MSCONFIG restricted? But I AM the Admin!

When I try to run MSCONFIG, I get an error:

"This operation has been cancelled due to restrictions please contact your administrator..." or something to that effect.

1. I don't have a virus
2. System Restore doesn't help
3. Extracting MSCONFIG from the XP Pro disc to my C: Drive didn't help
4. My account is the Administrator
5. If I create an additional Administrator account, it works... but I'd hate to have to go through the hassle of transferring everying to that new account.

Thanks!

 

Hi baltman
Are you using Spybot per chance?

 

What are you trying to do with MSConfig?

 

When you say your account is the administrator, do you mean that you log in as user "Administrator" or that you simply have administrative priviledges? Are you on XP Pro and perhaps made changes to gpedit.msc?

 

No, I am not using Spybot. I was using gpedit.msc a little bit ago... could that have ******* me up?

Also, I am not logged in as Administrator. Rather, I have administrative privileges under my own name, "Brett. "

 

Group Policy certainly could have locked you out.

Do you remember any settings concerning access to drivers, devices, or the System Configuration Utility?

Check your ability to access other settings, such as Internet Properties and Display Settings. This may help to narrow down the policy/registry key.

When logged in as Admin, go to User Accounts and be sure you are placed in the correct (Administrators) group. In fact, toggling your membership from Admin to limited and then back may reset your group permissions.

When you return to your own account, go to Start > Run:

gpupdate.exe

before attempting to run msconfig again.

Installing SP1 if you have not done so may correct the problem of lost access permissions when no policy has been defined.

 

Thanks, but none of that seemed to do it. I could also access the display settings and internet properties - so the problem is directly with MSCONFIG.

 

Did you change any GP settings?

 

I don't think I did, but I may have... I can't recall. I find it unlikely that I would have.

 

Starting yesterday, I am getting the same problem whilst attempting to access Internet Options in IE6

It started out of the blue - nothing changed on the computer - and I can still access Internet Options from other locations???

Do do think these lockouts may be related?

SP1 installed a while ago, and it's very irritating being locked out of my own computer.

 

Hey, I have the same problem when I try to access Internet Options under Tools in IE6 and I DID install Spybot (and AdAware) immediately before the problem arose. I thought that they might have caused a conflct and uninstalled them but to no avail.

Is there a fix?

 

If you are using Spybot search and destroy, from what I understand, you open it and go to the immunize icon. At the bottom of the page uncheck the option that protects ie explorer. Then go to file,exit, and close the currently open explorer windows. Then reopen a new window and tools should work properly.

 

jdover - The registry change made by Spybot to deny access to IE's Internet Options doesn't go away when you uninstall Spybot.

Just reinstall Spybot, open it, go to the Immunize section, scroll to the bottom of the right-hand pane and uncheck the appropriate references to locking Internet Explorer to gain access to Internet Options once again.

 

Many thanks.

 

Well... This didn't really address my original issue. I've tried to create a new user and copy my profile to it, but my profile won't transfer.

 

Try a google search for xp copy user account. At least half of the first 30 (of 273,000) hits have information that should help you. I quite looking after 30 but likely there are even more.

 

Hey! You were absolutely spot on about Spybot.
IE6 it now back to normal...
I REALLY must start reading the instructions! DOH!

Many thanks,
Gizmo