Mark,

 

The virus/trojan infected on your computer has corrupted the msconfig which is causing the access denied error. Try logging on to the Windows Safe Mode and check if you are able to access msconfig. If not, scan your system completely/thoroughly with antivirus scanner.  If this does not fix the issue even after removing the trojan virus, try to perform the following step to repair windows system files...

 

Click on Start | Run | Type 'SFC /SCANNOW' (Ignore quotes)

Click on Ok to start the scan

Note: If prompted, please insert Windows XP CD on the cd drive.

 

Sriram

DCSE/MCSE

mpolick, If after doing virus and malware scans nothing shows up these links have other possible fixes for you to try,especially if you have zone alarm or hp printer. http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp/1133740266

http://www.thinkdigit.com/forum/showthread.php?p=358451

Ok, I couldn't figure out how to fix it.  I restored my dell to a previous date, no help.  I then took the drastic step of restoring my system back to where it was when I 1st received it brand new.  This worked, no more error message.  The pre-installed McAfee virus and firewall came with my computer, they naturally loaded up when the restore to original state loaded up.  I had purchased the McAfee total protection a while ago and it's been loaded for a good while with no problems. 

 

Now get this, when I loaded the McAfee Total protection this time my msconfig access denied error message came back, I unloaded McAfee Total protection, my access denied error message went away.  Hey, go figure.  This didn't happen when I originally loaded total protection a while back, but it sure is happening now.  What the heck gives??

Thanks

Mark

mpollick, I googled msconfig and mcaffe and there were a lot of pages about this but no fix. http://forums.mcafeehelp.com/viewtopic.php?p=383956. I would get rid of mcaffe I have never heard anyone have one good thing to say about this program.I use Norton av 2007 now.A lot of folks like the free avg anti virus.

I had the same problem and it was due toan updated HP driver for my printer.  See this thread. There may be something helpful.

Thanks alot everyone.  I don't understand why all of a sudden McAfee Total Protection is causing this problem, it's been on my computer for several months and now all of a sudden it decides to act up.  But anyways it's now history.  Think I'll go out and buy Norton AV.

 

Thanks for the help.

 

Mark

Better yet . . download AVG

Mark

 

went thru the same thing, i noticed after I upgrade my McAfee software that it did not ask for user name and password like it did b4 and all of he sudden i was getting the same error mesg you were, I contacted dell bc i wanted to be sure it wasnt anything like adjusting a setting. LOL they had me reformat my computer (what a waste of time that was didnt change a thing) I knew that would not solve the problem but i kept trying to explain to them i think it has something to do with McAfee. I notice that even tho I get that error mesg if u click ok and still make the changes u want and restart the computer your changes will be applied. I'm going to check out Norton but ive never been unhappy with McAfee just this error mesg is annoying.

 

Mona