Windows 7: Don't have permission to access files on my own desktop???

Ok, I give up. I've been trying to fix this one my own for two days, and I've got no clue. For some reason I suddenly cannot open or save files on my desktop. It tells me I don't have sufficient permission. My account is the admin account, I've checked the Desktop security settings to make sure I'm still listed as the owner, and I am. If I drag and drop a file from the desktop to another folder, like one of my libraries, it works fine, but if I try to run it off the desktop I get some variation of, "You do not have sufficient permission to access this file".

As I said, I checked permissions and ownership, all seems good. I also did a Restore to 4 days ago, changed nothing.

Help!

Bumping this back up to the top. Please help!

Hi ChaosAffect

To confirm there is no malware involved, please scan your computer with malwarebytes anti-malware. Follow the guide here: How to use Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware to scan and remove malware from your computer.


Stephen

That was the third thing I tried. Malwarebytes came up clean.

You might try right clicking the file and do Share with, if it says Nobody go down to Specify and click that and do Everybody. That may let you open it.

Ok, this actually worked. Unfortunately, it doesn't address the core problem that by default files on the desktop are inaccessible, and I still can't save to my desktop.

You can do the same with the drive itself.

Don't do it for the entire drive!

Just the desktop folder under your user folder, or possibly your entire user folder...

Fixed sharing for my Desktop folder and it worked. Still don't understand WHY it got locked down in the first place, but I think it's good to go now. Thanks!

I had the same problem with my laptop and I tried everything and then just gave up and used my desktop most of the time... It affected my iTunes first, I couldn't even open the program... now I can and all is good again. I am so grateful that I have complete control over my computer again Thank you again this thread was very helpful :x