Bothersome error message

[ComputerN00b]

Every time I try to open almost any program, from the Speech function, MSN messenger, or even Firefox, I get a message "Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item."

Now at first I checked and the account I'm using is the computer administrator (duh)

Then I went on to use Sbybot Search and Destroy, to see if it would help, but the same message came up, also when I tried a number of other programs, I had to switch to another account just so I would be able to use Internet Explorer, and have been ever since.

This problem occured while I was removing spyware from my computer, using search and destroy, and one day it was just like this.

If anyone can help me out here I would appreciate it greatly. Thanks

 

[Blind Dragon]

What Antivirus and firewall are you using

 

[Bobbye]

You can try doing a System Restore to date right before the problem began. However, know that if spyware was a part of the cause, the restore might not work.