Use services.msc *NOT* msconfig.exe!
Start | Run | Type: services.msc | Click OK
---
<quote>
Why can't I use msconfig to change my services?
The reason is because with msconfig and Hardware Profiles, you can disable
services that may be vital to boot your system. With the management console
(services.msc) you cannot. Also, msconfig, while unchecking the box, is
disabling the service.
The "Disable All" button also scares me. It should not even be there as no
reason exists to justify disabling "everything."
<quote>
from...
Why can't I use msconfig to change my services?
http://web.archive.org/web/20041128011231/www.blackviper.com/AskBV/XP25.htm
------------
An access denied error was returned while attempting to change a service.
From...
Sharon F
MS-MVP ~ Windows Shell/User
<quote>
The error appears when disabling all non-Microsoft services. Try disabling
these one at a time to find out which one is denying access/resisting
change.
<quote>
This error can occur while trying to use msconfig to disable the True Vector
Internet Monitor service (vsmon.exe)...
An access denied error was returned while attempting to change a service.
You may need to log on using an Administrator account to make the specified
changes.
An access denied error was returned while ATTEMPTING to change a service
If you have ZoneAlarm.
<quote>
I had this problem. It went away if I didn't load Zone Alarm, so that was
the problem. I stopped it by turning off the "OS Firewall" in Zone Alarm: Go
to Program Control > Main and press the first "Custom" button from the top.
Uncheck "Enable OS Firewall". (With thanks to chiawaikian on the ZA
forum -see
http://forum.zonelabs.org/zonelabs/board/message?board.id=win_za_msgs&messag
e.id=11470#M11470)
Chris
See my earlier post; I've found a better fix. In ZA, go to Program Control,
Programs tab, find System Configuration Utility (it's under that, not
msconfig) click on the single green bar in the Trust Level column, and
change it to Trusted (2 green bars) - Chris
<quote>
from...
http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp/t1133740266
Using msconfig in Safe Mode can sometimes avoid the error. I suppose Safe
Mode disables whatever app is causing the problem.
A recent update of McAfee can also cause the problem.
<quote>
Do you have MacAfee installed??
I had the same problem, go into msconfig click on any item and hit
apply and you get : An Access Denied error was returned while
attempting to change a service.
I looked at the services tab, saw MacAfee services so I removed them all
from the registry, which was a lot of keys to remove. Then tried
msconfig again, it worked.
<quote>
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.configuration_mana
ge/browse_frm/thread/2a21f16ae4197bb0/3fd0af9adf774a61?lnk=st&q=%22An+access
+denied+error+was+returned+while+ATTEMPTING+to+change+a+service%22&rnum=2&hl
=en#3fd0af9adf774a61
<quote>
This alert is due to registry permissions on an entry created for McAfee
applications. There appears to be a bug in msconfig that causes it to
attempt to modify registry keys that it isn't directly editing, which
results in the error message.
We have contacted Microsoft about this issue, but for security are keeping
the permission on the key the way it is.
wiedmann
McAfee Development Engineer
This is a security feature and there is no option to disable it. MSConfig
reports error but you can ignore it.
arevashe
McAfee Development Engineer
To clarify, when you modify anything in MSConfig, Windows attempts to change
the registry settings for everything in the MSConfig list. When Windows
reaches the McAfee items and attempts to change them, McAfee prevents this
from happening and Windows shows an error. This is a good thing from a
protection standpoint, as malware could otherwise use the same mechanism to
shut down your McAfee protection.
I would have expected that when I make a change in MSConfig, Windows would
only change the settings for the application I tried to change. But that's
not how it works. MS apparently doesn't want to modify MSConfig to do so.
Hence, the error.
In the end, even if you see this error, whatever changes you made will be
saved, unless you tried to turn off a McAfee product. If that's your goal,
it's best to do this within SecurityCenter.
trombs
McAfee Development Engineer
Using the MCPR.exe removal tool worked for me in eliminating the "access
denied" error message in msconfig. I recommend you try it.
Loyall
<quote>
http://forums.mcafeehelp.com/viewtopic.php?p=383956#383956
<quote>
Thanks for the reply. Those are important facts to know. Since the time I
posted the message, I think I found the solution . Disabling an HP printer
service "PML Driver HPZ12" in the configuration keeps the error message from
returning. Apparently a security update caused the problem.
For those who want the quick solution, I went to
"HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Pml Driver HPZ12", changed the Start
value from 2 (enabled) to 4 (disabled), and then rebooted. Apparently this
service is used for many models of HP printers. I have not looked for an
update from HP yet.
<quote>
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/tree/brows
e_frm/thread/f4e329d878c7e6fe/fce3c66944b7d8a6?rnum=1&hl=en&q=%22An+access+d
enied+error+was+returned+while+ATTEMPTING+to+change+a+service%22&_done=%2Fgr
oup%2Fmicrosoft.public.windowsxp.general%2Fbrowse_frm%2Fthread%2Ff4e329d878c
7e6fe%2Fe398db2c82588d69%3Flnk%3Dst%26q%3D%22An+access+denied+error+was+retu
rned+while+ATTEMPTING+to+change+a+service%22%26rnum%3D4%26hl%3Den%26#doc_dfa
3e5d623eacc21
<quote>
Here's an update guys.
The HP Tech Support wasn't able to help me.
But I finally managed to solve the problem on my own.
The culprit was a security update I had downloaded for my HP PSC 1410
printer software.
I had downloaded PML Security Update v1.0 for the software from HP's
website.
It had caused a service "PML Driver HPZ12" to start in services.msc which
was interfering with the rights/privileges.
I uninstalled the software. But still the service didn't go.
Then I manually deleted the leftover files of HP software from program files
& windows folders & their sub-folders carefully.
Still no respite.
Ran various registry cleaners but still no use.
Then, finally went to Registry Editor & searched for keywords "pml" &
"hpz12" & deleted all entries that showed that they were of HP.
A restart & the problem is gone.
<quote>
http://www.thinkdigit.com/forum/showthread.php?p=358451
<quote>
I had this error message appear everytime I tried to use msconfig after
installing IE7. After uninstalling IE7 and reverting back to IE6, I could
use msconfig without the error message appearing.
<quote>
http://forums.techguy.org/windows-nt-2000-xp/536120-processes-msonfig.html
--
Hope this helps. Let us know.
Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
In