How to deal with 'Access Denied' error

Applies to

Windows Vista, Windows 7 / 8 / 10 / 11, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2

Resolution

If you received "Access Denied" error while trying to scan remote PC (which is Windows 7 or Windows Vista) with Recover Keys, this means UAC remote restriction is blocking it. Please complete following steps on remote Windows 7/Vista in order to fix it:

1. Click 'Start', click 'Run', type 'regedit', and then press Enter.
2. Locate and then click the following registry subkey:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
   
3. If the 'LocalAccountTokenFilterPolicy' registry entry does not exist, follow these steps:
   
   • On the 'Edit' menu, point to 'New', and then click 'DWORD' Value.
   • Type 'LocalAccountTokenFilterPolicy', and then press Enter.
4. Right-click 'LocalAccountTokenFilterPolicy', and then click Modify.
5. In the Value data box, type 1, and then click OK.
6. Exit Registry Editor.

IMPORTANT

Reboot is needed in order for changes to take effect.

For more information

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/951016/description-of-user-account-control-and-remote-restrictions-in-windows

See also

Requirements. What needs to be set on remote PC?