Windows Cannot Access The Specified Device, Path, or File" Error When You Try to Install, Update or Start a Program - Fortnite

TRISTANAU on 03/02/2024 - 10:04

Ok so I was playing Fortnite and for a while I got off to take a break, 3hrs later I return (nothing has changed) and when I launch I get the issue in the title. I have tried literally everything so I am unsure as to what is even possible to do.

What I have tried:

  • Reinstalling game on my M.2
  • Reinstalling the game on my Toshiba HDD
  • Reinstalling the game on an external hard drive
  • Installing another game on epic games launcher to see if its a problem with epic (it is not)
  • Going to compatibility in game files and trying every variation possible
  • Reinstalling windows through a factory reset (that also wiped all my files) , after this I again reinstalled on all my drives
  • Disabling Windows Defender completely
  • Changing the folder permissions and putting it on the disabled windows defenders exception list
  • Using gpedit.msc to disable file explorers ability to lock files to some users
  • Running epic games as administrator, then Fortnite as administrator
  • Verifying the game files (did this almost 10 times now)
  • Trying to launch directly in the folder the game is located in

Note: This is a new PC build and the M.2 in here is from an older system I had laying around, but I had been playing the game for about 6hrs prior

When I came back I also had an activate windows mark even though my windows had been activated the whole time, but I fixed this by reactivating digitally
Whilst I was gone I was installing Unreal Engine which was 20% done by the time I was back (I cancelled it)

Computing

Comments

  • ihfree on 03/02/2024 - 10:15

    Might be worth downloading the manufacturer tools and doing a health check of the SSD.

    • TRISTANAU on 03/02/2024 - 10:30

      Note that it was working for almost 6hrs whilst I was playing and that I installed it on 3 separate drives

  • AngoraFish on 03/02/2024 - 10:16

    Those errors are almost always because the file has been locked by the system in some way.

    You shouldn't have to fiddle with any of those settings, like permissions in Windows Defender, or heaven forbid, gpedit. Editing with any of those risks making the problem much worse.

    Fortnight is installed on millions of systems every day, if these errors were common the forums would be overloaded with complaints and google would be able to find your problem quickly.

    In my experience, deleting the entire folder, clearing it from your trash, and restarting your system should clear most of the rubbish out if you haven't created some kind of other blockage now by fiddling with any of those settings in other programs.

    If you can't delete the folder try rebooting in safe mode.

    • TRISTANAU on 03/02/2024 - 10:48

      I have Factory reset the computer, all forums talk about changing compatibility settings of which I have done, the only theory I have as of yet is that the following update could have possibly been installed whilst I was gone, I am not sure as it doesn't tell me when

      Security Intelligence Update for Microsoft Defender Antivirus - KB2267602 (Version 1.403.3092.0) - Current Channel (Broad)

      Note that I have reinstalled 6 times and even tried to get the game files from my laptop where the game runs fine and use those

      its a struggle because I know its not a hardware issue because I was playing the game before but it is something that has made its way through a factory reset

      I appreciate the help tho thanks

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