Stand-alone XP desktop won't allow access to logical disk manager?

I have an XP desktop at home that won't allow me to access the logical disk manager under computer/manage, it says I don't have access rights. There's only one user on the machine and it's set to administrator!

Any suggestions?

Is the Logical Disk Manager service running?

By the sounds of things you're using XP Home and you're right, you can only configure users as Administrators or Limited Users.

If you still cannot get into Computer Management, try creating a secondary user with admin rights, logoff, then logon as the new user and try again -

Start > Run > compmgmt.msc

If this doesn't work, logoff so you're at the Welcome screen. Hit Ctrl+Alt+Del twice. In the username field type administrator leaving a blank password. If this doesn't work, you'll need to work out what the Local Administrator password is. There are password reset tools freely available if you need them.

Thanks for the tips, will try them this evening.

Had to pop home over lunch. Have managed to log on as "administrator" but am still told that I "do not have access rights to logical disk manager on...". Then the snap-in is blank with "unable to connect to logical disk manager service" accross the bottom.

I've stopped and restarted the service but no luck.

JSI Tip 3924. Access to Disk Manager on ComputerName is denied?

3924 » Access to Disk Manager on ComputerName is denied? 23-Jul-01


When you attempt to use Disk Manager on your Windows 2000 computer, you receive:

Access to Disk Manager on <computername> is denied. You do not have access rights to the service.

If the access in Distributed Component Object Model Configuration (Dcomcnfg) for the default authentication level is changed from Connect to Default, this can occur.

To fix the problem:

1. Start / Run / dcomcnfg / OK.

2. On the Default Properties tab, change the Default Authentication Level to Connect.

3. Select the Default Security tab.

4. Press Edit Default under Default Access Permissions

5. Press Add.

6. Press Administrator and set the type of access to "Allow Access".

7. Press OK, OK, and OK.

8. Shutdown and restart your computer.


Reboot and try again after the above

I came across your guide too gecko, but it's only applicable to Windows 2000 and not XP.

Deaks, could you click Start > Run and type services.msc

Locate the Logical Disk Manager service. If you look at its properties it should be Started and set to Automatic. On the Log On tab, check Local System account is selected only.

Now locate the Logical Disk Manager Administrative Service. It should be Stopped and set to Manual. On the Log On tab, check Local System account is selected only.

Thanks gecko, but like Michael said that doesn't seem to apply to XP.

Michael, have checked all of that and it's all set just as you say. I'm doing it remotely using logmein.com to access the machine from work so I'll double-check when I'm actuallt sitting at the machine but so far the remote access doesn't seem to make any difference.

I did notice that while checking what you said if I tried to also look at the dependencies tab it came up with "Win32: Access is denied"?

Out of curiosity have you recently installed XP SP2 on your home machine? I mean on top of an existing installation, such as XP SP1.

Nothing recent, but then I don't know how long this problem has been present either. It's an XP Media Centre edition install, which I think includes SP2 as standard.

If you click Start > Run and type system32 is there a file called dmadmin.exe in the root?

The file is needed for the Logical Disk Manager service. You could also try clicking Start > Run and type sfc /scannow as this will check all system components.

Let me know if this helps

dmadmin.exe was present and when I ran that command it did it's scan then just closed without reporting anything.

Which is good, as it means all system components ok.

Bit of a stab in the dark here, but have you tried Safe Mode? After your computer POSTs, if you keep pressing F8 you'll be able to choose Safe Mode.

The XP splash logo will then appear as normal. Once in Safe Mode, try going into Computer Management again.

:o Didn't think of trying safe mode! Will give that a go this evening. I think then I'll just end up reinstalling. It's only a file server and the system is on a seperate drive so I can do it without losing anything.

Thanks for all the help.

Not sure if the media version of xp you have installed on it can join a domain ( as am guessing not ) if not then it being joined to a domain is not relevant.

Other then that is there any firewall hardware or software blocking anything ?