Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file

[Vast41]

I am receiving a message when trying to open a file, I am using Windows XP Pro, the message is as follows "Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permission to access the item."

Essentially i need permission to access that folder, and I have followed these instructions to have access to the Security tab in the properties box of this file>>>"For Microsoft Windows XP Professional, you need to disable Simple File Sharing, in order to see the Security tab. To disable simple file sharing, follow these steps: Click Start, and then click My Computer. On the Tools menu, click Folder Options, and then click the View tab. In the Advanced Settings section, clear the Use simple file sharing (Recommended) check box. Click OK." Yet it does show me Security tab in the properties box this is frustrating somebody please help!

[Miz]

Try the procedure in the Microsoft Knowledge Base article, How to take ownership of a file or folder in Windows XP.

[Vast41]

I did, it does not work, i am puzzled, followed it to the letter!

[Vast41]

All I am trying to do is open and run an exe file, I get a message saying "Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permission to access the item." So basically I needed to take ownership of the file, so I did the following...Right-click the folder that you want to take ownership of, and then click Properties.
Click the Security tab, and then click OK on the Security message (if one appears).
Click Advanced, and then click the Owner tab.
In the Name list, click your user name, or click Administrator if you are logged in as Administrator, or click the Administrators group. If you want to take ownership of the contents of that folder, select the Replace owner on subcontainers and objects check box.
Click OK, and then click Yes when you receive the following message:
You do not have permission to read the contents of directory folder name. Do you want to replace the directory permissions with permissions granting you Full Control?

All permissions will be replaced if you press Yes.

Note folder name is the name of the folder that you want to take ownership of.

Click OK, and then reapply the permissions and security settings that you want for the folder and its contents.

I had trouble finding the security tab You can set permissions
Only on drives that are formatted to use NTFS, my drive is FAT, so I had to convert. After all this the files still gives me the message Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the
appropriate permission to access the item. Somebody please help!!

[Miz]

It's possible the problem isn't with the permissions but with the file itself.

Is it something you downloaded off the net or is it on a commercially produced CD or on a copied CD or is it something else entirely?

[myles2805]

hey vast41! Thanks! I was trying to look to the posts that has similar problem as mine. I can't access my control panel programs. I followed ur easy steps and wholaaa Got it~!! No more sleepless nights!!!