Access Denied Starting Application

• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0

SYMPTOMS

On your system partition, you have a folder named Program in the root directory (such as C:\Program).

When you attempt to start an application from the desktop, the Start menu, or possibly from a file association, the following error message is displayed:

   Access to the specified device, path or file is denied

CAUSE

This error is caused by applications that do not write quoted path strings containing long file names into the registry. The execution of a process is handled by the Win32 CreateProcess() API. CreateProcess() is unable to distinguish between spaces in long file names, and spaces delimiting arguments to the function. If a quoted string is passed to the API, CreateProcess() is able to make this distinction and launches the application as expected.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, obtain the following fix or wait for the next Windows NT service pack.

This fix should have the following time stamp:

   09/15/97  21:39               372,496 Kernel32.dll (Intel)
   09/15/97  21:38               589,584 Kernel32.dll (Alpha)

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 4.0. A supported fix is now available, but has not been fully regression-tested and should be applied only to systems experiencing this specific problem. Unless you are severely impacted by this specific problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait for the next Service Pack that contains this fix. Contact Microsoft Technical Support for more information.