A Device attached to this system is not functioning

Security reasons that you can only run certain commands and executable files logged in as the Administrator and even still then you have to use an Administrator Command Prompt to run certain stuff.

Yin said:

Whenever I try to open an executable file, I’ll receive this error, “A device ... not functioning”

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Why you are getting this command may be that they program that you are attempting to run is looking for a file or something that is on and or some place else that is not accessible by a low level user.

What is the name of the file/program that you are having the issue with?

Did you try running the DISM and SCF on the Administrator use that does not have any issues?

Could also be the file associations were changed.
Windows Key + X
Control Pannel
(Under View By make Small or Large)
Default Programs
Associate a file type or protocol wit a program
Look for .exe is it there post a screen shot.


Download then run Speccy (free) and post the resultant url for us, details here, this will provide us with information about your computer hardware + any software that you have installed that may explain the present issue/s.


Include the make and model of the Power Supply Unit if this is a Desktop.

To publish a Speccy profile to the Web:

In Speccy, click File, and then click Publish Snapshot.

In the Publish Snapshot dialog box, click Yes to enable Speccy to proceed.

Speccy publishes the profile and displays a second Publish Snapshot. You can open the URL in your default browser, copy it to the clipboard, or close the dialog box.


Lets also see what this tells us.

Download MiniToolBox and save it to your desktop. Run the program by right clicking on it and selecting Run as administrator. When the program opens select the following box:

Select all

COPY and PASTE the complete information for the MTB.txt file into you next post.

After looking at some of the information what appears to be is Disk Drive failure.

1. Backup what ever personal documents pictures files onto an external USB drive that you DO NOT wish to loose.

Post a screen shot of the following window using this command using the Administrator account in a Admin Command Prompt.

slmgr.vbs /dlv

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You might see if disabling the VPN makes any difference.

Yin said:

I tried switching accounts to Administrator and the problem doesn’t persist there.

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So the problem does happen in the Admin user?


Run a Check Disk using the /r syntax.


to pull the data once the system has rebooted in the Admin account

Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog
Type powershell.exe
Then press Enter.

In PowerShell, copy and paste the command below, and press Enter.

get-winevent -FilterHashTable @{logname="Application"; id="1001"}| ?{$_.providername –match "wininit"} | fl timecreated, message | out-file Desktop\CHKDSKResults.txt

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The CHKDSKResults.txt file will be created on your desktop,

COPY and PASTE the contents from the CHKDSKResults.txt file into a post. You can also attach the files.

Yes you just can not guaranteed if the data will still be recoverable.

the bigger questions is how important is the data to you and every one else that uses that system?

Then I will suggest you relocated them before the drive gets more damaged by you using it.

If the file is on a bad sector it will attempt to move it to a good one if it can. This does not guarantee that the data will not be corrupt.

This is why it is important to BACKUP your data on to a external storage device. I have three drives that I rotate through monthly and one I do not keep at the house.

Thread closed due to lack of any feedback from the OP