Attempted to fix permissions, other errors occur

First off specs:

Dell XPS 630

1. Processor: Intel Core2 Q6600 Quad-Core (8MB L2 cache,2.40GHz,1066FSB)
2. Operating System: Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium Service Pack 2
3. Memory: 4GB Corsair Dominator DDR2 SDRAM 800MHz -4 DIMMs
4. Video Card: nVidia GeForce 9800GX2 1024MB GDDR3
5. Hard Drive: 500GB - 7200RPM, SATA 3.0Gb/s, 16MB Cache

So I'm in a bit of a mess right now, and here's how it all started.

My girlfriend suggested I try WoW (World of Warcraft) and so I did. I enjoyed it and wanted to install it on my computer. After all was said and done, I was having trouble launching it (would crash after I entered my password), and through looking at various topics with similar problems, a fix was to take ownership of that particular folder and that by using: Add "Take Ownership" to Explorer Right-Click Menu in Win 7 or Vista - How-To Geek it would be easily taken care of.

So I attempted to do so, and it supposedly ran just fine (didn't solve the crashing but that's a minor issue at this point) but then I noticed every time I attempted to run an exe file I would receive the error: "Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item.". Yet I was oddly able to run some exe's, like for example Winamp, in the program files folder... but an exe on my desktop was not working.

Seeking a fix to this "fix" brought me to Reset the entire registry permissions to defaults | Windows Reference and so after backing up the registry, I entered safe mode (I was denied when I attempted to run the reset.cmd) and waited for it to work. I noticed it failed a few times, unable to see the full path, I was only able to see that it occurred in "Windows NT/Current Users/Per".

Hoping that wasn't too serious, everything was finished and I restarted. Attempted to run an exe on my desktop (happened to have a folder with Virtual Dub in it) and it worked.

However, my joy at everything being back to what it should be was short lived. I noticed an "x" over the volume and a red "x" over the network connection icon as well. Also I revived an error that "NVIDIA nTune command has stopped working" (running the process myself does nothing, as I had the task manager open and the process closes within 5 seconds).

Moving the cursor over the network icon brought up the following: "Connection status: unknown

Not enough storage is available to complete this operation." Yet I am able to connect to the internet (posting from this computer), even though my speed is severely limited (7mb DL, instead of 20-30MB).

Bringing the cursor over the volume icon gave me: "The Audio Service is not running.". I double-clicked and got the dialog message "This computer cannot play audio because the Windows Audio Service is not enabled. Would you like to enable the Windows Audio Service?" I clicked yes, but it has done nothing (it brings up the sound menu, but I am unable to configure the speakers, and under properties the "levels" tab has nothing under it.).

Opening up My Computer revealed that my optical drive is not properly recognized, it is a Blu-ray Disc Drive (BD/DVD/CD burner w/double layer BD write) and when I opened the properties I see: type: cd drive. file system: unknown.

Also when going to the security center, there are conflicts. Windows Firewall is (or was) reported as being "on", but I have it turned off.

Windows Updates appear to be "broken" as well.

Also the system basic info does not display processor, memory, or the ability to generate a rating.

I attempted to solve this by trying the fix here, which apparently worked for some. Vista Complaining: "Not Enough Storage" - Windows However even when I did what JohnC12 said, to add those two, neither show up after a restart so I am unable to attempt what lingkiin posted and worked for others.


Any and all help to remedy all these errors and have my computer function as it should (I doubt I'll attempt any game playing again, not after this problem) would be greatly appreciated!

I just got to give you prop's for such an introduction...

Hello!

I am willing to try and help you with this issue. My name is Richard. I cannot guarantee results, but I will try my hardest. My immediate thought would be that changing those registry permissions has broken several services with Error 5 - Access is Denied.

This is not going to be an easy fix. First, we are going to try System Restore, just to see if it works. It will fix the issue, if it runs, which it almost certainly won't with so many crucial services broken, but we have nothing to lose. I am going to start listing what you should do in my next post. Please try System Restore, and wait for my next post. http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/76905-system-restore-how.html

I would also like to thank you so much for such a detailed introduction. We very rarely see such a good introduction, and this has been monumentally helpfuf. This issue is so complex, that I would have been much less likely to help, if I had to tease everything out of you. I thank you.

Please give me a few minutes to get my next post written.

Richard

P.S. I sometimes get a little busy during the week. This can lead to a thread being forgotten. If I have not replied to this thread between 12 hours, and 24 hours, please do feel free to send me a Visitor Message, a Private Message, or just respond to this thread so that it appears in my To Do list again. I am very sorry if this happens to you, I desperately try to avoid it, but for a timely response, I need you to remind me sometimes. A VM and PM require you to have over 5 posts to try and prevent spam. Otherwise, just post in this thread. You can send me a PM or VM by visiting my profile here: http://www.vistax64.com/member.php?u=151549 Thanks!

Hello again!

If System Restore fails, follow all of these instructions. Some are a little scant and basic. If you need more detail, please feel free to ask.

STEP ONE:

Running time: approx. 15 minutes

Please run sfc /scannow from a Command Prompt window, and then parse and upload the logs. See the top yellow box of this tutorial for how to parse the logs, and below if for how to run SFC: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/66978-system-files-sfc-command.html

STEP TWO:

Running time: approx. 1 hour, 30, sometimes less. Only the last step takes more than one minute, and takes up most of the time by itself.

Credit: Flavius - completely and utterly

I am going to get you to reset a few Windows Update related components, and gather another log file.

1: Run MS Fix it from this site in aggressive mode How do I reset Windows Update components?
(in aggressive mode it also reset catroot folder and many extra things -more than advices from above link)

2: Reset all WU library Repair & Fix Windows Updates with Fix WU Utility | The Windows Club

3: Reinstall Windows Update Agent How to obtain the latest version of the Windows Update Agent to help manage updates on a computer

4: Run Readiness Tool Description of the System Update Readiness Tool for Windows Vista, for Windows Server 2008, for Windows 7, and for Windows Server 2008 R2, this tool will generate CheckSur.log file in C:\Windows\Logs\CBS folder. Please upload it.

STEP THREE:

Running time: less than 1 minute

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/181765-elevated-command-prompt.html

Type tasklist /svc > %UserProfile%\Desktop\tasklist.txt

Upload the tasklist.txt file from your Desktop.

Please make sure to upload: sfcdetails.txt, CheckSUR.log, tasklist.txt

Thanks!

Richard

You noted that you backed up the registry before you did the registry reset (smart move). If System Restore doesn't work, try restoring the registry from the backup you made before resetting the registry permissions to see if that helps resolve at least some of the problems and gets you back to the point where a System Restore will work (if System Restore didn't work at first and you then do this, try System Restore again) or to where we can identify what issues remain and which may have been solved or repaired by restoring the backup (perhaps only the .exe issue and the game crashing issues which were there before you did the reset).

We can then refocus on those remaining issues instead of the massive list you currently have and perhaps identify some procedures to try to address those specific issues. If System Restore doesn't work at first, then I recommend you try this before doing the other procedures Richard suggested in his second post so that if it too doesn't work, the reports we get will be based on having tried this (and using the restored registry rather than the current one) and thus avoid possibly needing to run some of those steps again after trying this.

I hope this helps.

Good luck!

P.S. And my congratulations too on an exceptionally well-written and detailed explanation of the problem and what occurred - it was extremely helpful (even if I'm not entirely sure what specifically caused the ever-escalating problems).

Lorien said:

You noted that you backed up the registry before you did the registry reset (smart move). If System Restore doesn't work, try restoring the registry from the backup you made before resetting the registry permissions to see if that helps resolve at least some of the problems and gets you back to the point where a System Restore will work (if System Restore didn't work at first and you then do this, try System Restore again) or to where we can identify what issues remain and which may have been solved or repaired by restoring the backup (perhaps only the .exe issue and the game crashing issues which were there before you did the reset).

We can then refocus on those remaining issues instead of the massive list you currently have and perhaps identify some procedures to try to address those specific issues. If System Restore doesn't work at first, then I recommend you try this before doing the other procedures Richard suggested in his second post so that if it too doesn't work, the reports we get will be based on having tried this (and using the restored registry rather than the current one) and thus avoid possibly needing to run some of those steps again after trying this.

I hope this helps.

Good luck!

P.S. And my congratulations too on an exceptionally well-written and detailed explanation of the problem and what occurred - it was extremely helpful (even if I'm not entirely sure what specifically caused the ever-escalating problems).

Click to expand...

Ah ha! You caught me out! I missed that registry backup once I started typing. Good advice!