Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file.

Question

* PC.
* Includes both Survey123 Connect and Survey123 Field App.
* Installed through App Store.

I've seen this happening after windows updates now. The only fix I found was to uninstall and reinstall the apps. I compared the file paths of the apps before and after, and they are identical. This leads be to believe that there may actually be a permissions issue. Unfortunately, I cannot investigate too much because IT is locking down system files it seems.

Anyone else experience this and know a fix?

abureaux · Answer

Okay, gave it a night. No change.

First, I reset the Microsoft Store app: Microsoft Store doesn't open This may also help: Fix problems with apps from Microsoft Store.

Then I reinstalled the Survey123 apps (Field App and Connect). The apps opened via MS Store, but did not reopen via task bar after closing. However, I found that they did open via the start menu. That's at least some progress.

Next, I decided to check the Applications area: Start > Run > shell:AppsFolder > OK

I found two sets of icons (NOTE: Red is a system theme color. You will probably see a different color):

From this location: The red background icons do work. The transparent background ones didn't.

After opening the red background icon and pinning it to task bar, it stopped working.

Next, I created a desktop icon from the red background icons, and the desktop icon does work... In the end, seems that the task bar is the only thing not working right now.

FYI, If you didn't already know, this is how you can make a desktop icon for anything (e.g., S123) installed via the MS Store. Just go to this location > right-click on an icon > click "Create Shortcut" > click "Yes" on the popup warning.

abureaux · Answer

Same symptoms here.

Ya, I've seen this issue in the past before, but it resolved itself pretty quick. But my IT seems to be pushing a bunch of updates/restarts this week, so maybe this is a symptom of that, and it may revert to proper functionality after the security changes. I think I'll give it a day or two and see if it changes on its own.

DuncanC · Answer

I've had it happen where they won't open from the start menu.  But if I open them through the app store they work.

I thought they had corrected their app store install sometime in the past couple months as the issue resolved itself on my machine.