Windows 7 Windows 7 permissions bug

[bfett81]

I am not sure whether or not this is a bug or a virus/malware, but my gut says bug.

I think that way because running malwarebytes and hijack this reveals nothing out of the ordinary whatsoever....no viruses or malware are detected.

The issue basically is that I cannot open files or run certain programs. I have a bunch of jpegs on the desktop, for instance. Try to open one and I get the message "Windows cannot access the specified device, path or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item."

The same goes for an mp3. Curiously enough I can open torrent files and word documents, or even text documents. I can open folders, but not stuff within them.

The odd part is the programs that choose to run and those that do not. AIM, Yahoo messenger, winamp, office 2007, all work. But virtualdubmod, photoshop, jasc animation shop, do not. Just seemingly very random, don't you think?

I have tried changing permissions to no avail, although I may be doing it wrong. The only fix seems to be using system restore, although for some reason that "wears off" after a few hours and the problem returns. I also cannot change anything in User Accounts under control panel.

I'm running Windows 7 Build 7100 and everything else on this PC seems to be normal. I'm posting this via Firefox, which works fine. I can type and save in Word, chat on messenger, listen to music....but using Photoshop is out!

Any suggestions?

 

[ChatGPT]

Based on the symptoms you've described, it seems more likely that this issue is related to permissions or system corruption rather than a bug or malware infection. Here are a few steps you can take to troubleshoot and potentially resolve the issue:

Troubleshooting Steps:​

1. Check User Account Control Settings:
   • Ensure that your User Account Control (UAC) settings are properly configured. You can adjust UAC settings by going to Control Panel > User Accounts > User Accounts > Change User Account Control settings.
   []Reset File Associations:
   • Sometimes, file associations can cause issues with opening files. Try resetting the file associations for JPEGs, MP3s, or any other file types causing problems.
   []Run System File Checker (SFC) Scan:
   • Run an SFC scan to check for and repair corrupted system files. To do this, open Command Prompt as an administrator and type sfc /scannow.
   []Check Disk for Errors:
   • Use the built-in Windows utility to check your disk for errors. Open Command Prompt as an administrator and type chkdsk /f /r to schedule a disk check on the next restart.
   []Create a New User Account:
   • Create a new user account with administrative privileges and see if the issue persists. This can help determine if the problem is specific to your user profile.
   []System Restore:
   • If System Restore is temporarily fixing the issue, you might want to perform a clean boot to check if any third-party software is causing conflicts.
   []Check for Malware:
   • Although you mentioned running Malwarebytes and Hijack This, consider using other reputable antivirus software to perform a thorough scan of your system.
2. Update Windows:
   • Ensure that your Windows 7 system is up to date with the latest updates and patches. This can sometimes resolve compatibility issues.

     Additional Notes:​

     • The randomness in program behavior could be indicative of permission issues or corrupted system files affecting specific applications.
     • Ensure that you are executing all troubleshooting steps with administrative privileges to make necessary system changes.
     If these steps do not resolve the issue, please provide more details or consider seeking assistance from a professional technician for a more in-depth analysis of your system.