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Access to C:\Program Files denied

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by michael jay 1 view

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I gotta say that I am confused, bemused, defused and otherwise lost.

Running Windows XP (that should explain it) Media Edition SP 2. In my profile all works well but in my wifes profile access to program files is denied. Also in the Owner and Administrator accounts access is also denied.

I created a new user with admin rights and access to c:\program files is also denied.

WTF is going on??

Any suggestions?

26 replies

by computercookie

just kidding, what does GP say?

Never used media edition, although i know it seems to have its problem and just before vista release, in australia nearly every pc at the auction houses came with media edition!!

by michael jay

understand GP, do you mean polices?

Media Edition seems mostly like XP Pro but heavy on Media action, guess that is why they call it Media Edition.

by seanferd

You must create the new admin account from the original admin account.
And/Or
In group policy, using your admin account, assign the appropriate permissions for folders and files to the user or new admin account.

by tintoman

If you check out the security settings for the drive C you might well find that somehow access has been explicitly denied to everyone and that you have access only on your own account

by michael jay

is that the original admin account and the owner account also have no access to c:\program files. I created a new user both from the admin account and my account and neither of them had rights to the program files directory.

So I thought that if I copied my profile to this new profile then the rights would return, no luck.

I have been in the Group policies and have been unable to uncover anything that would restrict the program files directory.

I am making preparations for a rebuild of the system if I cannot uncover the cause.

by seanferd

if you tried to grant those permissions explicitly, by checking/unchecking the permissions boxes, for the Programs folder, for the appropriate accounts, from the admin account that does have the appropriate permissions (MS default admin acct if nothing else).

by michael jay

I have not mentioned that, I am unsure of exactly where those permissions might be granted. Perhaps you could lead me to the exact location to grant these rights. In gpedit.msc? or right clicking on the c:\program files sharing and security?

by michael jay

all folders are available to me in my profile,
all other users have access to all folders except c:\program files. However office is located in program files and it works for all users save for a momentary error that says installing office 2003. The error disappears on its own and office seems to work fine.

by computercookie

would allow directory to be viewed but no access to the folders, so I don't know.

No suggestions at the moment, as far as office goes it should only do that for the first use, strange.

by computercookie

ie the default MS account. If you're using the welcome screen Ctrl+Alt+Delete twice.

What happens when you attempt to access program files. Or have you tried that.

by michael jay

and I have never seen such a weird one before.
It would almost make sense if noone could access c:\program files but only my profile works.

I have installed another drive and will clone this drive to it, change to the new drive and see what else I can figure.

If there is no solution I will have to reload on the new drive, it is bigger and faster so it will not be a total loss and with the original drive available it will be easy to recover data.

Of course before I started the drive replacement I did a full data backup to DVD.

And one other bonus, I will have an internal backup drive once this thing is 100% again.

by michael jay

Yes I did try that, and no joy. The administrator and the owner cannot access c:\program files.

Crazy eh?

by seanferd

This may work best in safe mode, but you can try it in normal mode. Use your administrator logon which has full permissions to do this.

Right-click on the Programs folder. Click on the security tab. Select the username you want to set permissions for. Select the Allow checkbox for all actions you wish to allow.

Does this help?

by seanferd

No security tab in properties, or are the permissions locked? If the Administrator doesn't have full control, the admin can't assign permissions, so check that. Safe mode administrator is best, as it is the MS default, and should have control of everything.

Edit: If you do have to assign full control to the admin, you may need to re-start before you can assign permission to other users.

Edit2: Are you unchecking the Deny setting as well as checking the Allow setting?

If the check boxes are greyed-out, you'll need to click the Advanced button, uncheck Inherit from the parent..., and set your permissions here.

by seanferd

I re-read the posts. You have the Media Center Edition. If this behaves like Home, and not Professional, try this.

Start > Run > Type shrpubw > Enter.

Navigate to the Programs folder and select it.
Make up a Share name. Click OK. Pick a setting from the list -OR- click Custom, pick or add the user, assign permissions. Click OK.

by michael jay

looking at a XP Pro pc I see the difference, there is no security tab in Windows Media Edition.

Creating a share for the Program Files subdirectory may work but I would think that a lot of software, (like all of it) would have to be redirected to this share.

This is killin me, I may go for a rebuild tonight, but for now I got to get to work.

by seanferd

should be fine, no? Users have the permissions, not the software. That shouldn't render the folder contents invisible to anyone or anything else, unless I'm missing something here. I thought this just adds permission for another user/group. Admin always has rights unless denied by the admin.

by seanferd

http://www.tweakhound.com/xp/xpperm/xpPerm2.htm

XP Pro Security Settings For XP Home

This page show how you should be able to get the security tab in safe mode for XP Home. Back one page describes the shrpubw method, and forward one page describes the CLI method.

Is it possible in XP MCE to
Tools > Folder Options > View > Advanced > uncheck Use Simple Sharing
if necessary? (If the Safemode method won't work)

Maybe this will help visually where my verbiage fails. Good luck, I hope you can avoid a rebuild, if it's not the kind of thing you enjoy.
:)

Other stuff:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304040

http://www.zdnetasia.com/insight/network/0,39044847,39049730,00.htm

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp/filesharing.htm

http://www.uwec.edu/help/WinXP/perm-types.htm

http://www.scribd.com/doc/579/Setting-User-Permissions-in-Windows-XP

by michael jay

you nailed it with "Tools > Folder Options > View > Advanced > uncheck Use Simple Sharing"
I did not even know that switch existed but that was the only key needed.

For whatever reason only my profile and system had any rights to c:\program files. Wish I knew how that happened.

Thanks so much for your persistence and research, you saved me from a rebuild that I was not looking forward to.

Edit to add WooHoo.. back in business, thumbs all around. 2 for Seanferd, you pointed me to the key.

by seanferd

I love a clean install occasionally, but on my own terms. :)
You are welcome to any assistance I can provide. I like a challenge, and I learn from it, too. (Or I get reminded of things, like the differences between Windows versions!)

by n4im

I had exactly the same issue after rebuilding my HP notebook. Found a clue at HP support web.

Boot to safe mode. Login as admin.
go to My Computer
double click C:
right click program files
select properties
select security

notice list of users. Missing some users.
add the user you are having issues with.
Then select access rights below.
Click OK...and reboot.

You can also add groups, like administrators.
I had to do the same fix for several folders under "Program Files" to get every app working.

No idea what caused it. Some apps were messed up, so others were OK.

It fixed mine.
Good luck

by michael jay

I still want to do a rebuild but like you say "on my own terms" not because I have to.

Still going to clone to the new drive and later when I have time I will do a rebuild on the original drive more or less as a test of the problems that may come up in the build up of this unit, or just to have a workable image on the shelf.

At work it is too easy with images for each of our different pc models, rebuilding from scratch takes some thought.

Thanks again..

Mike

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