"windows cannot access the specified device path or file..." in Vista

I'm trying to fix a friends dell laptop running vista. There is only one account on the laptop and it is the administrator of course. Mostly everything I click on is giving me the "windows cannot access the specified device path or file" error. System restore, command prompt, files to install an anti-virus, and trying to change permissions in control panel. Those things I listed won't let me do it because of the error it gives me. My friend does not have the restore cd or the money to buy one right now.

I heard you can type in your server name in IE7 into the trusted sites and this will work. But I do not know the server name to the laptop and I can't get into command prompt to find out. I tried going into safe mode but the laptop goes to a black screen and shuts off.

 

sounds like fun ..... the thing i like to start off with is running repairs ... so get any bootable vista dvd ... (yu can torrent one if you havent got one) ... boot from the DVD and select the repair option, type chkdsk /r
then try to boot, once booted open CMD and type sfc /SCANNOW, if it wont let you run CMD, downloads Unlocker 1.87 .... use it to gain any access and administrative rights you may need ... after all this id recommend a thorough virus scan as well ......

 

Yes, you would also want to run SAS & MBAM - full scans. You can rename MBAM if you encounter difficulties installing it. Just call it something.com or whatever. At times Norman's little malware cleaner can create a loophole for more conventional malware cleaning programs so running that is also a way to get things moving. It runs best in safe mode:

Safe mode: http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/help/323ef48f-7b93-4079-a48a-5c58eec904a11033.mspx
Norman: http://www.norman.com/Virus/Virus_removal_tools/24789/es

Download, install, update and run full scans:
SAS: http://majorgeeks.com/SUPERAntiSpyware_d5116.html
MBAM: http://majorgeeks.com/Malwarebytes_Anti-Malware_d5756.html

Also here's a link to the malware cleaning procedures on Majorgeeks: http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=35407