Permission Error

[Barewolf]

My friend keeps getting this error when trying to access programs, its not specific to one program though.

Its XP and has Zone Alarm on it.

“Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access them.�

Is there anyway I can get her to change a setting or anything to get this to run? Ive never had this problem so I am stuck.

[Raistlin]

I'm guessing that she either a) doesn't have an administrative account on that machine, and that the programs have been badly installed/configured/written so they require an administrative account to run, or b) is trying to run programs from shortcuts and that the programs have either been deleted, moved, or renamed.

It's difficult probably going to be difficult to tie down without knowing a little bit more about the machine. The first thing I'd be looking for is what I've put above, after that I'd be trying to work out what those programs all have in common that set them apart from the programs that she can run.

[Barewolf]

How do you set them apart though, as far as i know its nearly all icons on the desktop, even ms word :S

[Raistlin]

So she can't open MS Word using the icon on the desktop? If she goes through the menu (Start > All Programs > etc) does it open?

If so it could be that the desktop shortcuts are pointing to the wrong location. She should be able to just delete those shortcuts and then create new ones.

[Barewolf]

its everything in program menu, even right clicking my computer throws up the error so its a bit strange, ive never come across this before, cant even find out what operating system it is, xp pro or home etc. bizzare.

System restore? or is there a way to set admin permissions through control panel?

[Paul K]

Control panel, user accounts. Something is very badly broken on that PC if you can't get the start menu to work. When did it last work properly and what has been done to it recently?

[Barewolf]

apparently nothing she said she has done, i have to go round and look at it so will report back soon :O(

[Raistlin]

Sounds pretty borked to me, but without looking at it there's no real way to know what's going on.

Even as a restricted user she should have access to the stuff in the Start menu, unless someone else has been playing and has screwed things up.

Your friend may be looking at a rebuild.....

[Barewolf]

Easnt that serious, i went round and shut zonealarm off and it allowed the programs to open up as normal. i ran zonealarm again and tried to open a program and it worked as normal, strange, anyway that was all that was needed. Only took me half an hour. I was expecting a system restore so i was right to shut ZA off first :S lol.

[Raistlin]

Seems strange that ZA should be blocking legitimate programs like that from running.....ah well, you live and learn - glad it's sorted.

[Barewolf]

me too, cheers for the help