Computer Problem I need help

I cannot open up any of the programs in my control panel, it gives me this message

Windows cannot access the specified device, path or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access them.

I have a;ways been able to access them before. I did install a webcam yeasteday, I wonder if I did something to block me out? At any rate any suggestions?

 

Hi katman Welcome to Windows BBS

Ive seen this same problem somewhere recently when another person installed a webcam,, was it you ?
Have you restarted the pc since the installation ?
You get the same error with all control panel applets ?

what brand a model is it.. I wonder if there website has some FAQ's ?


Try unhooking your new cam and then uninstalling its software
then in device manager remove the device if still there..
after a restart see if control panel work,, then install again .
Also see this page
How to Troubleshoot Control Panel Issues in Windows
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;299923&Product=winme
Lonny

 

This was my first thread here, so it wasn't me.

I "CANT" uninstall anything, because I cannot open the uninstall up. It gives me that message I posted above.

 

Katman, look in program files and see if there is a uninstall there with the program.

Another thing to try if your computer has "system restore" go back and restore to a earlier date.

 

But I really want the web cam. If I uninstall it it will just revert back to where it is now when I reinstall it.

I was hoping I could somehow backdoor this, or fix it somehow.

 

Sometimes you can get a bad install. ie, you might have something running that should have not been.

Check online from the company that sells it and see if they have any advice. You might need a different driver than what came with it.

 

This is a long shot, especially after two days, I would think that if you had a stuck key, you'd know it by now but..........

Happens when two or more icons for programs are selected to start at the same time. May be a stuck keyboard key (such as the shift key) or you have highlighted by a drag of the mouse more than one desktop icon.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=264481

Possibly a mouse click rate glitch causing two instances of control panel to be opened at the same time. Can you right click control panel and select open?

Use the startmenu>settings>control_panel route?

Startmenu>run_line>type "control "

==========
This is most likely a corrupted install of cam or some file association snafu, but this was worth mentioning.

============

Please remember to keep this post updated when you do find the fix. I'm curious how it turns out.

======
As a side note whats the cam and software?

Did it have any option settings built into that had anything to do with file sharing and access controls? (Security?)

 

No stuck keys, nothing highlighted. I can click on the uninstall/add program Icon and it gives me the message I posted in my first post in this thread.

Also, I cannot uninstall the webcam as it has no uninstall of its own, so I guess I'm *******.


It is a Labtech Webcam

 

Do a file find for *.cpl and see if you can click on them and get them to run.
NOTE*appwiz.cpl is the add/remove program panel

Any other odd behavior or lockouts?

Can you open regedit?
*startmenu>runline>type "regedit "

Does explorer.exe open as usual?

Just trying to eliminate virus possibility?

=============

Make sure your system folder hasn't been given the attributes of read only/system hidden.
============

Run scandisk to eliminate possible crosslinks.
===========

What is ME's equivalent to win98's SFC.exe? (Sorry win98 and XP are my OS systems of familiarity)
=============

Asked but not answered:
Have you rebooted since the webcam install?
----
Any problems or errors while you were installing this?
Have you been to the support site for this cam and checked for the latest winme drivers/patches or work-arounds for known bug gotchas?

 

Yes, I reboot daily.

Thanks for the info. I will try and let you know what occured.


I have ran scan disk.

I run virus scans daily.

 

I did a search for .cpl and for appwiz.cpl and all the icons that came up for each gave me the same error message I posted in my first post.

 

System Restore

With luck you a revert your system config with system restore to a restore point before the web cam install.

Good Luck.

 

katman2000

Did system restore help ?

this same problem is comming up eleswhere coused by either coolwebsearch hijacker/trojan and removing it.
Does any of this thread ring a bell

http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=26237

if so say so , but this is win 98 so the instructions would be slightly differant

 

I still have the problem, I am just gonna have to live with it I guess. Everything still works at least.

 

well if you are on a network like my school has, those [nice people] up at the control room might have limited your security access



that might not help but wat can u expect from a 15 year old?

 

Go to Start\Run, type in Regedit, use the + signs on the left to get to this key.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
With the word System highlighted, look in the right pane for this value, NoDispCPL. If there, right click only on that word and Delete.

Also look here;
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
In either case, if found and deleted you will have to reboot for settings to take affect.
This will not help you, XtremeRunnerARS. Your Security Policies do not necessarily reside on your station.

 

If still no luck
try this

Fisrt use search t find out where ther suppsed to be
there both in C:\WINDOWS
extract a fresh copy of rundll32.exe and replace the old one
if no luck yet ,, extract control.exe

heres how on window me
http://support.microsoft.com/defaul...port/kb/articles/Q265/3/71.ASP&NoWebContent=1

Regards
Lonny