Why am I getting an access denied error in PowerShell?
Asked by
CuriousCoder42
I'm trying to use `Get-ChildItem` in PowerShell Version 5.1 to list items in a script folder with the command: `$scriptsFolder = Get-ChildItem -Force -Path "c:scripts" -Recurse`. However, I'm getting an access denied error for a path I didn't specify: 'C:WindowsCSCv2.0.6'. Does anyone know what's going on and why PowerShell is defaulting to this path?
Answers
It sounds like PowerShell isn't correctly recognizing your specified path due to a known bug with the `-Recurse` parameter. When it can't find 'c:scripts', it defaults to searching the entire C: drive. This can lead to access denied errors for folders like 'C:WindowsCSCv2.0.6'. To avoid this, try using `-LiteralPath` instead of `-Path` for better results, like this: `Get-ChildItem -LiteralPath 'C:scripts'`. Also, first check if the path actually exists with `Test-Path`.
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I think we might need to see your entire script to diagnose this further. Sometimes, hidden errors can show up when other commands conflict with what you're trying to do.
CuriousCoder42: I'll try to share it tomorrow when I can access my laptop. Thanks for your help!
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QueryMaster99: Oh wow, I didn't realize it was such a widespread issue. Thanks for the heads-up on how to use `-LiteralPath`. I'll try that next!