control panel cannot access

Hi all,

I using Win98 and it prompt 'access denied' when I clicked on any of the icons in the control panel. This also happens in safe mode. I did not set any policies or any password. Please advice

 

Maybe a new Windows install via the setup.exe on the CD
or wherever you have the original WinSE stuff ?
Or maybe you have been wise and saved some registry copies ?
regards

 

I could type this all out step by step but since this link already has the nfo in it I shall give my typing fingers a break. It looks like it covers just about all the possibilities in one very long threaded post.

Just please remember if you have any problems understanding any thing in the shared link that you discover and care to try just give a shout. When you find the fix share it please:

http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/win98/t1073085563

===I had some time and have now typed a synopsis of the above link for the Archives. It may come in handy===

NOTE*I have not confirmed if the cab files mentioned in extraction procedures are the correct cabs. The numbers may vary. That said, here's the "Beef ".....

Problem:When I go into my control panel, every function I try to click on results in the message.. "Access to the specified device, path, or file is denied ".

Possibilities AND Recommendations:

Possible:You may have A variant of the CoolWebSearch on your system.http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/cwschronicles.html#control

*Download to and run from your desktop "CW-Shredder ". It looks for the CoolWebSearch or one of its variants that can cause this problem.
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/junk/CWShredder.exe
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/cwschronicles.html

*Next you have to replace your version of control.exe. That file is located in your Windows folder (C:\Windows). The file that is there now is an infected file. Delete it, if the Shredder hasn't already done it for you. You can get a fresh copy from your Windows CD ,restore disk, or cab files. It's in a folder called Win98 for Windows98 or Win9X for Windows ME. For Windows 98 - look for Win98_44.cab. For win98SE win98_46.cab. For Windows ME, look for Win9X_16.cab. You may also be able to download it here: (logon drivers password all)
Control.exe for Windows ME
http://www2.driverguide.com/uploads/uploads23/17787.html
Control.exe for Windows 98
http://www2.driverguide.com/uploads/uploads23/17788.html

*If after doing that you still can't get into the control panel, download HiJackThis:
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html
and run a scan of your system. Check entries 05, 06, and 07, if they exist, have HJT fix them, reboot, see if the system is OK now. HiJackThis-Explained:
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/htlogtutorial.html

*You should also download and run SpyBot
http://security.kolla.de/index.php?lang=en&page=download
This will get rid of the rest of the junk on your system. Just make sure you update it first.

*You may wish to Install SpywareBlaster:
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
to prevent future problems like this.

*After doing the above ^ which should have removed all of the possible Nasties you may wish to do some additional cleaning which may have left some leftover residue:

"Clear out your IE's TIF and windows temp files"
Go to Start>Settings>Control Panel>Internet Options.
Under the General tab click the Delete temporary internet files,
You may choose to delete all Offline content and Cookies, also (just do a study-up on what you will lose and have to reset by visiting sites that store such on your harddrive.)
Empty the contents of the C:\Windows\temp folder and C:\temp folder,
if you have one.
Empty Recycle bin (and protected bin if enabled).

===========================
If you have Spybot S&D installed and use the
immunize feature, click Immunize, and uncheck I.E. Control Panel lock.

===========================
A policy restriction?

Select Start/Run, type REGEDIT in the 'Open' box and press enter. When Registry
Editor opens, click 'Edit' on the toolbar and then 'Find'. Next in the 'Find what:'
window type NoControlPanel and press enter. If the entry is found, it should
show in the right pane. Right click it and select 'Delete' from the menu. Close the
editor and reboot.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

NoControlPanel = enable/disable Control Panel

==
If the error occurs
when selecting individual applets, try the registry 'Find' procedure again for NoDispCPL.

Also, select Start/Run, type CONTROL.INI in the 'Open' box and press enter.
The file should open in Notepad. Check the top several lines as listed below. There
should be NO entries listed with =Yes. If there is, change them to =No
or delete the line and then save the file.

[don't load]
snd.cpl=no
joystick.cpl=no
midimap.drv=no
sticpl.cpl=no

============================
Try to run the individual *.cpl panels from c:\windows\system

The error recieved was different then when trying to open "control Panel" dirrectly. It now returned error:

The file C:\WINDOWS\RUNDLL32.EXE is not a valid
MS-DOS program file. It may be damaged

The above ^expanded secondary error led to this particular fix:

"extract a fresh copy of RUNDLL32.EXE from your windows cabs "
(use SFC.exe)
Restart in "Safe Mode" first Click on Start => run then type SFC (stands for system file checker)

Click on the "Extract" option
Type rundll32.exe in the type-in space

If/when asked for the source, point, type or browse to your WINDOWS CABS directory (these may be on your harddrive or you may have to use a win98 CD)

Directory this is going to (Save File In space) is X:\windows were X is to replaced by your actual drive letter, usually "C ".

This should extract a new copy of the file and then ask you to reboot.

===============
Another found that it was due to some spyware that installed with Kazaa. Best of luck!

 

Great writeup goddez1

ericwi let us know how you make out