- Unable to run msconfig.exe
- Posted by Ancient Dude on October 11th, 2005
I'm running XP/SP2 and have only one account as Computer Administrator.
Suddenly, just in the last three days, when I try to run msconfig I receive
an access denied error which tells me that I might have to use an
Administrator account. I've had no problems before. I can run msconfig in
Safe Mode, but I have to select the Administrator option at login, which is
something I haven't had to do before. Any ideas?
Thanks.
- Posted by Ramesh, MS-MVP on October 11th, 2005
To verify if your user account group membership, check in Control Panel User
Accounts. Or type in Start, Run:
CMD /K NET USERS <Username>
Check the Group Membership and the other details.
--
Ramesh, Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User
Windows XP Troubleshooting
http://www.winhelponline.com
"Ancient Dude" <AncientDude@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:0BFFB7AE-126F-4E93-9EDA-F267E47EEE1D@microsoft.com...
> I'm running XP/SP2 and have only one account as Computer Administrator.
> Suddenly, just in the last three days, when I try to run msconfig I
> receive
> an access denied error which tells me that I might have to use an
> Administrator account. I've had no problems before. I can run msconfig
> in
> Safe Mode, but I have to select the Administrator option at login, which
> is
> something I haven't had to do before. Any ideas?
>
> Thanks.
- Posted by Ancient Dude on October 12th, 2005
That's been done. Something's gone amok and I can't figure out what it is.
"Ramesh, MS-MVP" wrote:
> To verify if your user account group membership, check in Control Panel User
> Accounts. Or type in Start, Run:
>
> CMD /K NET USERS <Username>
>
> Check the Group Membership and the other details.
>
> --
> Ramesh, Microsoft MVP
> Windows XP Shell/User
>
> Windows XP Troubleshooting
> http://www.winhelponline.com
>
>
> "Ancient Dude" <AncientDude@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:0BFFB7AE-126F-4E93-9EDA-F267E47EEE1D@microsoft.com...
> > I'm running XP/SP2 and have only one account as Computer Administrator.
> > Suddenly, just in the last three days, when I try to run msconfig I
> > receive
> > an access denied error which tells me that I might have to use an
> > Administrator account. I've had no problems before. I can run msconfig
> > in
> > Safe Mode, but I have to select the Administrator option at login, which
> > is
> > something I haven't had to do before. Any ideas?
> >
> > Thanks.
>
>
- Posted by Ron Martell on October 12th, 2005
Ancient Dude <AncientDude@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>I'm running XP/SP2 and have only one account as Computer Administrator.
>Suddenly, just in the last three days, when I try to run msconfig I receive
>an access denied error which tells me that I might have to use an
>Administrator account. I've had no problems before. I can run msconfig in
>Safe Mode, but I have to select the Administrator option at login, which is
>something I haven't had to do before. Any ideas?
>
>Thanks.
Boot to Safe Mode and log in as Administrator. Then create a new user
account with full administrator privileges. Shut down and restart the
computer normally and log in to the newly created account.
Can you use msconfig from this account?
If not then I would suspect some sort of malware infestation, as there
are a number of worms/viruses/trojans that prevent access to msconfig.
Most of these also prevent access to Task Manager so you might also
want to try accessing this (Ctrl+Alt+Delete).
Good luck
Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
In memory of a dear friend Alex Nichol MVP
http://aumha.org/alex.htm
- Posted by Ancient Dude on October 15th, 2005
Thanks, I've been thinking of doing that, but since msconfig is the only app
that's giving me trouble ( it appears that I'm able to perform virtually all
other Admin. functions) I've put it off. We do have a Trojan.Vundo
infection,but again, since it's such a deal removing it, I've putting that
off also. That only bothers the wife because she uses IE and I use Firefox.
I'll give your suggestion a try.
Thanks again
"Ron Martell" wrote:
> Ancient Dude <AncientDude@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
> >I'm running XP/SP2 and have only one account as Computer Administrator.
> >Suddenly, just in the last three days, when I try to run msconfig I receive
> >an access denied error which tells me that I might have to use an
> >Administrator account. I've had no problems before. I can run msconfig in
> >Safe Mode, but I have to select the Administrator option at login, which is
> >something I haven't had to do before. Any ideas?
> >
> >Thanks.
>
> Boot to Safe Mode and log in as Administrator. Then create a new user
> account with full administrator privileges. Shut down and restart the
> computer normally and log in to the newly created account.
>
> Can you use msconfig from this account?
>
> If not then I would suspect some sort of malware infestation, as there
> are a number of worms/viruses/trojans that prevent access to msconfig.
> Most of these also prevent access to Task Manager so you might also
> want to try accessing this (Ctrl+Alt+Delete).
>
> Good luck
>
> Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
> --
> Microsoft MVP
> On-Line Help Computer Service
> http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
>
> In memory of a dear friend Alex Nichol MVP
> http://aumha.org/alex.htm
>
- Posted by Ancient Dude on October 17th, 2005
Well, I tried your suggestion and the same thing occurs. So far, when logged
in to either account msconfig is the only app I can't use.
"Ron Martell" wrote:
> Ancient Dude <AncientDude@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
> >I'm running XP/SP2 and have only one account as Computer Administrator.
> >Suddenly, just in the last three days, when I try to run msconfig I receive
> >an access denied error which tells me that I might have to use an
> >Administrator account. I've had no problems before. I can run msconfig in
> >Safe Mode, but I have to select the Administrator option at login, which is
> >something I haven't had to do before. Any ideas?
> >
> >Thanks.
>
> Boot to Safe Mode and log in as Administrator. Then create a new user
> account with full administrator privileges. Shut down and restart the
> computer normally and log in to the newly created account.
>
> Can you use msconfig from this account?
>
> If not then I would suspect some sort of malware infestation, as there
> are a number of worms/viruses/trojans that prevent access to msconfig.
> Most of these also prevent access to Task Manager so you might also
> want to try accessing this (Ctrl+Alt+Delete).
>
> Good luck
>
> Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
> --
> Microsoft MVP
> On-Line Help Computer Service
> http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
>
> In memory of a dear friend Alex Nichol MVP
> http://aumha.org/alex.htm
>
- Posted by Ron Martell on October 17th, 2005
Ancient Dude <AncientDude@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>Thanks, I've been thinking of doing that, but since msconfig is the only app
>that's giving me trouble ( it appears that I'm able to perform virtually all
>other Admin. functions) I've put it off. We do have a Trojan.Vundo
>infection,but again, since it's such a deal removing it, I've putting that
>off also. That only bothers the wife because she uses IE and I use Firefox.
>
You should remove this.
Trojan.Vundo Removal Tool
http://securityresponse.symantec.com...oval.tool.html
Good luck
Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
In memory of a dear friend Alex Nichol MVP
http://aumha.org/alex.htm
