Software⏱️ 4 min read📅 2026-06-19

How to Fix: Removing access denied error on attempting to open certain filetypes

Windows XP security issue with autorun.inf files

Quick Answer: Check for any remaining Symantec Endpoint Protection components or other security software that may be interfering with file access.

📋 Table of Contents

  1. 💡 Why You Are Getting This Error
  2. ✅ Best Solutions to Fix It
  3. 🎯 Final Words

The 'Access Denied' error on Windows XP occurs when attempting to open files with specific extensions, specifically '.inf' files. This issue affects users who have enabled the Autorun feature, which allows certain programs to run automatically when a USB drive is inserted or an autorun.inf file is found. The Symantec Endpoint Protection software was removed using CleanWipe, but the problem persists. This error can be frustrating as it prevents users from accessing and managing their files efficiently.

Removing access denied errors on Windows XP requires careful analysis of system settings and configuration. To resolve this issue without formatting the machine, we will explore alternative solutions that focus on disabling Autorun or modifying file permissions.

💡 Why You Are Getting This Error

  • The primary cause of the 'Access Denied' error is the enabling of Autorun feature in Windows XP. This feature allows certain programs to run automatically when a USB drive is inserted or an autorun.inf file is found. When this feature is enabled, Windows checks for the presence of autorun.inf files and prevents users from accessing them.
  • An alternative cause could be software conflicts or registry modifications that interfere with Autorun functionality.

✅ Best Solutions to Fix It

Disabling Autorun

  1. Step 1: Step 1: Open the Start menu, type 'regedit' in the search bar, and press Enter to open the Registry Editor. Navigate to the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/software older iletypes ypeinfo.
  2. Step 2: Step 2: Find the value named ' autorun.inf' in the right-hand pane of the window and double-click it to edit its properties. In the Value data field, enter '0' (zero) without quotes, and then click OK to save changes.
  3. Step 3: Step 3: Restart your computer to apply the changes.

Modifying file permissions

  1. Step 1: Step 1: Open File Explorer, navigate to the directory containing the autorun.inf file, and right-click on it. Select 'Properties' from the context menu.
  2. Step 2: Step 2: In the Properties window, click on the 'Security' tab and then click on the 'Edit' button next to 'Permissions.'
  3. Step 3: Step 3: In the Permissions window, find the user account that owns the file or directory (usually the Administrator) and remove any permissions that may be set to 'Read Only' or 'Execute'. Click 'Apply' and then 'OK' to save changes.
  4. Step 4: Step 4: Restart your computer to apply the changes.

🎯 Final Words

To resolve the 'Access Denied' error on Windows XP, you can try disabling Autorun by modifying registry settings or file permissions. By following these steps, you should be able to access and manage files with the '.inf' extension without encountering any issues.

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