Problem with windows 7.Please help

LittleLebowski

windows cannot access the specified device path or file.you may not have appropriate permissions to access the item.

This is the message I get when I try to open programs that always worked for me before. I am the admin but got a virus recently and think that might have something to do with it.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Lab_Mouse

Try system restore to an earlier time if you can remember when you got the virus or reinstall the applications

NBCPass

Are you sure the virus is gone?

LittleLebowski

I dont think I created a system restore point lab mouse.

Im not sure if the virus is gone.

I cant even uninstall any of the programs I installed recently that I think might be causing the problem.

It basically wont let me do anything that might help fix the problem.
Head is melted at this stage.

Lab_Mouse

The OS does them automaticaly after critiacal updates and install/removal of software etc


try running malwarebytes.Should pick up the virus if you havent removed it

http://www.malwarebytes.org/

EDIT:to get system restore goto start->assessories->system tools_>system restore

LittleLebowski

Thanks Lab Mouse.Not sure it will let me install MalB but will defo try the system restore.

Auvers

download HiJackthis and post the log here

LittleLebowski

Thanks auvers but it will let me download hijack but wont let me install it.
I just get the same error message.
Any other ideas?

LittleLebowski

Lab_Mouse wrote: »

The OS does them automaticaly after critiacal updates and install/removal of software etc


try running malwarebytes.Should pick up the virus if you havent removed it

http://www.malwarebytes.org/

EDIT:to get system restore goto start->assessories->system tools_>system restore

Wont even let me into system restore!

Lab_Mouse

That doesnt sound good.

Have you managed to enter safe mode on boot up?(normally press F8 )on boot up.And see then if you can get into system restore

LittleLebowski

Tried a few things in safe mode. Wont let me delte certain things but will try system restore.
Will let you know what happens.
Thanks

Nehaxak

You might have lost ownership of certain files/folders or the security settings on same where changed. Either by the virus or it can happen if you do a fresh install of windows but the files you want to access are on hard drives that are accessible but previously used on another previous operating system (vista, or xp for example).

You could try check out the security settings and ownership of the folders/drives that are effected, if they're wrong or for some reason they're showing SID string or something instead of a name (say s1223-dd22-2312-etc., for the ownership instead of SYSTEM or YOURNAME) then you might have to take ownership of the folders and contents to get them back working right again.

Alternatively, if they're not system folders effected, you could rename the folders, then make a new folder with the proper name - then just copy the contents over to it from the folder you previously renamed. That should sort it all automatically.

Assuming in all that, that it's not a virus or that you're not still infected but it's a possibility.

LittleLebowski

Nehaxak wrote: »

You might have lost ownership of certain files/folders or the security settings on same where changed. Either by the virus or it can happen if you do a fresh install of windows but the files you want to access are on hard drives that are accessible but previously used on another previous operating system (vista, or xp for example).

You could try check out the security settings and ownership of the folders/drives that are effected, if they're wrong or for some reason they're showing SID string or something instead of a name (say s1223-dd22-2312-etc., for the ownership instead of SYSTEM or YOURNAME) then you might have to take ownership of the folders and contents to get them back working right again.

Alternatively, if they're not system folders effected, you could rename the folders, then make a new folder with the proper name - then just copy the contents over to it from the folder you previously renamed. That should sort it all automatically.

Assuming in all that, that it's not a virus or that you're not still infected but it's a possibility.

Thanks for that Nehaxak.
I finally decided to format my c/ and install a fresh copy of windows 7.
It is a pain having to re-install every program but defo woth it.
Nothing I found on the net worked for me. It would be my recommendation
to anyone who has this problem to simply wipe it and start again.
Thanks to everyone who tried to help. Appreciated!