MSCONFIG error; admin required even though I am admin

I guess this error is kind of common, but from what search results I could find it's caused by software that I don't have, so I don't know what's causing this.

I wanted to remove some Startup items from msconfig (basic things, like qttask, Adobe Acrobat Speed Launcher, etc, and after I hit OK I got this :

'An access denied error was returned while attempting to change a service. You may need to log on using an Administrator account to make the specified changes'.

Which of course is shitty because the only account is an administrator account. The irritating problem is that anytime the computer restarts, that damn Changes have been made to the way Windows starts up, etc message pops up, and no matter what I do -even if I check that box that says 'Don't display this message on startup'- it always returns when the computer starts.

Anybody familiar with this problem and ways to take care of it? I don't have that computer on hand at the moment so I can't immediately try anything, but I ran a spyware scan and nothing came up.
It's a Gateway, XP Home.

Thanks for any help.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Get XP Pro.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Seems to be a recalcitrant HP Printer Driver.

msconfig: an access denied error; need to be administrator?!? - Tech Support Guy Forums

Other possible culprits: McAfee antivirus and ZoneAlarm

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by packrat

Get XP Pro.

Just as easy as that!

Originally Posted by Zergrinch

Seems to be a recalcitrant HP Printer Driver.

Other possible culprits: McAfee antivirus and ZoneAlarm

But that's the weird thing. To my knowledge, this computer has never had any of those programs installed.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Did you ever think about creating another user account with admin privileges and then see if you can use msconfig?

I was speaking idiomatically.

Try going in on Safe Mode. On the user log on screen there should be at least 2 users. The one that you use all the time, and the default Administrator account. Try logging into the Admin account and edit the file that way. XP Pro is also a good alternative.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by Wojo

Did you ever think about creating another user account with admin privileges and then see if you can use msconfig?

Yep, I knew that wouldn't work, but I tried it anyway. Lost my account as a result. I have nothing but this brand new administrator account now.

Originally Posted by Domino

Try going in on Safe Mode.

I'll try that when I get a chance (I'm currently not on the computer that has the problem).

I was walking through the account creation steps with my girlfriend on the phone (it's her computer with the problem), and I was following the steps as well, and that's how I lost all my fuckin' settings and everything.

FELIPE NO

Post event logs?

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Originally Posted by Zergrinch

Post event logs?

Sorry, I've never done that before. Can you explain how to do that?

Jam it back in, in the dark.

right click my computer, choose manage. A window should pop up. choose Event viewer, a series of 6 logs will show up. right click each and choose "save log file as" and name each one as each log's original name (so application log would save as "Application.evt", etc..). Also, your account is still there, it's just buried. You can recover your settings and such. I'll get back to you on this when I get home.
*edit* I got too lazy. Two things about the user account being gone (I have to clear this up for myself as well): when you were making the account, you didn't actually delete the account, correct?

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Originally Posted by ^-^

right click each and choose "save log file as" and name each one as each log's original name (so application log would save as "Application.evt", etc..).

Okay and then I should attach them here as .evt files? All 5 or 6 of them?

Quote:

Also, your account is still there, it's just buried. You can recover your settings and such. I'll get back to you on this when I get home.

I managed to figure this part out by going into safe mode. It wouldn't let me delete the other admin account through Control Panel > User Accounts but I managed to do it through Computer Management > Local Groups. Windows warned me against doing it this way (probably for good reason) but in the end it worked.

Like I mentioned earlier I am not on the computer with the msconfig affliction but I will post those logs as soon as I get the chance. Thanks.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

I'm still kinda cloudy on the situation, but these should get the account back if you haven't already:

Corrupted User Profile fix Windows XP Home - Google Search
How to copy data from a corrupted user profile to a new profile
Get IT Done: Recover A Damaged Windows XP User Profile ~ IT Professionals
4peeps.com Forums > User profile corrupted
Annoyances.org - corrupted user profile (Windows XP Discussion Forum)

again, I apologize in advance if you already cleared up that issue.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?