Thank you Carl. The Access Permissions and Launch and Activation Permissions for my computer are identical to the settings on my wife's computer (both Limits and Defaults) with the exception of the Network Service entry that I added
under the Launch and Activation Permissions (as per the link you referenced) which did not resolve the error. However, the permissions for the WinInetBrokerServer App ID and the WinInetBroker CLSID are VERY different compared to those on
my wife's computer:
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WININETBROKERSERVER APP ID PERMISSIONS (ON MY COMPUTER)
Restricted: Read
System: Read, Full Control
Ken (me): Read, Full Control
Administrators: Read, Full Control
WININETBROKER CLSID PERMISSIONS (ON MY COMPUTER)
Account Unknown(S-1-15-2-1): Special Permissions
System: Special Permissions
Administrators: Special Permissions
Users: Special Permissions
TrustedInstaller: Read, Full Control
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WININETBROKERSERVER APP ID PERMISSIONS (ON MY WIFE'S COMPUTER)
S-1-15-3-1024...: Read
Restricted: Read
System: Read
Users: Read
Administrators: Read
TrustedInstaller: Read, Full Control
WININETBROKER CLSID PERMISSIONS (ON MY WIFE'S COMPUTER)
S-1-15-3-1024...: Read
System: Read
Administrators: Read
Users: Read
TrustedInstaller: Read, Full Control
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Major differences (when compared to my wife's settings):
1) Looks like I have changed the owner of the App ID key from TrustedInstaller to Administrators (in an attempt to make modifications to the permissions).
2) On the App ID key, instead of an entry for Users, I have an entry for a specific user (Ken).
3) On the App ID key, I am missing the Trusted Installer user.
4) On the CLSID key, the Account Unknown, System, Administrators, and Users users have Special Permissions only instead of Read permissions.
Also, another issue is:
5) On the App ID key, I am missing the Account Unknown user (I believe I deleted references to Account Unknown users because I thought they shouldn't be listed but perhaps that account corresponds to a Windows XP Mode user).
Where it gets tricky is that I cannot modify these permissions without changing the owner of the keys from TrustedInstaller to Administrators (for example) and if I do that, I am not able to change it back to TrustedInstaller (it doesn't "recognize"
this object when I verify via Check Names). Also, I am not able to add the Account Unknown(S-1-15-2-1) or Trusted Installer users to the list of users for the App ID key for the same reason. Well, I can, but if I click on Check Names to "verify"
the user/object, it shows the message:
An object named "TrustedInstaller" cannot be found. Check the selected object types and location for accuracy and ensure that you typed the object name correctly, or remove this object from the selection.
An object named "Account Unknown(S-1-15-2-1)" cannot be found. Check the selected object types and location for accuracy and ensure that you typed the object name correctly, or remove this object from the selection.
Lastly, if I do decide to go ahead and change the permissions on the App ID and CLSID, I am unsure whether I should replace the owner on subcontainers and objects (by checking the corresponding checkbox).
So as you suggested, it looks like the error has to do with messed up permissions. With all the information given above, do you have any recommendations?
PS: I am not locked out of XP Mode (I did a system restore to regain access after deleting the App ID for WinInetBrokerServer and CLS ID key for WinInetBroker).
