MSCONFIG issues privileges error to Administrator account in XP

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Guest

I have been using MSCONFIG (XP Pro) for four years with no problem. I always
use it in Administrator. Last night, when I attempted to go into selective
startup mode, I got the following error message: "An access denied error was
returned while attempting to change a service." It appeared to do what I
asked it to do but every time I click APPLY or OK in MSCONFIG, I now get
that message. Administrator has always had access to everything. I haven't a
clue to what caused this situation or how to fix it. Help!
 
No one has yet responded to the message I posted three weeks ago. Can't
anyone help? If I have posted this in the wrong place, please advise.

One other piece of information: The error message occurs even if I just
click MSCONFIG's OK button without making any changes.

Marty Sachs
 
I'm suffering the same problem, and I can find no "hits" so far in this forum
that provide a resolution to this problem. Any help would be appreciated.
 
Stop the presses! I managed to fix this problem by starting the problem
notebook in "Safe Mode" (on my pc this involves pressing F8 multiple times
during the re-boot process). In "Safe Mode" I was able to sign-on to the
"Administrator" account. While on this account I "ran"
Start>Run>MsConfig>un-checked "Load Startup Items" (it was sort-of un-checked
already>pressed OK and I did not get the error message. I then re-booted
into Normal mode, and was able to check (or un-check "Load Startu Items") and
exit the System Configuration Utility without suffering that ominous error
message. Something about re-booting into "Safe Mode", and signing on to the
Administrator account seems to "reset" Windows permissions so that this
problem is now resolved, at least for me.
 
I found some information about this problem that I had forgotten about when I
posted my original question. For me, the problem began when I first installed
McAfee Internet Security Suite 2007. A McAfee support technician said that
they deliberately cause this message to protect MSCONFIG against viruses. He
said that in the Administrator account, the requested changes to MSCONFIG
functions will take place. However, some people in the "McAfee Community"
discussion group say that changes requested for some MSCONFIG functions do
not take place, even in Administrator. I also found that turning off virus
protection before invoking MSCONFIG does not eliminate the message although
McAfee said that the message is specific to virus protection.

Peter, is it possible that your problem is also tied to McAfee Internet
Security Suite?

Can anyone else provide any information about the problem and its possible
link to McAfee Internet Security Suite?

I am starting to think that what I am seeing is a part of McAfee
high-handedness (or at least a serious deficiency in their product testing).
I had another problem in this category. ISS7 does not permit turning off
parental controls. I am forced to go to the administrative account to
separately approve each and every web site that I use. In my household, I
have no need for parental controls since we are only two adults. The only way
I could get rid of parental controls was to delete all of Privacy Manager
including functions that could have been useful.
 
Hmmm... So there seems to be more than one cause of this problem.

By the way, what version of Windows are you running?

I tried safe mode but I still got the Access-denied message. Then when I
went to try again, I couldn't get into safe mode again. The instructions for
safe mode in Help and Support do not seem to fit XP. I made a guess at where
to hit F8, which worked the first time but not after that. Does anyone have
the correct instructions for getting into safe mode in XP?
 
Hmmm... So there seems to be more than one cause of this problem.

By the way, what version of Windows are you running?

I tried safe mode but I still got the Access-denied message. Then when I
went to try again, I couldn't get into safe mode again. The instructions for
safe mode in Help and Support do not seem to fit XP. I made a guess at where
to hit F8, which worked the first time but not after that. Does anyone have
the correct instructions for getting into safe mode in XP?
--
Marty Sachs




- Show quoted text -
Click to expand...

I'm having two sets of MSCONFIG problems. While both my laptops give
me this "administrator" error messages, one accepts the changes and my
daughters will not. Both are Dells running XP with service pack 2,
McAfee Internet Security Suite, and Dell 3in1 printer, scanner,
copiers. I can start in safe mode with no hassles, but it still gives
me the error messsages with one successfully allowing the changes and
one failing to change what I want turned off at startup. I found a
reference to issues involving two key troublemakers. HP 3 in 1
printers cause some of these problems. Uninstalling the printer and
drivers in not enough to fix it. Go to this link for more info on
this HP issue <http://pchell.com/support/
msconfig_access_denied_error.shtml>

To start in safe mode hit F8 repeatedly as soon as you startup.

I have turned off McAfee with mixed success. You have to really hunt
to find the means to do so and then it makes you place a time limit on
how long it will be off. Open Security Center ... go to "Home,
Protection Status, Virus Protection is Enabled, click off, and set
your time limit." Good luck.
JB
 
All I found at the PCHELL link was this thread.

Thanks for the clue on getting into safe mode. For me, the access-denied
still occurs in safe mode, even in Administrator.

I turned off McAfee virus protection in the way you suggested but I still
get the access-denied message in Administrator. It does appear that for
setting selective startup without startup items, it does work even with the
error message.
 
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