When I try to run msconfig and error message appears saying: "This operation has been cancelled due to restrictions in effect on this computer. Please contact your system administrator." But my account is an administrator account. What do I have to do to fix this. Please help. Thanks.

blingbling,

Even though you may have an "Administrator" account, if your system is on a domain, you are still a restricted user, and may not be able to run msconfig or other commands that alter your system settings.

The good news about msconfig is that you can make all the necessary changes MANUALLY with a text editor. So if I'm wrong, and you are not on a domain, you can modify your system configuration files by hand.

What OS is this?
Check these links to see if they apply.

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=278839
http://www.cryer.co.uk/brian/windows/trbl_nt_tohbcdtrie.htm

I am reading that this can also be caused by virus activity. Update your virus scanner and scan for viruses.

If you have not scanned for other malware, Internet Explorer, go to Tools, Internet Options, General tab. Select Delete Cookies, and then Delete Files to delete all your Temporary Internet files (Note, this also will force the manual entry of unames and passwords on some sites on next visit - can't help that).

Download and install SpyBot Search and Destroy http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html and AdAware http://lavasoft.element5.com/support/download/ - there are free versions of each. Before scanning, use each programs’ update option to get the latest signature files, then scan, using SpyBot first.

If you are not using a software based firewall, get one. ZoneAlarm from www.zonelabs.com is a favorite - and again, there is a free version.

If you are still having the problem after that, check the HiJackThis forum on this site for downloading the HiJackThis program, and for the instructions running the program and posting the log to that forum.

_________________
Bill, AFE7Ret
Freedom is NOT Free!

Hi,
I've got the same message while trying to install kaaza and edonkey the p2p file sharing sfotwares. My user account is in Administrators group and I have logged as a user on a domain. Are there any chances that I can be able to install it?

F1, F1
wali

Found that the real reason was some Spybot Search & Destroy settings on my XP home system. To quote Scott Hanselman "So, I contacted myself (by calling my IT helpdesk, namely, me) and I told myself to go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Restrictions\NoBrowserOptions and set it to "0".

One can go to Spybot's FAQ section, http://www.safer-networking.org/en/faq/24.html, and read how to change the setting that creates the restriction.

I receive that very same "restriction" warning when I, logged in as Administrator, right-click on Start button, then "Properties." "Quick Launch" has disappeared too.

Just wanted to modify sysbar but am told to get the system admin!

Have MS AntiSpyware, PestPetrol, Spybot S&D on an XP Pro, 3.2 GHz, 1 GB RAM; eTrust AV, ZoneAlarmPro.

Thanks in advance for any assistance!!

pako wrote:
I receive that very same "restriction" warning when I, logged in as Administrator, right-click on Start button, then "Properties." "Quick Launch" has disappeared too.

Just wanted to modify sysbar but am told to get the system admin!

Have MS AntiSpyware, PestPetrol, Spybot S&D on an XP Pro, 3.2 GHz, 1 GB RAM; eTrust AV, ZoneAlarmPro.

Thanks in advance for any assistance!!
_____________________________________________

I've just had the same problem, accessing Internet explorer's "internet options" , and having my PC throw up the same warning.


after seeing your posts (and finally twigging onto the idea of what i had done) I opened Spybot search & destroy and went to
"TOOLS"
then
"IE TWEAKS"
(both available in the program's advanced mode)
and unchecked the 3 options of locking the host file..., locking the start page..., and locking the control panel....

all's fine now.
sorry if this seems redundant now, hope my addition also helps

I've been having the same trouble with a friend of mine. He has Windows XP Home edition and downloaded avast antivirus program from avast.com. He ran a scan and now he is locked out of his control panel and properties and certain items in his start menu. It gives him that same message "his operation has been cancelled due to restriction in effect on this computer. Please contact your system administrator."

He's technically challenged and I'm on a Mac so I haven't been much help for him. After avast caused that problem, he updated his spybot and ran a scan with that. Still no change. I'm going to have him look into the spybot settings, but if avast did it, I don't know how he's going to fix it with spybot.

I do fortunately, have Windows XP on parrellels, but I'm kind of afraid to download avast and look at the settings after all his trouble. Any suggestions? He also has a nasty virus that makes an alert go off every min saying he has spyware and then it forwards him to a page. He can't seem to get rid of that either.

Hi everyone,

I had the same problem as heatherliis' friend: warning virus that popped upped and then sent me to a website. Already had Avast. I was able to remove it with Panda security, however I tried AVG and hijackthis before and I think one of these programs or the virus itself made the control panel disapear from win explorer and the start menu and every other operation to change any parameter (i.e. the screen setting), I get the same warning "This operation has been cancelled due to restriction in effect on this computer. Please contact your system administrator".

Tried going into the registry, got the same message. Read a few things on the net about setting the policy group to 0 instead of 1, but I am not that knowledgible so I don't know exactly how to do that.

If you feel that you have malware on your system, then I recommend that you work through the Malware Removal and Prevention

procedure. This procedure has been designed to enable you to partially or even fully rid your

computer of viruses, trojans, adware, and spyware. Be sure to carefully follow the directions in order to

achieve the best results. If you have any questions about any of the steps, then please post a new topic

in the appropriate forum. There are links to them along the way. If you still need help when you finish,

please read
these directions

for posting a topic in the
HijackThis forum and a trained 1st responder or security expert will assist you.

You must each start your own topic there.

Sorry Mrsugg, I removed the virus, but the inability to regain access to the control panel is what persists. I always get the "This operation has been cancelled due to restriction in effect on this computer. Please contact your system administrator" message.

From what i've read elsewhere and here, I understand that I have to set to "0" the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Restrictions\NoBrowserOptions, however, I do not know how to do that.

Give this app a try (unzip attached app) .

If prompted to keep or remove , keep for now (then ok , continue) .

On the left will be a list of categories . One by one go to each category and check each box , click apply , uncheck each box , click apply and then move on to the next category .

Once all categories have been used to check and uncheck every option reboot your system and check to see if things have improved .

EDIT :

What this will do is both remove all restrictions from your system and if any are corrupted , fix them .

If this does not work then malware is likely still in your system or your OS is damaged .

xp_secconsole.zip
Description:		Download
Filename:	xp_secconsole.zip
Filesize:	433.98 KB
Downloaded:	6355 Time(s)

Thank you very much nosirrah. You ended a week of trying to fix my computer. I was about to turn it into modern art with the help of a hammer.

Thanks again.