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Win2k System Admins (and people who know a lot about Win2k):FIXED!!

A

Antoneo

Diamond Member
I posted this in Tech Support but I know that more people hang around in Off Topic so mods and everyone please let this one go.
I really need to get this machine working as I have to fill out college apps and type up essays.

Here's the problem:
I was fiddling with the Group policy editor (gpedit.msc) in Windows 2000 Pro and I must have pressed "OK" instead of "Cancel" for the Disable Windows Programs option or something like that.
Now I can't open Microsoft Word or any executable.
I can't access the Control Panel as well. This is the error message that is produced: "This operation has been cancelled due to restrictions in effect on this copmuter. Please contact your system administrator."

When I tried to open IE from the desktop, it wouldn't let me but I got around it by opening My Computer and typed in forums.anandtech.com.
I can't do anything on this machine except go online because everything is restricted.
I can't even run commands in the Run prompt. Nor the Dos emulation prompt. I have full administrative rights but I can't do anything now. I can't run regedt32 either... Will the Recovery Console be of any use? I have a Windows 2000 CD at my hand but I did not make any ERDs.
[EDIT: FIXED!!! Just deleted the gpt file inside the 'Group Policy' Folder and now I can open programs and such. Thanks to all who tried. Now all I have to do is use Group Policy editor to put in the correct settings this time.]
 
Will deleting the '%systemroot%\system32\GroupPolicy' folder or the gpt file help? I am able to delete files within windows but cannot open nor edit files.
 
Nice one. I think almost everyone I know has done this. A little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing!
I assume you were trying to set some restrictive policies and you were unaware of the golden rule on stand alone 2k boxes. Any policy set applies to all users. Even the Administrator. By now you know that though.
Assuming you locked yourself out of the "run" box, you can still access the command prompt by executing cmd.exe which can be located at C:\Windows(or "Winnt" if its 2k)\System32\cmd.exe
After you that, you need to look into the "secedit" command. This should allow you to re-set the security/policy template to something a little less restrictive.
You will need to learn the exact syntax of the command. Type secedit /? at the command line to learn more.
Also, you will need to decide on a security template to import, try the basic workstation one.
 


<< I assume you were trying to set some restrictive policies and you were unaware of the golden rule on stand alone 2k boxes. Any policy set applies to all users. Even the Administrator. >>


YEP!! 😱 Hmmm... I am unable run any executables. Anything that ends with *.exe it seems. I have tried cmd.exe and it give me the same "This operation has been cancelled due to restrictions in effect on this computer. Please contact your system administrator." message.
 
If you are able to put this computer on LAN, then you should be able to change it's policy from another comp....that is assuming, you installed the proper protocols...if not....good luck!
 
Try renaming cmd.exe to cmd.com and then double-click it. That should get you to the command promt.

Once you are there, type gpedit.msc

Now you should be able to undo the change you made.

Let me know if that worked...
 
Wait check this in the folder options:

Tools>Folder Options>View

See if Hide file extensions for know file type is unchecked if not uncheck it.

If you try to rename the cmd.exe with this option checked it will rename it to cmd.com.exe and will still work for a normal system.

It's prolly seeing that the .exe extension is there and disallows to run...
 
Try booting off the Win2K CD, going to repair, then to the recovery console. Once you're there, try to run secedit like Saltin suggested. Being in the recovery console is pretty much the equivalent of having cmd.exe running, so you shouldn't need to run that once you're in the console. Good luck!

J3
 
BWHAHAHAAHA !!!!!!!! I fixed it! Just deleted the gpt file inside the 'Group Policy' Folder and now I can open programs and such. Thanks to all who tried. Now all I have to do is use Group Policy editor to put in the correct settings this time.🙂
 
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