XP Restrictions - can't open Control Panel

[Mark Christensen]

On one of our XP machines, the user cannot open the control panel (the icon
isn't even listed in the Start menu). When he tries to right click on My
Computer and selects Properties, a message comes up that says "This
operation has been cancelled due to restrictions in effect on this computer.
Please contact your system admin." I confirmed this user is an administrator
on the company domain by logging on to the local domain as the admin and
going to the Users in the Control Panel (yes CP works when logged on as
admin on the local domain)

How do I remove these restrictions? Thanks.

Mark

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Restore the Control Panel (Line 256 Left)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

If the behavior persists after rebooting...

Unexplained computer behavior may be caused by deceptive software
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827315

Run a /thorough/ check for hijackware, including posting your hijackthis log
to an appropriate forum.

Checking for/Help with Hijackware
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=5878
http://wiki.castlecops.com/Malware_Removal_and_Prevention:_Introduction
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/data/prevention.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/tshoot.html
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm
http://defendingyourmachine2.blogspot.com/
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

When all else fails, HijackThis v2.0.2
(http://aumha.org/downloads/hijackthis.zip) is the preferred tool to use.
It will help you to both identify and remove any hijackware/spyware with
assistance from an expert. **Post your log to
http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22,
http://castlecops.com/forum67.html,
http://forums.subratam.org/index.php?showforum=7,
http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30, or other appropriate forums for review
by an expert in such matters, not here.**

 

[Jonathan]

Click Start, click Run, type in regedit and press enter.

Navigate to:
HKEY_Current_User\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

(click on Explorer and look in the right hand column)

Erase all of the values stored in that key

 

[Mark Christensen]

Thanks. This worked.

Restore the Control Panel (Line 256 Left)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

If the behavior persists after rebooting...

Unexplained computer behavior may be caused by deceptive software
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827315

Run a /thorough/ check for hijackware, including posting your hijackthis
log to an appropriate forum.

Checking for/Help with Hijackware
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=5878
http://wiki.castlecops.com/Malware_Removal_and_Prevention:_Introduction
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/data/prevention.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/tshoot.html
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm
http://defendingyourmachine2.blogspot.com/
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

When all else fails, HijackThis v2.0.2
(http://aumha.org/downloads/hijackthis.zip) is the preferred tool to use.
It will help you to both identify and remove any hijackware/spyware with
assistance from an expert. **Post your log to
http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22,
http://castlecops.com/forum67.html,
http://forums.subratam.org/index.php?showforum=7,
http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30, or other appropriate forums for
review by an expert in such matters, not here.**
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

YW, Mark, and thanks for your feedback.

Thanks. This worked.