I believe McAfee is part, if not all of the problem. I could not make modifications to startup using the msconfig. I kept getting an error that said I didn't have rights to do this and suggested I needed to login as the administrator. I did that and still couldn't make modifications. I finally removed McAfee and everything worked fine.

rpmchem

I can confirm that - exactly the same symptom on an XP SPII machine.

HI

Just disable Mcafee Access protection.

After disabling Mcafee Buffer Overflow protection it worked for me

Seems there is one problem here - with the possibility of more than one cause.
I experienced this same problem (Admin error notice when making changes to MSCONFIG file) on TWO machines, both of which run XP Home Edition (SP 3). Neither has Zone Alarm and neither has any HP printer software installed. Furthermore, I also checked the registry and neither has an HPL entry either (either/neither???). However, the not-so-inconsequential common denominator for my two machines is that they both have/run McAfee Security software. Both laptops run fine (i.e. no evidence of spy or malware) and, most importantly, all changes I make to the MSCONFIG file are found to have been executed once I restart the machine (rendering the problem, as I see it, as nothing more than a nuisance that doesn't really affect the desired intent). What's interesting here is that of my two laptops in question, one a recent (less than 2 months old) build with a fresh install of both Windows and McAfee. I never had the problem on this newer machine until, lo and behold, I installed McAfee. Then, suddenly, the problem manifested itself on that machine as well.

Talk about things that make you go Hmmmmmm.....

Anyway, I just thought it worthwhile to post my obersvations: That, in my case at least, the McAfee software seems to be the culprit (as DetroitCity so thoroughly researched...thanks DC) and, more importantly, that sometimes a single problem can have more than one cause - as seems to be the case according to what I've read in this forum regarding this particular problem.

Kudos to all who participate in the sharing of their knowledge...and their power.

MadManinCT

I have been fighting this problem on a couple of my computers for while and this solved it on all of them. Looking at the thread, it appeared that the pml driver was a common link. DIsabling it in regedit took care of it. Thanks klondon101!

Hey folks...

First, I want to say thanks to all who took the time and effort to respond...


I tried Klondon101's suggestion and edited the PML Driver HPZ12 Service. I tried changing the setting to either 3 or 4 (restarting the machine inbetween each change) and, unfortunately, the problem still persists. problem,

I also tried mphanikumars' suggestion to disable the buffer overflow protection in McAfee. I restarted the machine and, again, the problem still exists.

I have NOT tried Gururajmeghraj's suggestion to disable McAfee's Access protetion as I am unable to locate (and, thus, disable) that option in my version of McAfee.

Any other ideas or suggestions would be welcome...and appreciated.

Regards,
Mark

I would uninstall McAfee. restart the machine twice and then see. You can always reinatall it if it makes no difference.

I have tried most thing here apart for system restore, uninstalled mcafee, made regristry change despite not having that key in the first place.
I had ran a registry optimizer (free trial) it made some changes,(dunno what) I suspect that.

Surely Microsoft know what this is, the error comes from the program (msconfig) further more it is a false error message.


The problem lies with microsoft hence as there is a fault with msconfig.

Maybe the solution is to get an Apple Mac.

I would like to add that I don;t have a Pml Driver HPZ12/Start key not even a Pml Driver HPZ12 folder
althought I created both but it made no difference.
Why don't I have one?

try creating one in the root directory as sometimes these things won't run unless they start from there.

I have read some stuff about anti virus being the problem.
The hp printer fix sounds stupid to me, I don't have one and it just sounds so unlikely.

IF you have the problem try starting in diagnostic mode and take it from there
I have fixed mine

try smartcommand to fix msconfig error: gotoware.com/SmartCommand/d-31-37637.aspx

Not realy interested in using software to cure a problem, would rather know what the problem was and what the fix then run some obscure thing not knowing what it was doing to my computer.

I recently came across a client's machine infected with threatware which as part of it's generally screwing things around denied access to msconfig, regedit and the system admin tools. In safe mode too.

U have a virus, if u can restored do it, and use your updated antivirus

I don't have a virus. i fixed it without anti-virus stuff.
Well if I had one it's gone anyway.

I'm having the same problem. I removed McAfee and do not have an HP printer but still cannot turn on my System Restore Service due to the "Access Denied error":

Two days ago, for no apparent reason, the majority of my Services have been stopped when the machine boots up. I have not installed any new software recently or anything. I boot the machine up in Safe Mode and login as the Administrator and then open MSCONFIG and go to Services. I notice nearly ALL of my services are stopped. When I attempt to enable the "System Restore Service", it throws the error "An Access Denied error was returned while attemnpting to change a service. You may need to log on using an Administrator account to make the specified changes". I'm already logged in as Administrator! I have uninstalled McAfee per a Google search, and attempted to create a new Administrator user in my User Accounts section, but when I open User Accounts I just have a blank folder. Additionally, I cannot open any applications by double-click or by launching from the command line such as Help, Internet Explorer, etc. The "Start" button is not visible on my desktop either. I have found that by doing clicking Tab -> Enter I'm able to bring up the start menu so I can get to a command prompt.