After installing a Windows 8.1 image on a Surface Pro 3 tablet, built using the approved Microsoft method of:

sysprep /oobe /generalize /shutdown /unattend:C:\Autounattend.xml

with the AutoUnattend having a COPY PROFILE entry

users were unable to launch DEVICES AND PRINTERS.  They would receive

TITLE:  C:\Users\<Administrator>\AppData\Local\Packages\windows.immersivecontrolpanelcw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState\Indexed\Settings\en-US\Classic{4026492f-2f69-46b8-b9bf-5654fc07e423}.settingcontent-ms

CONTENT:
Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item.

After bumping users permissions and verifying paths, I poked around the internet and found that the fix was quite simple:

  1. Log in as the user with the issue
  2. In the modern/metro/tiles interface type SEARCH
  3. Click SEARCH SETTINGS
  4. Click the CLEAR button (at the top)
  5. Have a nice day

You do not even need to log off/on


3 Comments

cbconsultingsite · September 27, 2019 at 12:46 am

Well that’s all very well but what about when you get the same error message trying to access “Search Settings”, hmm?

Mr.Gold · May 13, 2017 at 12:58 am

Thank you man, easy fix !

Larry · November 28, 2014 at 2:59 pm

Thanks for that tip. I had been struggling for ages to get the devices to appear from the Metro screen

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