Windows cannot access the specified device path or file.

[Guest]

I started getting this message yesterday, for nearly every application I try
to open. The 1st time, I rebooted and things started working again, but the
problem is back and rebooting is not helping. The only application I can
open directly now is Spy Sweeper; I tried running a sweep to see if it would
find anything amiss, and noticed that it is not scanning any folders (it
should scan everything on C). I was only able to start Internet Explorer
indirectly, by clicking the "check for program updates" option on Spy
Sweeper.
I am running Windows XP, with automatic updates, so everything should be
current. I subscribe to Windows Live OneCare; it is one of the applications
that I cannot open -- when I click the icon in the tray at the bottom of my
screen, I get the "Windows cannot access..." message, and another box
"Windows Live OneCare has encountered a problem and cannot open. To correct
this problem, try restarting your computer. If the problem continues,
contact Help Center." with a "Go to Help Center" link. Restarting doesn't
work, as I already mentioned, and the link doesn't go anywhere.
Suggestions? Remember, I can't open applications....

 

[Guest]

Please consider this post closed. Since no one responded, I got help
elsewhere.

 

[Guest]

I am having the same problem. What did you do to resolve this?
Running Win XP Professional.

Thanks,
Rob