How to fix ERROR_ACCESS_DENIED

Description

Access is denied.

Causes

The ERROR_ACCESS_DENIED error may be triggered by:

• Inadequate user permissions.
• Misconfigured security settings.
• Operating system security policies that restrict access.
• Ownership issues with files or directories.
• Access attempts by unauthorized applications.

Understanding the specific context and environment where the error occurs is crucial to resolving it effectively.

Solutions

TeraCopy 4.x

Restart TeraCopy with administrator privileges and enable the “Use Volume Shadow Copy Service” option if necessary.

Check User Permissions

Ensure that the user account has the necessary permissions to access the resource. This can typically be done by:

• Right-clicking the file or folder, selecting 'Properties', and navigating to the 'Security' tab to review permissions.

• If permissions are insufficient, administrators can modify them to grant the necessary access.

Run as Administrator

Especially in Windows environments, running a program as an administrator can resolve access issues. This can be done by:

• Right-clicking the executable or shortcut and choosing "Run as administrator".

• For command line operations, opening the command prompt as an administrator is often necessary.

Check Ownership of the Resource

If the error pertains to a specific file or folder, checking the ownership and taking ownership (if needed) can resolve the issue:

• Access the 'Security' tab in the properties window of the file or folder and click on 'Advanced'.

• Here, you can check who owns the file or folder and change ownership to the current user or administrator if necessary.

Disable User Account Control (UAC) Temporarily

User Account Control (UAC) can prevent applications from accessing certain resources:

• Temporarily lowering the UAC settings can help determine if it is the cause of the issue. This should be done cautiously as it can expose the system to risks.

Audit Security Policies

In corporate environments, group policies might restrict access to certain resources:

• Review the group policy settings applied to the user or computer (via gpedit.msc or a similar tool) to ensure no policies are inadvertently blocking access.

Ensure Service Configuration

If a service is unable to access a resource, ensuring it runs under a user account with the appropriate permissions can resolve the issue:

• Change the service's logon settings in the services management console (services.msc) to a user account with adequate permissions.