msconfig will not run

thanks guys for the assistance.  unfortunately I am still unable to run msconfig.
when typing from START/ RUN msconfig results in the following"

"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"

following the advice thus:

a.   run  sfc /scannow
result:   this took overnight and may have resolved some problems but not this specific one.
b.   download HijackThis 1.99.1
result: installed and analysed with hijackThis some suspect entries but as i run Zonealarm Pro, MS defender, spybot search and destroy spywareblaster so as to ensure spyware is kept to a minimum I think the identifed suspect entries were false positives in any case i deleted them.   Still no joy.

c.    I had a look for msconfig.exe in windows/system32/msconfig.exe no file found!!   I installed msconfig.exe in windows/system32 folder and START/ RUN msconfig
"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"
      a.   I renamed msconfig.exe msconfig.com tried 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"

d.   I installed and ran ccleaner after the earlier interventions a bit of temporary debris found - removed.
START/ RUN msconfig
"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"

e.   Investigated:

HKEY CURRENT USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System  
HKEY LOCAL MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
HKEY USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System

Looked in the right pane for a value called Disablemsconfig created Dword entry, double clicked on Disablemsconfig and set the value to 0.  
START/ RUN msconfig
"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"

Obviously something is preventing me from accessing this executable.   In the first place when I searched for msconfig.exe in windows/system32 is was not found.   After installing it here I still have the permissions error.

I am not too concerned about it except if it means that a security breach has occurred and one which has evaded the tools I have used to find these problems, and that may be a cause of concern.  

However I think it unlikely.   Do you think it more likely that some windows file has become corrupt and as a consequence prevents the proper operation of msconfig  whatever - exe or com ?

I did another search of all msconfig entries and found:
C:\WINDOWS\Prefetch a file called "MSCONFIG.EXE-35E4DAE9.pf"
C:\WINDOWS\pchealth\helpctr\binaries\msconfig.exe

the C:\WINDOWS\system32\msconfig.exe is the one I put there so I deleted it and renamed the msconfig.exe msconfig.bck in C:\WINDOWS\pchealth\helpctr\binaries

START/ RUN msconfig
 msconfig.exe was created in C:\WINDOWS\pchealth\helpctr\binaries and:
"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"

Download the msconfig.exe Windows XP version file
http://www.techadvice.com/specs/files_st1.asp?fnid=3398288

steps
http://www.techadvice.com/win2000/m/msconfig_w2k.htm

You may have missed my contribution this tool is similar to msconfig I prefer this one actually.
Windows Startup Inspector is a Windows platform software that helps Windows user to manage Windows startup applications. On www.windowsstartup.com, there are more than 3,400 known programs in the database. Windows Startup Inspector can thus provide a consultative information on the programs that are running at your Windows startup process. Whether a program is necessary to the system, or is the program a spyware.

Scans all programs that are in the Windows Startup Folder, Registry and provide you with a background information of the program.
Remove harmful programs like spyware, virus, dialers, make your system healthier.
Remove unnecessary programs like reminders, monitors, improve your systems performance.

excellent windows start up inspector.
http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Utilities/System_Maintenance_and_Repair_Utilities/Windows_Startup_Inspector.html

i created a new computer administrator account:

START/ RUN msconfig results in the following"

"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"

I guess it is either a system recovery or a reinstallation?

tried merete's zonealarm advice turned off zonealarm turned on windows firewall for safety:

START/ RUN msconfig

IT WORKS!!!

thanks guys
 

good to hear graham_qce  guess there will be more questions to zone alarm to please xplain.
Thank you :)
Merete