Windows cannot access the specified device - getting WORSE FAST HELP!

This started suddenly. I had just worked on a windows movie maker file for a friends daughter for a school project and was using nero to convert it to a dvd file. After the first attempt was unsuccessful, my computer was crashing and I rebooted. When I did, I could no longer open my Nero, I got the following error:
"Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permission to access the item."

I soon found out, I also got this when I tried to use winzip, or vlc media player.

Who knows what else is effected. I have been searching for fixes, and found several threads here.

I have already tried a system restore to earlier in the day before it occured, as well as tried merging exefix.reg from another post reccomendation, and following instructions from http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=308421 still no luck.

Everything works fine in safe mode and I AM the administrator of my system.

I have a paid version of AVG. Ran virus checks, malware and spyware checks, nothing suspicious shows up.
It has now effected more programs, I initially posted in software, but now Im afraid its a malware or hidden trojan, as more and more programs become effected. PLEASE HELP I use my computer for my business with web design, photo editing and computer generated art.

I have since tried to uninstal my AVG and reinstall, system restore, last working configuration, HELP

I'm out of ideas! Can anyone help?

Thanks
Renee

 

I am now unable to use internet explorer or google chrome browsers, only firefox is working... Please someone save me!

 

I have tried following the read me first page, downloaded all fixes, however, I can not use any exe files in regular mode, I get the same error 'windows can not access... etc'

I have also tried in safe mode to install the fixes and there I get this error:
'system admin has set policies to prevent this install'

Can some one please tell me what to check/change to work around this block so I can fix my computer?

 

I havent tried any of that stuff...
I have been searching endlessly for a fix while my computer just gets worse and worse.
I have ran hijack this (seems to be the only exe file I have been able to execute in safe mode) I have the log, but I have not corrected... does anyone want me to post it?

I had a post in software for days with no reply, the first reply I got suggested I post here... I'm at my witts end.

The problem with the iso thing, in your suggestions, my programs are failing at this point, my nero was actually the first to give me the windows can not access the specified device etc... error' so I cant burn any discs' I will attempt the other things you have suggested.

But, anything that has an exe file at this point are hit and miss, definitely wont work in normal mode and generally in safe mode I get another error:
'system admin has set policies to prevent this install'
Even though I AM logged in as administrator.

The only thing that changed and I am afraid may have caused this... I was working on a video project for a friends little girl, I downloaded a couple songs from a file sharing network (legal, that I pay to be a member of) and one of the files came up as currupted, I deleted it immediately, but I'm afraid it may have been infected, it wasnt long after that things started to go awry.

BUT when I ran paid version of AVG, malwarebytes and spybot search and destroy, complete deep scans, all came up clean.

HELP

 

OK, now I remember why I havent tried the link, it is a winzip file, and I can not use winzip at this time, because I get the "Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permission to access the item."
error on that program as well.
The first programs that were effected were Nero, winzip, winrar, incredimail and VLC media player... Now most of my programs will not function, either I get that error or they just wont start at all.
Corel wasnt working, but it started again after I did a regeditfix. I dont know where to turn.
Im at my wits end because my computer is my work source. I am a graphic artist/photographer/webdesigner that without my computer is kinda out of work.

 

I dont have another computer
Is there anywhere I can download it unzipped?

 

I followed the read me instructions and it said not to use combofix on windows 64bit I have 64 bit.

 

changed mgtools to .com, still get the
"Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permission to access the item."

You see, it doesnt matter if it is already extracted, from another computer, many files are not letting me access them at all.

I was able to run hijack this in safemode, I will try to run mgtools in safe mode and return with results.

here is my hijack this log for you to review while I go try safe mode mg (but again, I have windows 64bit, so according to majorgeeks read me instructions, I am not supposed to use that on my system.:

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2

 

I have mgtools downloaded yes, Im going into safe mode to try to run it now, I'll return. with results.

 

tried to read 'this' and got a file not found page.
I got the mg tools to work in safe mode. I tried to attach results to this post but the attach wouldnt let me, and I will go back to safe mode to do the hijack as instructed.

 

Ok, I'm trying to print your instructions, because I wont remember them all, but when I try to copy and past, Im getting a blank screen!, when I try to use the drop down from file to choose print, I get a blank screen.
Do you happen to know a control command for print?
Ya know like control c is copy, control v is paste... is there one for print? So I can get around this problem? I'll never remember all those instructions without printing them out to refer too while im in safe mode.

Thanks

 

I mean when I'm trying to push the paper clip in the screen nothing is happening, same with when I'm trying to select your post to print, I'm getting a blank ghost window, whatever this is is effecting some commands. Maybe after I get done what you want me to do that will correct. But I need to be able to print out your instructions before I can go into safe mode to do so

 

There is a paper clip in the grey area above the text box by the smiley face that also says attach when you hover over it.
I tried pushing the manage attachement thing as well just now, also nothing happens. Im going to go run the hijack as instructed and hopefully on reboot that will have corrected itself and I will be able to attach when I post the updated hijack.

Thanks for your patience and help! It means more than you know!

 

Ok, still can't use the attach option for some reason, so I will email it to you momentarily.
Here is my new highjack log:

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2

 

mailed the file - will be coming from my gmail acct, since I dont want to try to mess with any files until we are done working on this (since my stored email server was one of the items affected)
it will be coming from ravenblackhardt at gmail.com with the title rencourt MGlog zip.

Thanks so much for helping me through this!
BTW did I say THANK YOU?

 

what you need me to try running next... if you think the instruction of MGtools and latest highjack has freed up my computer to access things I was unable to before.

Im not going to try to access anything until I hear from you that wasnt working before, I dont want to undo anything we have already accomplished.

 

This post is showing it has an attachment from the board view... Did you attach it Tim?

 

I was able to unzip and run this file in safe mode, however I am still unable to open winzip, incredimail, and several other programs in regular mode after the hijack fix, the regeditmerge and the exefix and the mgtools run in safe mode.

Have you viewed my updated highjack log and mgtools attachment?

What else do I need to do?

 

Just an update, I went back to the read me file here and tried to complete the directions in safe mode since the fix you gave me.
I downloaded and was able to install malwarebytes, I could download superantispyware, but even in safemode and even tried to change it to .com was unable to run it, got the same 'safemode' access error I listed before.

I already had malwarebytes installed on my computer and had done a deep root scan that lasted all night and it didnt find anything,

since it is listed to be ran AFTER superantispyware, should I hold off on running it until I get a workaround to get it to run?

 

I have windows xp home 64 bit edition not windows 7.

So, could the infection have screwed up the settings?
I can't even used microsoft fix it in safe mode!

if I cant reset things in safe mode, how can I get around this?

I'll follow your last instructions and get back to you. At least it is good to know my computer is no longer at risk, now if I can just use my programs without this nasty error I would be back in business.

I have to run to work for a bit, I'll follow the instructions when I return.

R

 

ok, im off to safe mode to follow instructions, I'll return with results.

 

ok, followed the directions, in safe mode, ran both cc, and atf, went into folders instructed, they were completely empty.
did the start / run and type:
sfc /scannow

the little black screen only came up for like a milisecond and went away before I could even see what it said, so I assume it didnt find anything.

However, when I came back into regular mode, I still have the same issues when trying to access files.

Internet explorer wont load, Google Chrome wont load,
Incredimail and winzip, winrar & nero state the 'windows can not access the specified device yada yada' but winzip, winrar and nero all open in safe mode.
Incredimail, wants to install in safemode.

what shall I do next?

BTW, I saved the results of my cccleaner log, the atf didnt give me the option:

I still can't get attachments to work should I just post it? Or do you need to see that for any reason?

 

Ok, The sfc scan now didnt do anything in safe mode, so I tried to do it in regular mode and it did run.
However, I have windows XP upgrade disc, it worked, but it kept asking me to retry like a million tries before it worked it's way through. When it finished it just stopped, it didnt give me a report or anything. So I dont know what that means.

End result, I still have the same problems with accessing files.

Awaiting further instruction.

 

should I post that I had maleware issue that has been resolved, but permissions issues remain and I am moving my topic there for futher assistance?
Thanks for your help thus far

 

I will go to safe mode and try that out, but I think I may be able to give you some more insight into my issue.

When this first happened, before I inlisted help from forums, I tried to fix this myself.
I googled the error and saw some people experienced this as a antivirus error with avg and norton, and said to try disabling it, I didnt have luck with that, so I tried a repair and that actually semi worked.

My programs opened, incredimail and winzip etc, but they weren't working quite right, and my avg said it needed updated, so when I updated it, the errors went back to being the way they were.

When I tried to repair it a second time, it didnt have the same result. So I thought I would try msconfig to just allow needed programs so I could diagnose the issue without anything running, at this time my windows gave me a window saying that my windows had changed so much since install, that I needed to revalidate within three days and I had to call and get the windows numbers and revalidation was successful... it was still acting up, so I went back in and put it back to normal state and tried uninstalling my avg completely, thinking if I did a reinstall, maybe the error would be taken care of, but instead, when I tried to reinstall, it told me my validation code was expired, however it shouldnt be, I had just purchased my renewal a couple months ago, so at this time, I am functioning with no antivirus at all.

It also occured to me that I read somewhere that sometimes when you uninstall antivirus such as avg or norton due to issues, it leaves fragments that causes problems and they have to be manually removed. However I dont know where to go to find these, if they are in hidden files, or if it is in registry, and without someone who knows where to direct me, I know it is dangerous to dig around in registry files.

So I'm thinking, since the computer did semi recover after I did the first repair of AVG that my issue may lie with an avg fragment file somewhere... would you know where I could find out?

 

Well, I tried to run it in safe mode and
I got a little blue screen like msdos prompt and it said
'\cscript.exe' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file. Please reboot your machine
Press any key to exit.

 

when I try to use the avg remove tool in regular mode I get the same 'windows can not access the specified device...etc error' as well as with the debug tool.

I tried using the avg remover tool in safe mode and got the safe mode error I get when trying to use an exe file.

This is so frustrating!

My winzip, and nero both work in safe mode, but give me the 'windows can not access the specified device... etc error' in regular mode.

Some programs are still working, like dreamweaver, and corel, my cs2 paintshop pro, but old paintshop pro wont work, it gives an opening screen but shuts right back down.

I know you dont think the virus had anything to do with my software issues, if that is the case, then I had the virus and was unaware of it. All these problems with the permissions happened just after downloading the currupted song while I was making the school project for my friends daughter and caused my nero to crash, and upon reboot is when all the stuff started going down. That is why I thought it was when I got the virus that caused my AVG to foul up, because when I did the repair it started semi working again until I updated it, because it said some components weren't up to date after the repair.

Whatever this issue is, I'm beginning to think I'm never going to find the solution. Am I going to end up having to buy another hard drive, backing up all my files, and reformatting this one with XP again and reinstall all my software to wipe this out?

I certainly hope this isnt the case! But nothing I do seems to clear the problem!

 

(oh and a note, I tried to disable my pop up blocker to help with the attachment issue) as directed in the thread you directed me to, I still have no luck, when I push the attachment button, it depresses, but nothing happens. I dont know if it has anything to do with the state my computer is in right now... or if it is because I am using firefox, because this is the only browser that will work while my computer is in this state.

 

I think I may have found a problem!

When I checked my version of windows... it says

Under Computer:
AMD Athelon 64 Dual Core

Under System it says:
Microsoft XP
Home Edition
SP 3

but when I go to windows site it says:
Note

There's no SP3 for the 64-bit version of Windows XP. If you're running the 64-bit version of Windows XP with SP2, you have the latest service pack and will continue to be eligible for support and receive updates until April 8, 2014.

Could there be a conflict? Is there a possibility that somehow my computer updated to SP3? And it has screwed it all up?

If this is the case, how would I get it back to SP2? Could I just go to control panel add and remove programs and uninstal SP3?

 

I feel so stupid!
So I CAN use the comboclean then?
Please tell me what to do again... I'll try it in safe mode.... Sorry for being an idiot!

 

can't run mgtools in regular mode, I get the windows can not access the specified etc etc error.

This all happened after the crash during making the movie file for my friends little girls school project.

And I have tried refreshing the page... this is occuring on any forum I am at since this problem occured, unless it already has a browse open window to enter the file, it will not work.

 

I only have one account on my computer in standard mode, it has my name on it 'Renee' and up until all these problems it was set as administrator.
In safe mode I have two accounts Administrator and Renee.

Most programs winzip, nero, work in safe mode, but many exe files give me an administrator error listed in previous posts that varies a little from the standard mode one. Like the superantispyware for example, but after I ran comboclean (once I realized I could and had 32 bit) it would open in safe mode, but told me it can't run in safe mode, but I cant run it in regular mode.

When I work in safe mode, I am working in administrator.

I can email you the combofix thing I ran... it did help one issue... it made my windows updates work again, they were giving me the same windows can not access etc error and they started working auto again.

There was a couple issues before it started, it said:
This machine does not have the microsoft windows recovery consol installed. Without it, combofix shall not attempt the fixing of some serious infections. Click yes to have combofix download and install it. (I had to click no because in safe mode, I have no internet access)

Also got Warning can not access windows back up

and

I got a warning that my avg shield was still active and running combofix would continue at my own risk, I do not know what to do to deactiviate it, it is uninstalled, It still shows in my program files and when I try to uninstall it I get an error:
Installer initialization failed due to following error:
Error: Initialization of the language file "C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG9" failed.
Initialization of languages failed or files count is zero.

I have tried the AVG removal tool and I get the administrator error (even in safe mode under admin)
Is there a registry I can go in and delete to get this completely out of my system?

Im next to positive the residual files from AVG are what is causing all my problems at this point.

How do I make a new acct with admin privilages? Since only my name shows in standard mode, I assume it has admin settings. But I'm willing to try anything!