Windows 7: Can't access Control Panel or Windows Explorer after Sytem Restore

After doing an alleged successful system restore (from restore point 3 days prior) when I try to access the CP or My Computer I get message saying Windows cannot access specified device, path or file, You may not have access permission. (I am the sole user & Administrator)

Sounds like something went wrong. Why did you do the system restore? Have you tried undoing the system restore. Instructions can be found here: System Restore - Undo - Vista Forums

Thanks for the response. I did system restore to undo some inadvertent changes to the Startup menu--thought it easier to simply restore than try to sort through the menu and try to get ti back to the way it was.

Tried the undo for Restore -- get message saying that that the restore function is not working -- encountered some corrupted file. When it rains, it pours!

It acts like it wants the Administrator when I try to access CP, but it doesn't recognize me as such. Registry problem ?

I'm thinking corrupt profile. I'm thinking it would be best to enable the built-in administrator account and then create a new user account. If the new user account works properly, I would move all of your files to that account and then delete the old account. You should also disable a the built in administrator account once you are done. The the tutorials linked below to get you started.

Built-in Administrator Account - Enable or Disable
Built-in Administrator - Enable from WinRE
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials...-accounts.html

I’m having the same problem. My computer has always been extremely stable and is a work horse, yet out of nowhere it crashed, did a dump and rebooted. My computer is pretty quick so it was rebooting by the time I realize what happened. When it came back up my monitors where no longer extended. When I tried to set them back it would only allow "duplicate" after more investigation I realize my computer no longer recognized either monitors. I restore to 3 days ago (before the last "critical update") When I attempted to set up the monitors again I found that almost all system functions were inaccessible. I don’t think the user profile is the answer. (Being that it’s not accessible). Error msg... MMC cannot open the file C:\windows\system32\devmgmt.msc. This may be because the file doesn’t exist, is not, is not an mmc console, or was created by a later version of mmc, or you don’t have sufficient rites etc...

As I had suspected last night, I woke this morning to a perfect running computer (thank you Micro Soft) After my post last night I chose to step away from the problem and thought to let the computer run its updates at its reguar 2am. I woke to a perfectly running system. so i wouldnt try deleting your self you'll find that will bring you a box full full of other isues you may not be prepaired for