Version 2 - Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file

[Cpaz]

I have just purchased v2 universal licence for my Windows PC and it downloaded correctly and launched correctly.

When I subsequently attempted to run any of the 3 apps I get 

 

"Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access them."

I have checked the permissions on the folders and have full access,

I have tried disabling my antivirus and protection software.

I have followed the Microsoft Windows suggestion but no luck.

Any suggestions welcome.

[walt.farrell]

Welcome to the Serif Affinity forums, @Cpaz.

Please clarify when this is happening: Does it happen when you try to launch the MSIX installer, or has it installed successfully, and you get the error trying to launch the app?

If it's when trying to launch the app, how are you doing that? Are you using the Windows Start Menu, or some other way?

Also, did you install the MSIX normally, by running it, or did you force the install in some other way?

[Cpaz]

Hi Walt

Thank you for getting back.

Installation via MSIX installer worked fine. The installation lauched ok after immendiately installing. But I get this message when I sunsequently launch from the WindowsStart Menu or Taskbar.

 

[walt.farrell]

Thanks for the clarification. That may help someone else provide a better answer than I can at this point.

[rvst]

16 hours ago, Cpaz said:

"Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access them."

That's the error one would get if you try to directly invoke the program from C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\SerifEuropeLtd.AffinityPhoto2_2.0.0.1640_x64__3cqzy0nppv2rt\App\Photo.exe"

When invoked from the start menu icon created during the installation process, a special security context is set that allows the app to execute (by matching a conditional ACL expression that assigns Read/Execute and otherwise falls back to Read only if the context is not set properly)

Invoked any other way, you'll get this error message.

 

16 hours ago, Cpaz said:

I have checked the permissions on the folders and have full access,

You should not. You should have read access only for the folder "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\SerifEuropeLtd.AffinityPhoto2_2.0.0.1640_x64__3cqzy0nppv2rt\App\" but not the folder above it. It should be owned by SYSTEM. If it looks any different, you (or an application) probably tried to take ownership of the WindowsApps folder hierarchy, which will break things. 

So, can you confirm that you're trying to launch the application by clicking on the unmodified icon for the application in the start menu that was placed there by the Affinity installer?

If you are and you still get this problem, then something might be wrong with the ownership and permissions in ""C:\Program Files\WindowsApps"

[Cpaz]

Thank you for those pointers

After installation I invoked the program from the Windows Start Menu and got the error message.

Tried uninstalling and re-installing and got the same message via the Start Menu.

If I try to access an app in the WindowsApps folder, eg, Sticky Notes, or Camera, from the Windows Start Menu they launch successfully. So it looks like the permissions in the Windows App folder appear to be correct.

 

[rvst]

7 minutes ago, Cpaz said:

If I try to access an app in the WindowsApps folder, eg, Sticky Notes, or Camera, from the Windows Start Menu they launch successfully. So it looks like the permissions in the Windows App folder appear to be correct.

Could you post a screenshot of the Advanced Security Settings for C:\Program  Files\WindowsApps\SerifEuropeLtd.AffinityPhoto2_2.0.0.1640_x64__3cqzy0nppv2rt\App\Photo.exe? Right-click, choose properties, click the Security tab, then click Advanced. 

[Cpaz]

As requested

[walt.farrell]

I'd also like to see that same listing for C:\Program Files\WindowsApps if you wouldn't mind, @Cpaz.

(If everything is set up as it should be, you should find you cannot get the listing for that one.)

[Cpaz]

Sure

[walt.farrell]

Thanks, @Cpaz. 

That screenshot shows that you have changed the permissions of the WindowsApp folder, which has been known to cause problems. You should not be able to display those permissions, and you can see that Carl has Full Control listed. He should not be there at all.

[thelebaron]

I'm also getting this error, heres my permissions which I really dont recall changing. Reinstalling does not fix things.

 

[walt.farrell]

2 hours ago, thelebaron said:

I'm also getting this error, heres my permissions which I really dont recall changing. Reinstalling does not fix things.

I'm pretty sure you did change the permissions.

Here's what you should see for C:\Program Files\WindowsApps in that dialog:

 

 

[thelebaron]

Oh I see, well will see how reinstalling windows goes for things.

[Pšenda]

20 hours ago, walt.farrell said:

I'm pretty sure you did change the permissions.

You don't need to change the permissions of the folder to view its contents. Just run the app as administrator.
That's how I configured FastStone without any problems, when it is enough to run it as an administrator to set up an external editor, and further startup and external editing then proceed quite normally. So there is no need to hack and damage Windows.