"Access is denied 0x5"

[SwissArmyKnife]

Hello,

I am running into an issue with Steam. I can't play any of my games, I end up with that error each time, I looked a previous forum discussions about it and tried most of the resolutions but I can't seem to fix it.

I'm not sure what the issue is, I've never had this happen before

[↑↑↓↓←→←→BASelect]

Try starting steam with admin.

Also delete the files from these locations.

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\dumps
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\downloading
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\temp
C:\Users\YourUserName\AppData\Local\Steam\htmlcache

[SwissArmyKnife]

Thanks for the reply. That didn't seem to work, any other suggestions?

[↑↑↓↓←→←→BASelect]

The only thing i can think of is move your steamapps folder and your userdata folder to another location like your desktop. Then uninstall steam and reinstall it and see if that works.

[SwissArmyKnife]

I forgot to mention, I'm using an external hdd to install my games, should I be moving certain folders over to that? Is that the issue maybe?

[↑↑↓↓←→←→BASelect]

Do you have any kind of encryption enabled on the drive? That could give you access denied error.

Go to control panel then bitlocker and see if it's activated.

[SwissArmyKnife]

I do. I turned it off, will reboot and try again. Thank you!

[↑↑↓↓←→←→BASelect]

Originally posted by SwissArmyKnife:

I do. I turned it off, will reboot and try again. Thank you!

You're welcome. Let us know if it works.

[M1rja]

yah so bsd

[SwissArmyKnife]

Originally posted by SnakeFist:

Originally posted by SwissArmyKnife:

I do. I turned it off, will reboot and try again. Thank you!

You're welcome. Let us know if it works.

So, unfortunately it didn't work, do you know of any other tools/tips?

[SomeGuy712x]

I had the "Access is denied 0x5" issue a couple of years ago myself. Turned out my firewall was silently blocking my most recently installed Steam games from opening for some reason. When this was eventually discovered, I went into that firewall program and changed some things so now it will actually let me play those games.

So, if you're still having this issue, check your anti-virus and/or firewall to see if they're possibly the cause of this error for you.

[SwissArmyKnife]

I checked, disabled them but still running into this weird issue, it's happening with all of my games during the "First time, initial setup".

[crunchyfrog]

Originally posted by SwissArmyKnife:

I checked, disabled them but still running into this weird issue, it's happening with all of my games during the "First time, initial setup".

Do note that disabling your antivurs doesn't usually help much.

Try this to check.

Start Windows in Safe mode with networking. Run Steam. If it all goes OK, then you then know it is something on your PC blocking this and likely still your antivirus or some security software.

So I would then immediately go and REMOVE your antivirus and replace it with another one before continuing.

I use AVG free and while it's not the best (it's annoying with pop ups and ♥♥♥♥) it does at least work well with Steam.

[↑↑↓↓←→←→BASelect]

Originally posted by crunchyfrog:

Originally posted by SwissArmyKnife:

I checked, disabled them but still running into this weird issue, it's happening with all of my games during the "First time, initial setup".

Do note that disabling your antivurs doesn't usually help much.

Try this to check.

Start Windows in Safe mode with networking. Run Steam. If it all goes OK, then you then know it is something on your PC blocking this and likely still your antivirus or some security software.

So I would then immediately go and REMOVE your antivirus and replace it with another one before continuing.

I use AVG free and while it's not the best (it's annoying with pop ups and ♥♥♥♥) it does at least work well with Steam.

They can use this that i made to enter safe mode by right clicking on their desktop and choosing safe mode from the right click menu.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00



[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\SafeMode]
"icon"="bootux.dll,-1032"
"MUIVerb"="Safe Mode"
"Position"=-
"SubCommands"=""


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\SafeMode\shell\001-NormalMode]
@="Restart in Normal Mode"
"HasLUAShield"=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\SafeMode\shell\001-NormalMode\command]
@="powershell -windowstyle hidden -command \"Start-Process cmd -ArgumentList '/s,/c,bcdedit /deletevalue {current} safeboot & bcdedit /deletevalue {current} safebootalternateshell & shutdown -r -t 00 -f' -Verb runAs\""


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\SafeMode\shell\002-SafeMode]
@="Restart in Safe Mode"
"HasLUAShield"=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\SafeMode\shell\002-SafeMode\command]
@="powershell -windowstyle hidden -command \"Start-Process cmd -ArgumentList '/s,/c,bcdedit /set {current} safeboot minimal & bcdedit /deletevalue {current} safebootalternateshell & shutdown -r -t 00 -f' -Verb runAs\""


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\SafeMode\shell\003-SafeModeNetworking]
@="Restart in Safe Mode with Networking"
"HasLUAShield"=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\SafeMode\shell\003-SafeModeNetworking\command]
@="powershell -windowstyle hidden -command \"Start-Process cmd -ArgumentList '/s,/c,bcdedit /set {current} safeboot network & bcdedit /deletevalue {current} safebootalternateshell & shutdown -r -t 00 -f' -Verb runAs\""


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\SafeMode\shell\004-SafeModeCommandPrompt]
@="Restart in Safe Mode with Command Prompt"
"HasLUAShield"=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\SafeMode\shell\004-SafeModeCommandPrompt\command]
@="powershell -windowstyle hidden -command \"Start-Process cmd -ArgumentList '/s,/c,bcdedit /set {current} safeboot minimal & bcdedit /set {current} safebootalternateshell yes & shutdown -r -t 00 -f' -Verb runAs\""

Copy that to notepad include the Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 in the copy and then save it as Safe Mode On Desktop Right Click Context menu. After saving it click on it and it will ask to add entries to the registry click yes. You now have an easy way to enter safe mode.

[SwissArmyKnife]

Thanks everyone! I managed to get it resolved. It had to do with a permissions issue and my external hdd. :)

[crunchyfrog]

Originally posted by SwissArmyKnife:

Thanks everyone! I managed to get it resolved. It had to do with a permissions issue and my external hdd. :)

Awesome - and thanks for feeeding this back as It can help others in future.