Error "Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permission to access the item"

I have a problem with trying to install one program and sharing it with 4 other users on my new PC with Windows 8.1  Loved my XP PC as it did everything I wanted it to do but 8.1 is not making my life easy.  Here's the chat with Microsoft Answer Desk this morning.  Can someone tell me if there is a quick solution to this or do I have to really install the programs I purchase from other vendors 5 times?

I've tried other steps mentioned in this post and none of them are working. I'm just concerned about wasting disk space and my time to install every off-the-shelf application 5 times.  I'm working on installing my applications that I had on my XP PC to my new Windows 8.1.  I just started with Silhouette Studio because my daughter had a project to do.  I let her use my account for her project but she needs to be able to run the program under her account as well.  My wife will be the next victim as she also uses the same program to create cut out designs for her bulletin board at the school she teaches at. 

Answer Desk Chat follows...

Hi, thanks for visiting Answer Desk. I'm Mahra M.

Mahra M:

‎9‎:‎31‎:‎42‎ ‎AM  Welcome to Microsoft Answer Desk, My Name is Mahra How may I help you today?

You:

‎9‎:‎34‎:‎26‎ ‎AM  Hi.  I'm am using Windows 8.1 on a new PC I purchased a few weeks ago.  I have installed an application for our Silhouette Cameo art/craft device.

It works from my account.  The icon was put on my daughter's account but she can not execute it.

How do I install an application that I downloaded from the vendor's website and have it work on all user accounts on my pc.  It worked with my former XP machine.

I have another application to install as well called Rosetta Stone.

Mahra M:

‎9‎:‎36‎:‎42‎ ‎AM  Hi Tony, I'm sorry to know that you are having that kind of issue let me see what I can do.

In this case Tony you have to install the application on the users computer.

May I know what was happening when you your daughter try to execute the application?

You:

‎9‎:‎41‎:‎54‎ ‎AM  I don't remember exactly but it states she doesn't have access.

I installed the program on the computer.  Are you saying I have to install applications individually on each users account now?

I have one computer with 5 user accounts.

so I have to install it 5 times?

The software program is called "Silhouette Studio".

Mahra M:

‎9‎:‎44‎:‎12‎ ‎AM  Yes Tony, if you already try to install it but doesn't execute by other users you need to install it in other user account.

You:

‎9‎:‎44‎:‎38‎ ‎AM  Wow, Microsoft has really screwed this up for the average home PC user.

So for every off the shelf program I have purchased, I have to install it 5 times in order for my family to use it.

:-(

Mahra M:

‎9‎:‎46‎:‎27‎ ‎AM  That is if the program is not working on the other user Tony but did you already try to copy the application to your user and paste it in other if it will run?

I'm sorry for that inconvenience Tony.

You:

‎9‎:‎48‎:‎10‎ ‎AM  When I installed Silhouette Studio under my administrator account, Windows automatically put an icon on her desktop.  The application works just fine under my account but not hers.

Mahra M:

‎9‎:‎49‎:‎17‎ ‎AM  What is the error message that she receive when she try to run the program in her user account?

So that  I can check my resources here in my end what we can do to work it on other users.

You:

‎9‎:‎51‎:‎32‎ ‎AM  "Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file.  You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item."

Title bar has "C:\program files (x86)\Silhouette America\Silhouette Studio\Silhouette Studi...

The path for the program is ""C:\Program Files (x86)\Silhouette America\Silhouette Studio\Silhouette Studio.exe""

Mahra M:

‎9‎:‎54‎:‎25‎ ‎AM  Oh I see, one possible reason in the issue is the permission settings that allows the other user to use a specific file or program.

We can easily identify the problem and resolve it for you once we have a full remote access on your computer since we will perform a complete pc diagnostic to isolate the cause of the issue and come up with the correct resolution.

You:

‎9‎:‎55‎:‎11‎ ‎AM  ok

Mahra M:

‎9‎:‎55‎:‎53‎ ‎AM  Before anything else, let me set your expectation that the Microsoft Answer Desk is actually a paid service. We offer technical assistance for a certain fee.

May I have your product id first?

That is a 20 digit number that you can see in your computer system properties.

You:

‎9‎:‎57‎:‎02‎ ‎AM  Never mind.  I just purchased a new PC because Microsoft stopped supporting XP.  I'll try someone else.

bye.

Hi,

I never did see "UNBLOCK" on any properties page.

You wrote:

[ "if any of the suggestions do not work for you, do the following:

1.  right click the application in question

2.  at the bottom of the properties screen (under the Advanced button)  there is a button that says "UNBLOCK"  (there should be a security message that states that this file has been copied from another computer...) 

3.  Press this button.

this worked for me."]

HOWEVER, this is what is happening to me, somewhat different than others:

I hope a MS tech will see this, I'm lost. I have an HP Tower, quad-core AMD cpu1.85 Ghz, 8gB DDR2 SDRam, 1 TB hdd( almost empty), running Win 7 Home Premium. It has been sweet until now :(

Two days ago I restarted the pc after an update, and when I logged back on I found that I could not open ANYTHING- from an app-program to a lousy txt. document. No Notebook, Word Pad. Nothing.  When I click almost any ICON, shortcut or link, it will not open, including Windows programs or services. Anything from my desktop, Start menu, Explorer menu or sys tray.I get nothing but the stupid  pop^up-error as in the name of this thread. *Error "Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permission to access the item"*

Then, after I close that pop-up, in a separate pop-up it asks if I want to remove the item I just tried to open. Uh, NO!

The internet works fine. Besides Advanced System Care Ultimate (pay version, VERY comprehensive, with A-V), CCleaner, Spybot S&D, Avast! A-V,  Iobit Malware fighter, Comodo firewall/ Internet Protection, and Malware Bytes. I cannot find anything amiss malware-virus-wise. (after the others I just downloaded and ran Malware Bytes, with no joy).

It sucks when you run something you've used 100 times before, restart the pc, then this garbage out of the blue. It was running Spybot S&D when I restarted it as per instructions. What am I missing here? Please any wisdom on this is very much appreciated! I have thought of rescuing my pc to an earlier date (before any new downloads), perhaps it will work, but I'll lose a lot to do it, even recently. A big Thanks in advance, and feel free to write me at : JRN_@hotmail.com. Or John Needham at Facebook .   Until next time, thanks again,   johnny ;) jrn_@hotmail.com

hi, i am having the same problem, but none of the usual solutions are working.

i have a new windows 8 laptop, and it'll occasionally decide im not allowed to run any applications and give me this error. i tried to play planet side 2 after not having played it in about 2 weeks. it updated, but refused to let me hit play, saying an error occured and that i dont have access.

im on my administrator account, there are no "unblock" options under properties for the application, all my permissions are in order, my antivirus program is off, and it still gives me the same error when i click "run as administrator".

there is literally no reason for my computer to be doing this, and i cant find the problem. please help me, its starting to **** me off.

i love how we live in a new technological age where each generation of computer further removes control over it from you. im not an idiot, i dont mess things up, i should be able to have more control over what my computer does and doesnt do.