RE: Non-hardware related drive access problem - affects one letter onl

Locate and click the following registry key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Protected Storage System Provider On the
Edit menu, click Permissions . Click the registry key for the user that is
currently logged on and ensure that Read and Full Control are both set to
Allow . Click the Advanced button, ensure that the user that is currently
logged on is selected, that Full Control is listed in the Permissions column,
and that This Key and Subkeys is listed in the Apply to column. Click to
select the Replace permission entries on all child objects with entries shown
here that apply to child objects check box. Click Apply , and then click Yes
when you receive a prompt to continue. Click OK , and then click OK again
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Mark L. Ferguson


"Steveh" wrote:

XP SP2 Home Edition

I have a USB extension cable connected to a USB port in my computer. I use
the cable to connect either my printer or a USB memory stick. I have been
able to swap USB sticks and the printer without problem for a long time.
Recently, however, if I plug a USB memory stick into the cable, and the next
available drive is K:, I get this error message: "This operation has been
cancelled due to restrictions in effect on this computer. Please contact your
system administrator." I am the administrator but have been unable to solve
the problem.

I can work around the problem by opening Computer Management and changing
the USB drive letter to L: or higher. I can also right click on K: in
Explorer, select "Open as Portable Media Device" and then access the files on
the USB stick without problem. I can even open a command window, change to
K:, run DIR and get a full file list. It is only when I try to open or
explore K: as a drive through windows that I get the error. Another way to
work around the problem is to use TweakUI to deselect the K: drive. When I
insert my USB stick, then, Windows assigns L: or above without problem.

The problem is not hardware related. I have three USB sticks and four
different USB slots. I can mix them any way and so long as the PC thinks the
next drive letter to allocate is K:, it does so and then throws up the error
messge.

Before anyone types the usual internet advice: "You have a virus" I have run
virus checks, spyware checks, malware checks, process explorers and found
nothing. I have run PCDoctor and other tools to check the hardware. I have
uninstalled and reinstalled the USB devices. I also carried out a System
Restore to my last viable restore point. And I have searched all over the
Administrator Tools. But I can't fix the problem. I contacted HP, the maker
of my PC, and they suggested various things (including running a small .reg
file I didn't understand) before recommending a full destructive recover of
my entire drive/system. However, there must be a Windows guru somewhere who
understands mmc, services, policies and all that other esoteric stuff, who
can help me. Or maybe the registry's the problem? Or maybe it's somewhere
completely different?

My knowledge is poor to good. Please bear this in mind when replying.

If anyone can help me fix this, they will have my eternal gratitude.

Thanks

.

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