When you insert a DVD media in the drive, right-click on the drive and choose Play from the context menu, the following error may occur.
Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item.
However, you may be able to play DVD movies via the AutoPlay dialog, or by starting Windows Media Player and using the Play menu. This happens if the DVD/Play association setting is missing or incorrect, or is of incorrect value type. The DVD Play verb is stored in this registry key:
The value data for the (default) value in the above key is as follows:
Windows 7 64-bit:
Windows 7 32-bit:
How could this problem occur?
When the above key is missing or its (default) value data is incorrect, the following error occurs when accessing Play from the DVD drive context menu:
This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action. Please install a program or, if one is already installed, create an association in the Default Programs control panel.
… so you try to reset Windows Media Player as the default via Default Programs / Set program access and computer defaults…
When resetting the values using Set program access and computer defaults, it does reset the data (unexpanded path), but the value type is incorrectly set as REG_SZ where as it should be REG_EXPAND_SZ. As a result, the following error occurs:
Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item.
Registry Fix
Download w7-dvd-play.zip, unzip and run the corresponding REG file for your Windows 7 Edition (32-bit or 64-bit.)
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I applied the fix and the registry value is definitely correct but I still cannot double click on the E-drve to set a disc going automatically in WMP. I have to use autoplay to select it from the list. Do I need to try anything else?
Thanks
Wow – I haven’t rebooted yet – but this already fixed my problem (“This file does not have a program associated…”) . I manually changed the value of the …command key, and then it said the “Windows cannot access…” so I extracted and ran the Registry Fix which made my sweet little disk drives – a DVD and a BD – work again!! This info appears to be nowhere else. Although I’m relieved, the fact this problem ever existed is infuriating. Bookmarked!!
Thank you
im using windows7 32bit this error msg showing while opening some programes nero, perfect uninstaller, avg pc tune up etc plz help…
This fix also applies if you get the error message when you click “Play” on an Audio CD. Go to the key HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AudioCD\shell\play\command. In the value data for “Default” should read “%ProgramFiles%\Windows Media Player\wmplayer.exe” /prefetch:3 /device:AudioCD “%L” with the parenthesis included if you are running Windows 7 32-Bit. If you are running Windows 7 64-Bit, it should read “%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Windows Media Player\wmplayer.exe” /prefetch:3 /device:AudioCD “%L” with the parenthesis.
You should be the boss of microsoft i even asked them how to fix it and they gave me nothing.Thanks so very much for this fix.
I get “Windows Media Player cannot access the file. The file might be in use, you might not have access to the computer where the file is stored, or your proxy settings might not be correct.” when attempting to play a DVD after the fix
My god, you have no idea how much time I have spent looking for this fix!
I’ve found numerous links about default programs, then many about deleting some random registry keys, then the right registry path but with lengthy export/import description and than yours – simple key that need to be clicked/imported
I wonder if such a nuisance can happen on OS X
What about Win XP?