windows cannot access the specified device, path or file.

Jun 6th, 2021 3:06 pm

#1

gskn4u [OP]: Sr. Member; Feb 15, 2013; 942 posts; 381 upvotes; Toronto

Jun 6th, 2021 3:06 pm

windows cannot access the specified device, path or file.

Hi All,

My laptop won't turn on and I decided to re-install the OS.

Before that I connected my laptop hard drive to desktop to backup file. When I am trying to open any file (song, pic etc) I am getting "windows cannot access the specified device, path or file. "

I created "everyone" access with full control but no success. I am able to copy file to my desktop but cannot access it.

Can anyone help me with this situation.

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Jun 6th, 2021 4:46 pm

#2

zerod: Jr. Member; Feb 9, 2008; 170 posts; 133 upvotes; Vancouver, BC

Jun 6th, 2021 4:46 pm

Try taking ownership of the folder and files on that drive.
https://www.windowscentral.com/how-take-ownership-files-and-folders-windows-10

Jun 6th, 2021 6:15 pm

#3

M1K3Z0R: Deal Fanatic; May 11, 2009; 5854 posts; 2393 upvotes; Debtario

Jun 6th, 2021 6:15 pm

Try a live run linux distro, linux ignores windows file permissions

"I possess a device, in my pocket, capable of accessing the entirety of information known to man. I use it to look at pictures of cats and get in arguments with strangers"

+2

Jun 7th, 2021 12:26 am

#4

gskn4u [OP]: Sr. Member; Feb 15, 2013; 942 posts; 381 upvotes; Toronto

Jun 7th, 2021 12:26 am

M1K3Z0R wrote: ↑ Try a live run linux distro, linux ignores windows file permissions

Never used Linux. Could you share any YouTube vid and I will try out..

Jun 7th, 2021 12:27 am

#5

gskn4u [OP]: Sr. Member; Feb 15, 2013; 942 posts; 381 upvotes; Toronto

Jun 7th, 2021 12:27 am

zerod wrote: ↑ Try taking ownership of the folder and files on that drive.
https://www.windowscentral.com/how-take-ownership-files-and-folders-windows-10

thank you. I tried and I am getting same error.

Jun 7th, 2021 12:57 am

#6

zerod: Jr. Member; Feb 9, 2008; 170 posts; 133 upvotes; Vancouver, BC

Jun 7th, 2021 12:57 am

Did you follow the whole thing, including the part where you give yourself permissions to access the files?
Were there any access denied errors during the process?

If you applied it to something like D:\Users\[your username]\ and checked the box where it applies to all subfolders, it should give access to every file in that folder (Desktop, Documents, Music, etc.)

For linux, you can make a bootable USB or DVD, following instructions here:
https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/try-ubuntu-before-you-install#1-getting-started
It should detect your desktop's hard drive, as well as the laptop drive. Just make sure you know which one is which before you start deleting things.

Jun 7th, 2021 9:21 am

#7

Devhux: Deal Addict; Jan 13, 2014; 2266 posts; 1316 upvotes; Calgary

Jun 7th, 2021 9:21 am

This is why formatting external drives with NTFS is not always a good idea.

+1

Jun 7th, 2021 2:06 pm

#8

aaron158: Deal Addict; Nov 25, 2004; 2713 posts; 1441 upvotes; London

Jun 7th, 2021 2:06 pm

check in windows defender and see if its trying to block it. since the new release of windows its been randomly blocking shit. like the other day i needed to download something and when i tired to install u torrent i was getting that error when trying to run the installer. turns out windows defender was blocking the install file from running.

Jun 8th, 2021 4:46 am

#9

rabbit: Deal Guru; Jun 27, 2004; 13213 posts; 2444 upvotes; Vancouver.bc.ca

Jun 8th, 2021 4:46 am

Devhux wrote: ↑This is why formatting external drives with NTFS is not always a good idea.

I don't think I've ever had an issue, and that's including internal HDDs connected to a different computer. My bro did, when he upgraded to a new computer, but he sucks

.

Jun 8th, 2021 5:09 am

#10

Devhux: Deal Addict; Jan 13, 2014; 2266 posts; 1316 upvotes; Calgary

Jun 8th, 2021 5:09 am

I’ve had it happen multiple times

Jun 8th, 2021 8:41 am

#11

gskn4u [OP]: Sr. Member; Feb 15, 2013; 942 posts; 381 upvotes; Toronto

Jun 8th, 2021 8:41 am

zerod wrote: ↑ Try taking ownership of the folder and files on that drive.
https://www.windowscentral.com/how-take-ownership-files-and-folders-windows-10

Update... I lost access to myself in my desktop..I was getting the above message to my desktop data/apps... I believe I gave access to incorrect id (I gave to my Gmail account that is linked to Microsoft account).

Contacted MS support and after some try.. she made me update “media creation tool”.. everything back to normal now.. and I am able to access laptop hard drive too..

+1

Jun 8th, 2021 10:43 am

#12

elgros4: Deal Addict; Sep 13, 2011; 1069 posts; 694 upvotes; Canada

Jun 8th, 2021 10:43 am

Devhux wrote: ↑ This is why formatting external drives with NTFS is not always a good idea.

Since ExFat has gained large support, I agree with you.

+1

Jun 8th, 2021 2:58 pm

#13

zerod: Jr. Member; Feb 9, 2008; 170 posts; 133 upvotes; Vancouver, BC

Jun 8th, 2021 2:58 pm

gskn4u wrote: ↑ Update... I lost access to myself in my desktop..I was getting the above message to my desktop data/apps... I believe I gave access to incorrect id (I gave to my Gmail account that is linked to Microsoft account).

Contacted MS support and after some try.. she made me update “media creation tool”.. everything back to normal now.. and I am able to access laptop hard drive too..

It's good that you got it fixed. Sounded like you applied the changes to your desktop's drive instead of laptop.