Solved Strange pop-up after Windows 11 loads


Trebo58

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Member
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Windows 11 Pro X64 Version 25H2 Build 26200.8328
This has only recently started happening, and I am not sure how to fix it, so hoping someone can give me a quick fix.

I am assuming, as it mentions Microsoft 365, see below

Windows cannot access the specified device, path or file. You may not have the appropriate
permissions to access the item.
C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.M365Companions_2.2603.23002.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe

I log in as Administrator (Local Account) and run take ownership, which now gives me access, but I still get this annoying pop-up around a minute and a half into Windows opening.

Anyone help
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro X64 Version 25H2 Build 26200.8328
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    Core i5-8500 3.00 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB
I log in as Administrator
1 Do you mean a local account that you have created & that has Admin status
or
2 Do you mean the Built-in Admin account that has the username Administrator?

You can use this Terminal, Command prompt command to check the logged-in UserName​
echo %UserName%
The Terminal, PS equivalent command is​
$env:UserName

If the answer is #2 then do note that the properties & limitations of the Built-in Admin account are not documented and have been known to get changed without any notification being given to users. So I'd advise only logging in to accounts that you have created.


Denis
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home x64 Version 25H2 Build 26200.8037
Thank you, Try3, for responding. In answer to your question, the answer is

1 A local account that I created & that has Admin status
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro X64 Version 25H2 Build 26200.8328
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    Core i5-8500 3.00 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB
This has only recently started happening, and I am not sure how to fix it, so hoping someone can give me a quick fix.

I am assuming, as it mentions Microsoft 365, see below

Windows cannot access the specified device, path or file. You may not have the appropriate
permissions to access the item.
C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.M365Companions_2.2603.23002.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe

I log in as Administrator (Local Account) and run take ownership, which now gives me access, but I still get this annoying pop-up around a minute and a half into Windows opening.

Anyone help
You might try to reinstall the companions app:

 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    All Branches but Release
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Nitro ANV15-51
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS 3200-4500 Mhz 8 cores x 2
    Motherboard
    Sportage_RBH
    Memory
    32 GB DDR5
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon Graphic / NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 8 GB GDDR6
    Sound Card
    AMD/Realtek(R) Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Integrated Monitor (15.3"vis)
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    Internet Speed
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    Browser
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    Antivirus
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  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Beta
    Computer type
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    Manufacturer/Model
    Asus X751BP
    CPU
    AMD A9-9420
    Memory
    8 GB of DDR4
    Graphics card(s)
    AMD Radeon R5
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900
    Hard Drives
    Seagate 1 TB
Thank you, OAT, for your suggestion. Sadly, that did not resolve it
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro X64 Version 25H2 Build 26200.8328
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    Core i5-8500 3.00 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB
Thank you, OAT, for your suggestion. Sadly, that did not resolve it
Hi Trebo58,
Did you have the Companions app installed before or did your company set it up for you?
Also what did you take ownership of exactly?
In any case, checkout under Settings>Apps>Startup and look for it there to see if it launches at login.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    All Branches but Release
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Nitro ANV15-51
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS 3200-4500 Mhz 8 cores x 2
    Motherboard
    Sportage_RBH
    Memory
    32 GB DDR5
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon Graphic / NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 8 GB GDDR6
    Sound Card
    AMD/Realtek(R) Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Integrated Monitor (15.3"vis)
    Screen Resolution
    FHD 1920X1080 16:9 144Hz
    Hard Drives
    KINGSTON OM8SEP4512Q-AA 1TB
    Western Digital 256GB
    PSU
    19V DC 6.32 A 120 W
    Cooling
    Dual Fans
    Mouse
    MS Bluetooth
    Internet Speed
    Fiber 1GB Cox -us & 1GB Orange-fr
    Browser
    Edge Canary- Firefox Nightly-Chrome Dev-Chrome Dev
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Beta
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Asus X751BP
    CPU
    AMD A9-9420
    Memory
    8 GB of DDR4
    Graphics card(s)
    AMD Radeon R5
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900
    Hard Drives
    Seagate 1 TB
Checked settings >Apps>Startup and removed Companions; this seems to have fixed the problem. Do I need them, and if so, should I try to reinstall them?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro X64 Version 25H2 Build 26200.8328
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    Core i5-8500 3.00 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB
Checked settings >Apps>Startup and removed Companions; this seems to have fixed the problem. Do I need them, and if so, should I try to reinstall them?
All you removed was the shortcut that started the application. Once the shortcut was removed, the error went away.
I am afraid I can't answer whether you need the app or not, nor can I answer if the error was the result of a failed installation.
In any case, you can always download and re-install it from here .
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    All Branches but Release
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Nitro ANV15-51
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS 3200-4500 Mhz 8 cores x 2
    Motherboard
    Sportage_RBH
    Memory
    32 GB DDR5
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon Graphic / NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 8 GB GDDR6
    Sound Card
    AMD/Realtek(R) Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Integrated Monitor (15.3"vis)
    Screen Resolution
    FHD 1920X1080 16:9 144Hz
    Hard Drives
    KINGSTON OM8SEP4512Q-AA 1TB
    Western Digital 256GB
    PSU
    19V DC 6.32 A 120 W
    Cooling
    Dual Fans
    Mouse
    MS Bluetooth
    Internet Speed
    Fiber 1GB Cox -us & 1GB Orange-fr
    Browser
    Edge Canary- Firefox Nightly-Chrome Dev-Chrome Dev
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Beta
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Asus X751BP
    CPU
    AMD A9-9420
    Memory
    8 GB of DDR4
    Graphics card(s)
    AMD Radeon R5
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900
    Hard Drives
    Seagate 1 TB
According to Microsoft, Companions is not a necessity.

No, you do not need Microsoft 365 companion apps (People, Files, Calendar) to operate your computer. They are optional, lightweight tools designed for Windows 11 to provide quick taskbar access to your Microsoft 365 data without opening full applications. They are automatically installed for many users but can be removed, unpinned, or ignored if you prefer to use full apps like Outlook or
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro X64 Version 25H2 Build 26200.8328
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    Core i5-8500 3.00 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB

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