it, and the problem disappeard.  Hope this helps someone else!

To all who've tried the latter with no results:

I had the same problem for sometime, unable to install some reliable programs as Adobe Reader 8 and PaintNet. Until I found a technical note in Microsoft KBase, which stupidly I didn't copied and did solve the issue.

The note was under some kind of error message and offered a workaround that didn't have to to anything with the registry, but was directed to change the security settings of Internet Explorer 7 (my case).

It consisted in going into the security tab of the tools menu on the top bar of IE. There you would temporarily change the settings to accept or enable active x signed and not signed, as well as going into the downloads option and enable the "automatic ask if you want to download files".

Then you have to close IE and try running your exe files (which I again downloaded with Mozilla and installed with no further problem).

Your PC will start warning you that you've unsecure settings for IE7, so you'll have to return to the default ones. No problem since I already had installed what I needed.

The reasons for posting this message are two:

first: I need feedback if anyone finds the note, as I want to save it.

second: helping whoever gets so desperate as I was and wants to try these options as I recall them.

Thank you for this information.  I had to restore a server and after restoration I ran into the zone issue.  I finally found this tip about putting it into trusted sites or intranet Zone.  Thanks again.

The is THE solution ! it works fine for me too.

Without this you can not lauch any setup program or you need to add every rule, share, server... It's a lot of work.

You should be sure about you are installing on your server :-)

I GET THE SAME PROBLEM! Every time I download WPEPRO at www.wpepro.net , it get the little box that pops up... I tried the AVG thing, the FIREFOX thing, the Internet Explorer Encahnced Security thing, and the internet tools reset thing but NONE of them work! I have a:

Microsoft Windows XP

Professional

Version 2002

Service Pack 2

PLEASE, someone help! 

I've been having this problem for the past couple of week's. But the software I'm installing wasn't that big of a deal. Now, that it's become a big deal, I decided to investigate. The first suggestion worked, look at the General Properties and click the Unblock button. I thought of finding a way to disable it, but why? This seems as a great deterant for someone trying to hack your server. Think about it, how many times do you install software on a server? Is it really that much trouble to right click and click the buttons?

Microsoft DOES have a way you can run from a remote system without disabling IE Enhanced security. To allow executing things on other servers, you must add the remote resource to your intranet or trusted sites via Internet Explorer Security Options.

The tricky part is that a typical file share needs the FILE protocol, not the HTTP protocol. Let's say you have a server named MYSERVER. And a share on it called INSTALLERS. You bring up windows explorer

\\MYSERVER\INSTALLERS\SOMESETUP.EXE

and try to execute an install, but you cannot.

So then, you go to Internet Explorer, Tools, Internet Options, Security, Local Intranet, Sites, and add

\\MYSERVER as a trusted site. It translates this to

file://MYSERVER

Now try again and it will work. And you STILL have your IE Enhanced security in place for threats from the great wild unknown.

Obviously don't add a server you don't trust to your trusted servers

Regards,

David K Allen

Hi guys,

Problem:

I am also facing the same error.

Not able to execute any kind of executable in any way in normal mode.

I can't even shutdown or restart the system.

Observations

I am able to boot into safe mode and everything is working fine.

But when i go back to normal mode nothing works.

But there are some exceptions i found like:

able to execute anything through "Task Manager"->File->New Task...("Ctrl + Shift + Esc" only. Not thru right clicking on the task bar. [Its not working])

And from the command prompt window (this "cmd" is also has to start thru the above procedure only ).

Origin of the problem:

I am using a software "AutoIT" for scripts.

I compiled one script to executable and tried to execute it. Then it gave the same error as "Windows cannot access....".

Then i tried again and again by clicking so many times and thereafter system is giving the same error for all the executables and for everything.

Information

I have Windows XP Media Center SP2. Comodo Firewall. And Nothing else.

I checked the Comodo Firewall. There is no problem with it. As it is in startup programs and unable to start because of this problem. I checked the processes in task manager also and found nothing suspicious. and ran some system scan in comodo firewall for checking viruses & malwares and nothing found.

Even I uninstalled the AutoIt Software, but of no use.

For Information Purpose the script is very small. Just starts "Internet Explorer" and logs in into some site.

Script

Help Needed

I don't know how to solve this. And i don't find any solution for this.

So help is desperately needed.

I found the solution for my problem.

as so many users told this could be a problem with 3rd party application and it stands true in my case.

I have the Comodo Firewall Pro installed.

And that is the one which is causing this accessing error for any kind of executable or any operation.

So i uninstalled it and restarted and everything works fine.

Again i reinstalled Comodo Firewall Pro and everything works fine.

And i faced the same problem in another windows xp installation but a different error "xxxx.exe is not a valid win32 application". The problem started in the same way like the problem "windows cannot accesss...." by clicking so many times on an executable. And it kept on coming for every executable except if you run them from task manager. I don't understand why its working through task manager as the Comodo will check all executable files which are starting.

Hence the same uninstallation & reinstallation i did and everything working fine.

Thank you guys.

Just now i understood the problem also.

It has nothing do with how many times you clicked on the executable.

In Comodo one can specify the permissions for each policy like things like (Trusted Application, Windows System Appl, Isolated Application...).

When the first time i double clicked on the file it asked which kind of appl is it? and it gave me only 3 options. (Browser, Windows, Isolated) and it asked the dialog for explorer.exe not for the executable i am going to run as the explorer.exe will start this particular executable. and MISTAKENLY without checking whose permissions i was setting and thinking that i was setting permissions of the executable i am running, chosen Isolated appl. And isolated appls won't have some privileges hence Comod is not allowing me to do anything which is instanciated through explorer.exe. Thats why i can instanciate anything through task manager and all as they are not blocked by Comodo with these settings.

At last i understood the problem (Silliest). Its my MISTAKE not the systems.

I have tried a lot of the suggestions in this thread and this is the solution that worked for me.   I have the Agnitum Outpost firewall on Windows XP.  I uninstalled and reinstalled it and the issue with not being able launch any of my applications is gone.  Thanks for your help and ideas, everyone!

Look for my solution further down the forum.

You are very welcome.

Thanks very much for sharing this solution, saved me many hours of frustration and time. Worked like a charm.

Megabyterudy

I have the same problem at some Server 2003 R2 Standard x64 edition service pack 2 machines (Intel 64bit).

It did help to some extend to uninstall the Internet Explorer Enhanced Security Component, I have tryed to add servers i want to run programs from both to trusted sites and Local intranet in the security section of the internet properties.

Now i can start the .exe from other servers in my network, but only if i do it in the gui, My problem is that i have a service application to load some batch processes, which some of them in fact is .exe programs at another server. I still get access is denied when i try to to start .exe programs from another server via my service-app.

Does anybody have any ideas to how i can solve this?

Kindly Regards Ken madsen

I had a similar problem. The only way I managed to fix it was to uninstall the free AVG antivirus software I had installed on my pc. Then after a reboot, I could then run the .exe file which was causing me problems. Hope this helps...

I had previously tried to turn off the AVG software etc, but this did not work. I had to uninstall it in the end.

Worked and I've had this problem for over a year being told "Don't know"

Worked for me too!

Thanks!

I'm basically having this same issue, except I have Windows XP Professional installed.  I recently reinstalled XP and now I can't get the deivers to load from an external hard drive.  The system won't recognize the files and it won't read the Dell disk with drivers on it either.  I get the error  "Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may have not the appropriate permissions to access the item" when i try to run the drivers from my USB HHD.  I dont' have an antivirus software installed or a firewall activated.  I've been messing with this for like 3 days now and going crazy!   I can't even install my DSL on the computer because the DSL Installer CD won't recognize my ethernet port.  I assume I need to install some drivers, but can't.  I was told to install the Chipset Driver first, but I can't get it installed since the computer doesn't recognize the file type.  It's weird because it will execute some .exe files, but not the drivers.  Does anyone have any suggestions???  I would appreciate any help.  Thanks!!

try this

I had this same issue, I just added the entire server path to the trusted sites in IE7, then everything worked normal.
In trusted sites i added
\\servername\

Then it showed up as file:\\servername in the list (obviously)

...hope that helps someone...

try this

I had this same issue, I just added the entire server path to the trusted sites in IE7, then everything worked normal.
In trusted sites i added
\\servername\

Then it showed up as file:\\servername in the list (obviously)

...hope that helps someone...

try this

I had this same issue, I just added the entire server path to the trusted sites in IE7, then everything worked normal.
In trusted sites i added
\\servername\

Then it showed up as file:\\servername in the list (obviously)

...hope that helps someone...

i solved the problem

1. install the vista again and no aditional program

2. if u have Live One Care...uninstall it i think that is the problem

now my laptop is allow me to do anything i want...

You are awesome!!!  I was going in circles trying to figure out what I was doing wrong and all along it was Microsoft... Go figure!

Thanks again for this posting... Much Love!

Hello, I'm not an expert but I do get this error message when I use a pdf extension in my wiki that transforms a web page into a pdf file: in case there are images in the web page, they are not displayed in the pdf document.

I am able to click on the spot where the image should be and get a message saying "The application Image.jpg is set to be launched by this pdf file. The file may contain programs, macros or viruses... Open the file if you are sure that it is safe.. Click Open to view the file".

As soon as I click on "Open" I get the famous message "Windows cannot access the specified device, path or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item". Finally I get a message from Adobe Reader "Could not open Image.jpg".

I have IE7 and Adobe Reader 8. I have reviewed and tried to change all IE security settings, I have allowed Adobe preferences in the Trust manager but nothing works.

Has anybody ever encountered the problem? Thank you very much. 

ok not totaly lit...I have tried some of the suggestions. Went into Safe mode, added web site to IE security.

This is a home laptop, wireless connect card, vista, not networked, I have Norton 360 protection.

I have gone and looked at the properties for the file and it says I have permissions (I guess I did that correctly). Actually I am running it under admin log in. My issue is with running TV shows from network web sites, like CW and FOX. I have contacted the manufacture of the player, Move Networks but they have not responded. NBC and ABC are fine with running shows.

C

Followed that thread, I do not show IE Enhanced Security. 

I am on Service Pack 3, running Windows XP Home Edition 5.1  Like so many, I am getting pattern baldness from this. The pattern is swear, and pull my hair out!

That was very helpfull. it worked for me.!!

Rayden

Okay I keep seeing "just add your file server in the trusted site in IE tools".  I have XP and I have tried absolutely EVERYTHING else, so this is my last hope. I know how to get to the trusted sites via IE tools, and I know the proper way to add something to the trusted sites.  HOWEVER, I have no idea what the name of "my" file server is!   I'm amazed that apparently everyone else seems to know his/her file server.  I guess I'm in the "need to know" school of thought, as I've never needed to know the name of my file server...until now.  

Please could someone tell me how to find out the name of this file server that is apparently mine?  This is a work computer that I didn't set up.  It has a shared drive and apparently LOTS of servers (according to a co-worker).  Is there a path, command or method I could use to zero in on the name of the particular file server that I need to add to trusted sites so that I'll no longer get the "windows cannot access the specified device..." error?  If so, I'd really appreciate this information.

By the way, I have an administrator account, and this issue happened when I installed google desktop.  I was able to install it, but cannot access it AT ALL.  The google desktop exe file showed up on my desktop, but when I click it, I get the dreaded message.

Those of us with XP do NOT have the option of de-selecting IE Enhanced Security--because no such option exists with XP, nor can we push "reset", as no such button exists with XP.  As I mentioned, this is a work computer.  Yes there is a firewall and anti-virus protection, but I am disallowed from uninstalling or even tweaking these security measures.  I've tried the "unblock" trick, and I've also modified the file ownership and security rights to grant my administrator account full ownership, with God-like control over as many folders and files I could find that seem remotely connected to google desktop.

Oh, and I can't even uninstall google desktop because, whenever I try accessing the "uninstall" feature, you guessed it, I get the same insidious, infuriating message..."Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file." 

I just noticed that this particular problem stands out among most of the others.  It's relatively new and yet has had 103,670 views!   The problem is huge and I wish Microsoft would address it.

Ran into this "cannot access/appropriate permissions" issue recently:  anyone who rdp'd into terminal server (SBS'03) couldn't run apps that had been working just fine. 
This did NOT affect ALL apps, only some apps that reside on another inhouse SBS'03 server. 
Tried the trusted intranet location thing in the IE7 that lives on the termserver, but only added the SBS03 servername to the intranet trusted list, and this appears to have fixed it! 

Thanks to all who mentioned it!

The "bug" seem to have occurred after an upgrade to DataAccess Visual Datflex 2008 (VDF 14.0 from VDF 12.0), but an upgrade to Symantec BackUpExec 12.5 occurred in close proximity, so who knows what happened in the dark?

I can't find the path you provided in regedit !

I have the same problem but were do you find the executable file???

Right click on the executable and choose "Properties" and look to the bottom of the "General" tab. Here you should find an "Unblock" button provided to allow normal access to the executable.

Here is what worked for me.

This occured on XP not Server 2003.

Went to file properties of iexplorer.exe file under Program Files and Internet Explorer and added permission for user profile.  Everyone was already on list but still needed to add specific user to list.

 

How to fix real easy and still have Internet Explorer Enchanced security:  Open Internet Explorer, Click "Tools" --> "Internet Options".  Go to the [Advanced] tab.  Click the <Reset...> button.  Click <Reset>.  

 

I don't know what changes when you do this but it works.  Reset also works with a lot of other IE problems I've had.

I had the same error message - windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access this item.

I am running Windows XP Pro SP3

After trying several web posted solution without success, I began to look for what recently have changed in my PC. I came to the solution:

I found Access Protection, which I recently changed to maximum, was the cause. I removed Virus Scan McAfee 8.5i and reinstalled to standard protection and every thing worked fine.

Hope this helps.  

Thanks to all who contributed, which helped to resolve my problem.

I am experiencing the same issue through a Windows 2003 R2 server running terminal services. And I found a solution!!

 

On the Windows 2003 server, go to add/remove windows components, then uninstall the Internet Explorer Enhanced Security component.

 

This worked for me!