Lost access to programs thru icons

Somehow Win 10 has started to refused to allow me to launch some programs from the desktop icons. The error message says "Windows cannot access the specified device, path or file." I get the same error message if I navigate to the program file and click directly on the executable for the program. I am logged in as Administrator.

In addition to solving this particular access problem, how can I totally delete or disable all of Windows 10's "security" functions like this? ie remove all requirement for passwords on log-in? This is a private computer located within my locked home---lots of other stuff more valuable than a few program files on this C!!

You need to go into properties for the icons and check the path. See if the icon is pointed to the correct location.

wyldman68 said:

You need to go into properties for the icons and check the path. See if the icon is pointed to the correct location.

Yes. Icon is correct; that's how I knew where to look for the executable. Nothing that I know of has changed on my system since the icon functioned correctly. The only change has been in Win 10, which seems to alter its behaviour daily; this is the most troubling so far.

Just offhand, can you download and intall / run malwarebytes?

Malwarebytes | Free Anti-Malware & Internet Security Software

Get free version, if the exe won't run per your issue, try in safe mode.

Not saying its a solution, but malware might also be a culprit ... even if not you will have installed a terrific anti-malware program and verified your system is 99% clean ...

dalchina said:

Hi, given that you get the message trying to launch the exe directly, inspecting the shortcut is an irrelevancy.
See:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2669244

If you use a live id to log in, you must use a password.
Only if you use a local account can you avoid this.

I've only seen one quirk in Win 10 in several months in terms of unexpected change of behaviour.

What is "live id?" What is "local account"? this last sounds like what I want to bypass all these foolish unnecessary Win10 password issues.

RWOne said:

Just offhand, can you download and intall / run malwarebytes?

Malwarebytes | Free Anti-Malware & Internet Security Software

Get free version, if the exe won't run per your issue, try in safe mode.

Not saying its a solution, but malware might also be a culprit ... even if not you will have installed a terrific anti-malware program and verified your system is 99% clean ...

I have Malwarebytes, premium edition and it runs frequently. Never finds a serious problem.

NEcompute said:

Somehow Win 10 has started to refused to allow me to launch some programs from the desktop icons. The error message says "Windows cannot access the specified device, path or file." I get the same error message if I navigate to the program file and click directly on the executable for the program. I am logged in as Administrator.

In addition to solving this particular access problem, how can I totally delete or disable all of Windows 10's "security" functions like this? ie remove all requirement for passwords on log-in? This is a private computer located within my locked home---lots of other stuff more valuable than a few program files on this C!!

RE : desktop icons
Suggestions :
1. Do a Rebuild of icon cache
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/5...dows-10-a.html

2. Do a system restore. Pick a date when you did NOT have this problem as your restore point
System Restore Windows 10

RE : remove all requirement for passwords on log-in
Use this tutorial : How to Automatically Sign in to User Account at Startup in Windows 10
Sign in User Account Automatically at Windows 10 Startup

Guys--thanks for all your suggestions and help. On the problem of passwords, permissions and so forth Dalchina (I think it was he (or she) ) was correct in suggesting that during the installation of Win 10--which in my case was that forced conversion of Win 7 into Win 10--I somehow made a wrong choice ref. Outlook and passwords which is where the issues with passwords and access arises. Best fix for this probably to start over again with a fresh install.

But the problem of "access" in the case of the failed desktop icon is something different and was solved by AVG 1-Click Maintenance. This issue had nothing to do with passwords, "Administrators" or any of Windows' attempts at system security. This is another case of making a simple problem much worse by posting an inaccurate error message!