When I attempt to enter MSCONFIG through "run", I get the error message
"access denied". Popup tells me to log on through an administrator account.
There is only one account on this PC, it is the administrator account and I
am the only one to use it.
Thanks in advance for your assistance.
Frank
Either your path statement is messed up or malware has changed access to
this tool.
Locate the msconfig.exe file in the \Windows\pchealth\helpctr\binaries\
folder. You may need to change view settings in Folder Options to show
hidden files and to not hide system files to see the file in Windows
Explorer. Once found, double click on it. If the program runs, your path
statement is incorrect. Windows can't find the file based on the current
PATH statement and tosses up an error message.
If instead you get the same message denying access then you need to check
for malware. Run an antivirus program that has current virus definitions
installed. Also run one of the anti-spyware programs such as Microsoft's
Antispyware or AdAware.
Malware has been known to block access to this tool and a few others.
Removing access delays your discovery and removal of the intrusion. On all
of my systems, I run this little program created by MVP Doug Knox. It
creates spare copies of these tools under slightly different names. These
copies can be used for troubleshooting if you're blocked by malware from
using the usual files. Download to install Doug's "emergency utilities" can
be found here:
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_emerutils.htm
