Your Administrator has prohibited access to your CD/DVD ROM drives

[Tim]

But I'm the Administrator and the only account on the machine.

Running Windows XP Pro with all updates.

I watched an MGM DVD circa 2002 (not a Sony CD. As far as I can tell,
there's no DRM software on it) and now I cannot get access to my A drive, CD
rom, DVD, or one of my usb ports configured as a removable drive. In
exlorer, it looks like a "do not enter" sign (red circle with a slash
through it). When I boot the PC, I get a pop-up error window titled
"Restriction Warning" with the message: "Your Administrator has prohibited
access to your CD/DVD ROM drives". I've tried removing the hardware and
letting windows find it again. I've done all the appropriate spy-ware/virus
sweeps. It appears that something has changed the registery to prohibit
access to anything but the boot drive. I am the only user and I have
Administrative rights.

Any ideas on how to regain access to the prohibited devices? I can't find
anything by searching databases. Even Google comes up empty.

Tim

 

[WTC]

But I'm the Administrator and the only account on the machine.

[ ]

When I boot the PC, I get a pop-up error window titled "Restriction
Warning" with the message: "Your Administrator has prohibited access to
your CD/DVD ROM drives".

[ ]

Any ideas on how to regain access to the prohibited devices? I can't find
anything by searching databases. Even Google comes up empty.

See if this helps, open the registry (start > run > regedit.exe) and
navigate to the following:

[HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
and/or
[HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]

Locate and delete "NoViewOnDrive" in the right-hand pane. You may need to
Log off then log on or restart the computer.

 

[Tim]

navigate to the following:

[HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
and/or
[HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]

Locate and delete "NoViewOnDrive" in the right-hand pane.

Thanks, but no joy. But I did find "NoDrive TypeAutoRun" with a decimal
value of 145 in HKCU\...

I didn't delete it, because I don't know what it does. Is that one a
candidate for deletion?

Tim

 

[WTC]

navigate to the following:

[HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
and/or
[HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]

Locate and delete "NoViewOnDrive" in the right-hand pane.

Thanks, but no joy. But I did find "NoDrive TypeAutoRun" with a decimal
value of 145 in HKCU\...

I didn't delete it, because I don't know what it does. Is that one a
candidate for deletion?

Don't delete those two registry entries. Can you change Security permissions
on the CD-ROM properties. The following KB article will give you directions
for folder and files. Drives also apply here. For XP Home you need to boot
into Safe Mode to change permissions.

How to set, view, change, or remove file and folder permissions in Windows
XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=308418

How to take ownership of a file or folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=308421

 

[WTC]

navigate to the following:

[HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
and/or
[HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]

Locate and delete "NoViewOnDrive" in the right-hand pane.

Thanks, but no joy. But I did find "NoDrive TypeAutoRun" with a decimal
value of 145 in HKCU\...

I didn't delete it, because I don't know what it does. Is that one a
candidate for deletion?

Don't delete those two registry entries. Can you change Security
permissions on the CD-ROM properties.

Actually there is no Security Tab for the CD-ROM. Sorry about my last post.

 

[WTC]

navigate to the following:

[HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
and/or
[HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]

Locate and delete "NoViewOnDrive" in the right-hand pane.

Thanks, but no joy. But I did find "NoDrive TypeAutoRun" with a decimal
value of 145 in HKCU\...

I didn't delete it, because I don't know what it does. Is that one a
candidate for deletion?

Do not delete "NoDrive TypeAutoRun"

Do you have XP Pro? If so, go to the Local Security Policies in the
Administrative Tools. Within the Local Security Policy navigate to:
Security Settings > Local Policies > Security Options > Devices:Restrict
CD_ROM access..." and set the option to Disabled.

XP Home, an registry edit is required.

[HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
Locate "allocatecdroms" and set the value to 0.

 

[Tim]

[HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
Locate "allocatecdroms" and set the value to 0.

Boy, ya'd think Ida learned this by now. A couple of weeks ago, I installed
an Intel utilities package, whereby, Intel was really trying to sell you
third party software and was letting you try it on a "trial" basis. On
piece of the puzzle was a software package that let you remote administer
several computers in your LAN. When I tried to fire it up a couple of weeks
ago even though I'm not running a lan and, nothing happened. Well actually
something did happen. It fired up broke and ran in the deep background.
The clues were what you and others provided me about the registry keys.
Though in each case, what you provided was not applicable, it got me
thinking that this was the right rabbit trail to run down. After doing
numerous registery sweeps and cleans, my computer started to hand on
shutdown. awServ was not responding. I ignored it because I'm not running
a server anyway and had no clue what awServ was.

In desparation, I started removing utilities (you know, those nice little
things that never seem to work well with each other), before I removed Zone
Alarm and AVG anti-virus.

The key was when I tried to uninstall the Intel utility set, it told me I
could not because only one user can be logged in while removing it. Huh?
I'm the only dolt logged in, so what gives? I was going to go to the
directory and do a brute force delete when there it was, burried deep in the
folders of the Intel utilities, I saw the red slashed circle icons that were
the same as I was seeing in exporer that prohibited my access to cd/dvd
roms, etc. That must be the program that prohibited my administrator access
to these device! A little more poking and sure enough, it turned out to be
the third party program that spawned the awServ applet. I went into Window
Task Manager, killed the process and a few others I didn't recognize, which
apparently killed the undocumented logon and allowed me to remove the Intel
utility set (recently recommended by Kim Komando) and, viola, the
permissions to the drives returned to normal upon reboot.

Moral #1: NEVER install anything without backing up files and registeries
first.

Moral #2: Sometimes we install so many programs to keep us safe that it
prohibits our use of the computer - the ultimate safe state.

Thanks for all of your suggestions and help.

 

[WTC]

[HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
Locate "allocatecdroms" and set the value to 0.

Boy, ya'd think Ida learned this by now. A couple of weeks ago, I
installed an Intel utilities package, whereby, Intel was really trying to
sell you third party software and was letting you try it on a "trial"
basis. On piece of the puzzle was a software package that let you remote
administer several computers in your LAN. When I tried to fire it up a
couple of weeks ago even though I'm not running a lan and, nothing
happened. Well actually something did happen. It fired up broke and ran
in the deep background. The clues were what you and others provided me
about the registry keys. Though in each case, what you provided was not
applicable, it got me thinking that this was the right rabbit trail to run
down. After doing numerous registery sweeps and cleans, my computer
started to hand on shutdown. awServ was not responding. I ignored it
because I'm not running a server anyway and had no clue what awServ was.

In desparation, I started removing utilities (you know, those nice little
things that never seem to work well with each other), before I removed
Zone Alarm and AVG anti-virus.

The key was when I tried to uninstall the Intel utility set, it told me I
could not because only one user can be logged in while removing it. Huh?
I'm the only dolt logged in, so what gives? I was going to go to the
directory and do a brute force delete when there it was, burried deep in
the folders of the Intel utilities, I saw the red slashed circle icons
that were the same as I was seeing in exporer that prohibited my access to
cd/dvd roms, etc. That must be the program that prohibited my
administrator access to these device! A little more poking and sure
enough, it turned out to be the third party program that spawned the
awServ applet. I went into Window Task Manager, killed the process and a
few others I didn't recognize, which apparently killed the undocumented
logon and allowed me to remove the Intel utility set (recently recommended
by Kim Komando) and, viola, the permissions to the drives returned to
normal upon reboot.

Moral #1: NEVER install anything without backing up files and registeries
first.

Moral #2: Sometimes we install so many programs to keep us safe that it
prohibits our use of the computer - the ultimate safe state.

Thanks for all of your suggestions and help.

Glad you figured it out.

 

[andrewnovikoff]

What utility can cause the problem "Administrator has prohibited access to CD/DVD..."

"Tim" wrote in message
news:6rMHf.1157$6G.933@dukeread03...

> The key was when I tried to uninstall the Intel utility set

Thanks for discussion, frds, it is sited in many forums. But you didn't mentioned the utility itself.

UTILITY. In my case program causing problem was "Intel(R) Desktop Utilities" V2.1. It has file awtray.exe in it's main folder. This beautiful Utility measures temperature of processor and do many other things.

PROBLEM. When i switched off CD and DVD-roms in their Properties, and then switched them on again, my CD, DVD, USB and Floppy drives became Prohibited. After it "Intel(R) Desktop Utilities" couldn't work properly also, and during WinXP shut-down the program awtray.exe could be terminated only manually.

SOLUTION. Uninstall "Intel(R) Desktop Utilities" by running it's installation file setup.exe. If you have a few users on your computer, all except 1 of them must log out before uninstallation . After it I installed "Intel(R) Desktop Utilities" again, it works properly.

RECOMMENDATION. Don't switch off CD (in it's Properties) if you have installed "Intel(R) Desktop Utilities" V2.1.

 

[kimr55760]

I've been following the thread with great interest because I have been experiencing all of the same problems.


It started out a few days ago with no access to my usb drives. Yesterday I began getting restriction warnings and lost my cd/dvd drive. The warning says the administrator has prohibited access.

I notice one other thing that no one else mentions - something keeps changing my clock back by two hours.

I do not have the intel desktop utilities that people are talking about but I can see that awserv is a process running in the task manager.

I've tried several system restore points, even going back to the first one but the problem continues.

I am to the point that I may format and reinstall xp but I've read other posts that claim the problem returns in a few days.

This is a new computer - only running about two weeks and has very little unknown stuff running on it. I've had Norton Antivirus and Spybot running since the beginning. Adaware finds nothing also.

One other thing - I thought the problem may start with the bios but when I start up in safe mode I do NOT have problems accessing any drive.

Please help!!

 

[mistercuts]

thanks Tim, I've had this problem for several weeks and your reply helped me figure it out.

To be specific, I located awserv.exe using a search in windows explorer. It was attached to an Acer program called Acer Elock Management or something similar. After uninstalling that program, awserv.exe had vanished from my system tray and after a reboot - all optical drives worked AOK. If for any reason it happens again, I'll post here!

 

[J300WAT]

Acer program instal

Had the same problem, after much

&

, I eventualy ended up following this thread, problem now fixed, many thanks.