Error Message: The Specified File Is Protected and May Not Be Copied Over or Deleted

When you use the System Configuration utility in Safe mode to extract a protected Microsoft Windows system file, you may receive the following error message:

The Microsoft System Configuration utility's (the Msconfig.exe file) behavior indicates that certain Windows system files are protected and cannot be replaced, even in Safe Mode, when in fact, they are not.

To resolve this behavior, follow these steps:

1. Click Start and click Run before restarting to Safe Mode.
2. In the Open box, type:
   MSConfig
3. Press Enter or click OK.
4. In the System Configuration utility window click the Startup folder tab so that it is in front.
5. Click to clear the *Statemgr check box, and then click OK or press Enter.
6. Hold down the CTRL key and click Safe mode in the Startup menu.
7. When the computer has restarted in Safe mode, click Start and click Run.
8. In the Open box, type:
   MSConfig
9. Press Enter or click OK.
10. Click Extract and extract the files that are usually protected by the Windows System File Protection feature.

The System File Protection feature does not work in Safe mode since it requires the Statemgr program to load from the registry at Startup or for the System Restore program (the Rstrui.exe file) to have previously ran.