Windows 11 Access Denied Issue on Samsung Laptops
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Microsoft is investigating an issue affecting Samsung laptops running Windows 11 after the February 2026 security updates. Users lose access to the C:\ drive and cannot launch applications, encountering 'C:\ is not accessible – Access denied' errors. The problem impacts Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2, primarily affecting Samsung Galaxy Book 4 devices in Brazil, Portugal, South Korea, and India. The issue may be related to the Samsung Share application, though the exact cause is unconfirmed. A workaround exists but weakens security by changing ownership of system files.
Timeline
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14.03.2026 00:11 1 articles · 21h ago
Microsoft Investigates Access Denied Issue on Samsung Laptops
Microsoft is investigating an issue affecting Samsung laptops running Windows 11 after the February 2026 security updates. Users lose access to the C:\ drive and encounter 'Access denied' errors. The problem impacts Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2, primarily affecting Samsung Galaxy Book 4 devices in Brazil, Portugal, South Korea, and India. A workaround exists but is not recommended due to security risks.
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- Microsoft: Windows 11 users can't access C: drive on some Samsung PCs — www.bleepingcomputer.com — 14.03.2026 00:11
Information Snippets
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Users encounter 'C:\ is not accessible – Access denied' errors, preventing file access and application launches.
First reported: 14.03.2026 00:111 source, 1 articleShow sources
- Microsoft: Windows 11 users can't access C: drive on some Samsung PCs — www.bleepingcomputer.com — 14.03.2026 00:11
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The issue affects Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2 on Samsung Galaxy Book 4 and other consumer devices.
First reported: 14.03.2026 00:111 source, 1 articleShow sources
- Microsoft: Windows 11 users can't access C: drive on some Samsung PCs — www.bleepingcomputer.com — 14.03.2026 00:11
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The problem has been reported in Brazil, Portugal, South Korea, and India.
First reported: 14.03.2026 00:111 source, 1 articleShow sources
- Microsoft: Windows 11 users can't access C: drive on some Samsung PCs — www.bleepingcomputer.com — 14.03.2026 00:11
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Microsoft suspects the Samsung Share application may be involved but has not confirmed the root cause.
First reported: 14.03.2026 00:111 source, 1 articleShow sources
- Microsoft: Windows 11 users can't access C: drive on some Samsung PCs — www.bleepingcomputer.com — 14.03.2026 00:11
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A workaround involves changing ownership of the C:\ drive to the 'Everyone' group, which weakens security.
First reported: 14.03.2026 00:111 source, 1 articleShow sources
- Microsoft: Windows 11 users can't access C: drive on some Samsung PCs — www.bleepingcomputer.com — 14.03.2026 00:11