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Lately, Windows 11 updates have been wreaking havoc. making the user experience of the operating system less than pleasant. Some of the issues highlighted by users include being unable to completely shut down your PCs or sign in to a device when using Remote Desktop.
Although Microsoft issued a emergency fix To address the issues highlighted above, a new Windows 11 error appears to be locking some Samsung laptops out of their C:\ drive after installing the February 2026 security updates (via neowin).
Users may encounter ‘C:\ is not accessible – Access Denied’ error, which prevents access to files and blocks the launch of some applications, including Outlook, Office applications, web browsers, system utilities, and Quick Assist.
microsoft
“Affected devices encounter the issue when users perform common actions, such as accessing files, launching applications, or performing administrative tasks, and do not require any specific user actions beyond routine operations.” Microsoft added. “In some cases, users are also unable to elevate privileges, uninstall updates, or collect logs due to permission failures.“
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Microsoft is working closely with Samsung to establish whether the issue is related to the Windows update or was caused by Samsung software installed on affected PCs.
The software giant has indicated that the issue appears to be intentional and is affecting users in Brazil, Portugal, South Korea and India with “the Samsung Galaxy Book 4 and other Samsung consumer devices.” The company suspects that Samsung Share could be to blame for the problem, but it is not entirely certain.
However, an updated version of the documentation confirms that the issue was caused by an issue with the Samsung Galaxy Connect app. “While the reports coincided with the recent March Patch Tuesday, the investigation confirmed that the issue is not caused by current or previous monthly Windows updates.” Microsoft indicated.
As a result, Microsoft temporarily removed the Samsung Galaxy Connect app from the Microsoft Store to prevent the issue from becoming widespread.“Samsung has rereleased a previous stable version of the app to stop the recurrence on additional devices. Recovery options for already affected devices remain limited and Samsung continues to evaluate remediation approaches with support from Microsoft.” Microsoft added.
Before Microsoft mitigated the problem, a reddit A user claiming to be a Samsung technician in Brazil had posted a workaround that some affected users said helped them restore access to their C:\ drive.
Samsung Galaxy Book laptops ruined by a Windows update? of r/sysadmin
However, the third-party workaround is a bit peculiar, as pointed out by computer beeping, and will require the user change the ownership of the entire C:\ drive and all subfolders to the “Everyone” group, including system directories and files normally owned by TrustedInstaller or SYSTEM.
That said, waiting for a solution from Microsoft might be a safer bet. In the interim, “Microsoft is collaborating with Samsung’s efforts to develop and validate solutions for devices that have already been affected.”
Have you been affected by this problem? Share your experience with me in the comments.
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