Your Administrator has prohibited access to your CD/DVD ROM drives

[Tim]

But I'm the Administrator and the only account on the machine.

Running Windows XP Pro with all updates.

I watched an MGM DVD circa 2002 (not a Sony CD. As far as I can tell,
there's no DRM software on it) and now I cannot get access to my A drive, CD
rom, DVD, or one of my usb ports configured as a removable drive. In
exlorer, it looks like a "do not enter" sign (red circle with a slash
through it). When I boot the PC, I get a pop-up error window titled
"Restriction Warning" with the message: "Your Administrator has prohibited
access to your CD/DVD ROM drives". I've tried removing the hardware and
letting windows find it again. I've done all the appropriate spy-ware/virus
sweeps. It appears that something has changed the registery to prohibit
access to anything but the boot drive. I am the only user and I have
Administrative rights.

Any ideas on how to regain access to the prohibited devices? I can't find
anything by searching databases. Even Google comes up empty.

Tim

[WTC]

"Tim" > wrote in message
news:JTaHf.862$6G.772@dukeread03...
> But I'm the Administrator and the only account on the machine.

[ ]
> When I boot the PC, I get a pop-up error window titled "Restriction
> Warning" with the message: "Your Administrator has prohibited access to
> your CD/DVD ROM drives".

[ ]
> Any ideas on how to regain access to the prohibited devices? I can't find
> anything by searching databases. Even Google comes up empty.

See if this helps, open the registry (start > run > regedit.exe) and
navigate to the following:

[HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Pol icies\Explorer]
and/or
[HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Pol icies\Explorer]

Locate and delete "NoViewOnDrive" in the right-hand pane. You may need to
Log off then log on or restart the computer.

--
William Crawford
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

[Tim]

"WTC" > wrote > See if this helps, open the
registry (start > run > regedit.exe) and
> navigate to the following:
>
> [HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Pol icies\Explorer]
> and/or
> [HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Pol icies\Explorer]
>
> Locate and delete "NoViewOnDrive" in the right-hand pane.

Thanks, but no joy. But I did find "NoDrive TypeAutoRun" with a decimal
value of 145 in HKCU\...

I didn't delete it, because I don't know what it does. Is that one a
candidate for deletion?

Tim

[WTC]

"Tim" > wrote in message
news:w6cHf.864$6G.705@dukeread03...
>
> "WTC" > wrote > See if this helps, open
> the registry (start > run > regedit.exe) and
>> navigate to the following:
>>
>> [HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Pol icies\Explorer]
>> and/or
>> [HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Pol icies\Explorer]
>>
>> Locate and delete "NoViewOnDrive" in the right-hand pane.
>
> Thanks, but no joy. But I did find "NoDrive TypeAutoRun" with a decimal
> value of 145 in HKCU\...
>
> I didn't delete it, because I don't know what it does. Is that one a
> candidate for deletion?

Don't delete those two registry entries. Can you change Security permissions
on the CD-ROM properties. The following KB article will give you directions
for folder and files. Drives also apply here. For XP Home you need to boot
into Safe Mode to change permissions.

How to set, view, change, or remove file and folder permissions in Windows
XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=308418

How to take ownership of a file or folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=308421

--
William Crawford
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

[WTC]

"WTC" > wrote in message
...
> "Tim" > wrote in message
> news:w6cHf.864$6G.705@dukeread03...
>>
>> "WTC" > wrote > See if this helps, open
>> the registry (start > run > regedit.exe) and
>>> navigate to the following:
>>>
>>> [HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Pol icies\Explorer]
>>> and/or
>>> [HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Pol icies\Explorer]
>>>
>>> Locate and delete "NoViewOnDrive" in the right-hand pane.
>>
>> Thanks, but no joy. But I did find "NoDrive TypeAutoRun" with a decimal
>> value of 145 in HKCU\...
>>
>> I didn't delete it, because I don't know what it does. Is that one a
>> candidate for deletion?
>
> Don't delete those two registry entries. Can you change Security
> permissions on the CD-ROM properties.

Actually there is no Security Tab for the CD-ROM. Sorry about my last post.

--
William Crawford
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

[WTC]

"Tim" > wrote in message
news:w6cHf.864$6G.705@dukeread03...
>
> "WTC" > wrote > See if this helps, open
> the registry (start > run > regedit.exe) and
>> navigate to the following:
>>
>> [HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Pol icies\Explorer]
>> and/or
>> [HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Pol icies\Explorer]
>>
>> Locate and delete "NoViewOnDrive" in the right-hand pane.
>
> Thanks, but no joy. But I did find "NoDrive TypeAutoRun" with a decimal
> value of 145 in HKCU\...
>
> I didn't delete it, because I don't know what it does. Is that one a
> candidate for deletion?

Do not delete "NoDrive TypeAutoRun"

Do you have XP Pro? If so, go to the Local Security Policies in the
Administrative Tools. Within the Local Security Policy navigate to:
Security Settings > Local Policies > Security Options > Devices:Restrict
CD_ROM access..." and set the option to Disabled.

XP Home, an registry edit is required.

[HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
Locate "allocatecdroms" and set the value to 0.

--
William Crawford
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

[Tim]

"WTC" > wrote in message news:% right-hand
pane.

> [HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
> Locate "allocatecdroms" and set the value to 0.


Boy, ya'd think Ida learned this by now. A couple of weeks ago, I installed
an Intel utilities package, whereby, Intel was really trying to sell you
third party software and was letting you try it on a "trial" basis. On
piece of the puzzle was a software package that let you remote administer
several computers in your LAN. When I tried to fire it up a couple of weeks
ago even though I'm not running a lan and, nothing happened. Well actually
something did happen. It fired up broke and ran in the deep background.
The clues were what you and others provided me about the registry keys.
Though in each case, what you provided was not applicable, it got me
thinking that this was the right rabbit trail to run down. After doing
numerous registery sweeps and cleans, my computer started to hand on
shutdown. awServ was not responding. I ignored it because I'm not running
a server anyway and had no clue what awServ was.

In desparation, I started removing utilities (you know, those nice little
things that never seem to work well with each other), before I removed Zone
Alarm and AVG anti-virus.

The key was when I tried to uninstall the Intel utility set, it told me I
could not because only one user can be logged in while removing it. Huh?
I'm the only dolt logged in, so what gives? I was going to go to the
directory and do a brute force delete when there it was, burried deep in the
folders of the Intel utilities, I saw the red slashed circle icons that were
the same as I was seeing in exporer that prohibited my access to cd/dvd
roms, etc. That must be the program that prohibited my administrator access
to these device! A little more poking and sure enough, it turned out to be
the third party program that spawned the awServ applet. I went into Window
Task Manager, killed the process and a few others I didn't recognize, which
apparently killed the undocumented logon and allowed me to remove the Intel
utility set (recently recommended by Kim Komando) and, viola, the
permissions to the drives returned to normal upon reboot.

Moral #1: NEVER install anything without backing up files and registeries
first.

Moral #2: Sometimes we install so many programs to keep us safe that it
prohibits our use of the computer - the ultimate safe state.

Thanks for all of your suggestions and help.

[WTC]

"Tim" > wrote in message
news:6rMHf.1157$6G.933@dukeread03...
>
> "WTC" > wrote in message news:% right-hand
> pane.
>
>> [HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
>> Locate "allocatecdroms" and set the value to 0.
>
>
> Boy, ya'd think Ida learned this by now. A couple of weeks ago, I
> installed an Intel utilities package, whereby, Intel was really trying to
> sell you third party software and was letting you try it on a "trial"
> basis. On piece of the puzzle was a software package that let you remote
> administer several computers in your LAN. When I tried to fire it up a
> couple of weeks ago even though I'm not running a lan and, nothing
> happened. Well actually something did happen. It fired up broke and ran
> in the deep background. The clues were what you and others provided me
> about the registry keys. Though in each case, what you provided was not
> applicable, it got me thinking that this was the right rabbit trail to run
> down. After doing numerous registery sweeps and cleans, my computer
> started to hand on shutdown. awServ was not responding. I ignored it
> because I'm not running a server anyway and had no clue what awServ was.
>
> In desparation, I started removing utilities (you know, those nice little
> things that never seem to work well with each other), before I removed
> Zone Alarm and AVG anti-virus.
>
> The key was when I tried to uninstall the Intel utility set, it told me I
> could not because only one user can be logged in while removing it. Huh?
> I'm the only dolt logged in, so what gives? I was going to go to the
> directory and do a brute force delete when there it was, burried deep in
> the folders of the Intel utilities, I saw the red slashed circle icons
> that were the same as I was seeing in exporer that prohibited my access to
> cd/dvd roms, etc. That must be the program that prohibited my
> administrator access to these device! A little more poking and sure
> enough, it turned out to be the third party program that spawned the
> awServ applet. I went into Window Task Manager, killed the process and a
> few others I didn't recognize, which apparently killed the undocumented
> logon and allowed me to remove the Intel utility set (recently recommended
> by Kim Komando) and, viola, the permissions to the drives returned to
> normal upon reboot.
>
> Moral #1: NEVER install anything without backing up files and registeries
> first.
>
> Moral #2: Sometimes we install so many programs to keep us safe that it
> prohibits our use of the computer - the ultimate safe state.
>
> Thanks for all of your suggestions and help.

Glad you figured it out.

--
William Crawford
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User