Windows 10: CAN"T BECOME ADMIN - "Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may...

Dear Microsoft Community,


Whenever I try to download stuff from the internet, it downloads but i can never open it because it takes about 5 mins for an error to pop up stating, "Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item." Also, when I try to open CMD as admin nothing happens, no reaction at all, I can't switch my account mode in control panel because it just sits there and loads forever, then the error pops up. I've even tried resetting my PC to factory in settings but nothing happens, no reaction at all. My PC is relatively new (just got 3 months ago)! I just got this gaming PC (Alienware Aurora R7) to play games on.... but I can't even download games to play..... it wasn't always like this though..... I did something wrong with the admin thingy about 2 months ago while trying to do something simple with something else..... so now I really can't do anything without "admin" permissions which I can't get. I honestly don't know what to do anymore, I'VE EVEN CALLED A MICROSOFT GUY and after about 3 hours of talking, him checking out my PC (through this mirror thingy where he could see and do stuff on my PC from his PC), and getting a USB flash drive so he could download some files onto my PC (in which should've solved the issue) HE COULDN'T EVEN fix the issue. Now, when I say I don't know what to do anymore, I mean I HAVE NO CLUE. I believe I've watched every single YouTube video on and related to this topic but none of them really even touched, let alone actually fixed this terrible issue (I've also played around with my files, by which I mean I've taken a look around and tried to open some stuff). I (obviously) just want someone that has either had this issue before and knows how to solve it to help me or just some person that knows how to solve it in general to help me. Please, please, please, please, please..... help me!

:)

 

Microsoft Photos can't access specified device, path or file

Hello Suraj,

One of the possible reason why you are getting an error message "Windows cannot access the specified device, path or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item",
may be due to the corrupted shortcut, if the file needs a permission or
error if the shortcut or installation is attempting to access a location that is not currently available such as a networked or a removable drive. In order for us to assist you better, we'd like to ask the following:

• Did you make any changes to your computer before experiencing this issue? If yes, tell us more about it.
• What troubleshooting steps have you tried so far?
• Have you checked if you are using the administrator access? If yes, do you have any guess or standard profile on your computer?
• Which application are you using to access photos? Is it an application that you download from the Microsoft Store?

Meanwhile, we recommend checking the article about "Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file" error when you try to install, update or start a program or file
on this link. It's applicable to Windows 7, this is to guide us to
isolate the main issue why you are unable to access the photos on your device.

We are looking forward to your reply.

 

windows cannot access the specified device path or file

Hello Basha,

This issue can occur if any of the following scenarios exist on your PC:

• You do not have permissions to the file or the file location.
• The file is on a location that is not currently accessible like a network location or an external drive that is not currently connected to the PC.
• The file has been moved or deleted.
• The file or shortcut is corrupt.
• The file may be blocked by Windows.
• Your antivirus software may be blocking the file.

For us to better assist you, we'd like to know the following:

• Confirm which build is currently installed on your device. To check, follow the steps below:

• Press Windows key + R, then type in winver.
• Click OK.

• Are you using any 3rd-party antivirus software?
• What troubleshooting steps have you done so far?

Meanwhile, let's troubleshoot the issue by performing the steps below:

Method 1: Check the permission of the file or folder

Permissions are rules associated with files that determine if you can access the file and what you can do with it. To check the permission of the file or folder, follow these steps:

• Right-click the file or folder, and then select Properties.
• Select the Security tab.
• Under Group or User names, click your name to see the permissions you have. (The screen shot for this step is listed below).
• Select Edit, and then select to check the check boxes for the permissions that you need, and then select OK. (The screen shot for this step is listed below).

Method 2: Check the file location

You might get this error if the shortcut or installation is attempting to access a location that is not currently available such as a networked or a removable drive. Check the path of the file that Windows cannot access and make sure that the location is
accessible. (The screen shot for this step is listed below).





Method 3: Recreate the shortcut to check for corruption

You can also receive this error if the shortcut or other file type has become corrupt. You can check for corruption in shortcuts by recreating the shortcut. To do this, see

Create or delete a shortcut.

If an application or other type of file is corrupt it may be necessary to repair the application to resolve the issue.

We look forward to your response.

Regards.

 

Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file Useraccountcontrolsettings.exe

I have re imaged the machine, and I'm still having the exact same problem. This system was joined to the domain, I'm logged in with a user with domain admin privileges if I go to the search box and type in uac, it comes up in the search box. If I try to
click on it I get the error C:\windows\system32\useraccountcontrolsettings.exe Windows cannot access the specified device, path or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item.

I just browsed out to that path and found the file, if I right click and run as administrator it opened successfully. What gives??