Select-String : The file C:\Users\XXXXXXX\AppData\Local\Temp\debug cannot be read: Access ... denied :: Support Forum

SmurfnSurf
Joined:: 2025-03-27
Posts:: 5

Select-String : The file C:\Users\XXXXXXX\AppData\Local\Temp\debug cannot be read: Access ... denied

2025-03-27 02:49

Background: I use to have WinSCP Portable in C:\Utils\WinSCP, for many years.

I wanted to use the Search TEXT within files feature, via the built-in extension, so I installed WinSCP Windows Installer in Win11 "for everyone" and selected the custom install, to the C:\Utils\WinSCP dir, not the default dir.

I then ran the Commands > Static Custom Commands > Search for Text Extension.

PowerShell window comes up, searches, finds my text (simply QTPi4Eth in *.* from root on an Asus Router), continues 3 more lines then I get this error below (User Redacted to XXXXXX).

I have searched the forum but cannot find a similar instance that has been answered and solved. How can I help you troubleshoot this please?

File /data/boot_state_0 matches mask, searching contents...
File /data/scratchpad matches mask, searching contents...
File /debug matches mask, searching contents...
Select-String : The file C:\Users\XXXXXXX\AppData\Local\Temp\debug cannot be read: Access to the path
'C:\Users\XXXXXXX\AppData\Local\Temp\debug' is denied.
At C:\Utils\WinSCP\Extensions\SearchText.WinSCPextension.ps1:78 char:30
+ ...         $matchInfo = Select-String -Path $tempPath -SimpleMatch $text
+                          ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    + CategoryInfo          : InvalidArgument: (:) [Select-String], ArgumentException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : ProcessingFile,Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.SelectStringCommand

Confirm
The item at C:\Users\XXXXXXX\AppData\Local\Temp\debug has children and the Recurse parameter was not specified. If you
 continue, all children will be removed with the item. Are you sure you want to continue?
[Y] Yes  [A] Yes to All  [N] No  [L] No to All  [S] Suspend  [?] Help (default is "Y"):

Thank you!

Error.jpg (165.49 KB)

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martin◆ Site Admin
Joined:: 2002-12-10
Posts:: 41,853
Location:: Prague, Czechia

Re: Select-String : The file C:\Users\XXXXXXX\AppData\Local\Temp\debug cannot be read: Access ... denied

2025-03-27

Is the /debug a file or a directory?

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SmurfnSurf

Re: Select-String : The file C:\Users\XXXXXXX\AppData\Local\Temp\debug cannot be read: Access ... denied

2025-03-27 08:47

I’m pretty sure it’s a debug file generated by the router, so I think I see where you are going with the observation as it’s constantly growing/ being updated.

How do I exclude that file from the search?

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martin◆ Site Admin

Re: Select-String : The file C:\Users\XXXXXXX\AppData\Local\Temp\debug cannot be read: Access ... denied

2025-03-27

No that's not where I'm heading. I believe it's a directory, not a file. Can you check?

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Guest

Re: Select-String : The file C:\Users\XXXXXXX\AppData\Local\Temp\debug cannot be read: Access ... denied

2025-03-28 02:22

Hi again,

You're correct; it is a directory (on an ASUS Rt-AX88U Pro Router).
See attached. HTH?

Contents of Slash_Debug.jpg (169.39 KB)

Description: Contents of Slash Debug

Slash_Debug.jpg (87.48 KB)

Description: Debug Dir

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martin◆ Site Admin

Re: Select-String : The file C:\Users\XXXXXXX\AppData\Local\Temp\debug cannot be read: Access ... denied

2025-03-28

Please go to preferences and enable session logging for the extension:
https://winscp.net/eng/docs/ui_pref_commands
And post the log here.

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SmurfnSurf
Joined:: 2025-03-27
Posts:: 5

Re: Select-String : The file C:\Users\XXXXXXX\AppData\Local\Temp\debug cannot be read: Access ... denied

2025-03-30 01:13

See attached. I used Debug level 2.
I attach 3 logs, as the first one (Where I answered N to continue after the error, see picture) does not seem to have a lot, the other two more detail (I answered Y to continue and got a second error too).

Error1.jpg (178.31 KB)

Description: Error1 showing continue questions below it

Logging.jpg (40.94 KB)

Description: Debug Level

Logging.zip (333.18 KB)

Description: Zip file with 3 logs

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martin◆ Site Admin

Re: Select-String : The file C:\Users\XXXXXXX\AppData\Local\Temp\debug cannot be read: Access ... denied

2025-03-31

Thanks. Though you have enabled logging for the main GUI session. I've asked for log from the extension.
Go to: https://winscp.net/eng/docs/ui_pref_commands
Select the extension and click Configure.

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SmurfnSurf
Joined:: 2025-03-27
Posts:: 5

Re: Select-String : The file C:\Users\XXXXXXX\AppData\Local\Temp\debug cannot be read: Access ... denied

2025-03-31 08:11

Sorry about that, steep learning curve!
Hopefully this is what you needed?

SearchText.zip (239.96 KB)

Description: Searchtext Log

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martin◆ Site Admin
Joined:: 2002-12-10
Posts:: 41,853
Location:: Prague, Czechia

Re: Select-String : The file C:\Users\XXXXXXX\AppData\Local\Temp\debug cannot be read: Access ... denied

2025-04-01

Thanks. So it's a symlink with a relative path to a directory.
WinSCP has problems with resolving the relative path. I'll look into it.
Meanwhile, you can try one of these:

It might work better with SFTP protocol (why are you using SCP?).
If you can, change the symlink to use an absolute path (/sys/kernel/debug).
Exclude the /debug from the search by adding |/debug to the file mask.

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SmurfnSurf
Joined:: 2025-03-27
Posts:: 5

Re: Select-String : The file C:\Users\XXXXXXX\AppData\Local\Temp\debug cannot be read: Access ... denied

2025-04-01 08:41

martin wrote:

Thanks. So it's a symlink with a relative path to a directory.
WinSCP has problems with resolving the relative path. I'll look into it.
Meanwhile, you can try one of these:

OK Thank you for looking into it, much appreciated.

martin wrote:

It might work better with SFTP protocol (why are you using SCP?)

From memory I couldn't log in to the (ASUS RT-AX88U Pro)) Router using SFTP. See error.
SCP just worked, so I always use that.

martin wrote:

If you can, change the symlink to use an absolute path (/sys/kernel/debug).

I am not sure I can do that, I am not keen on changing anything in the Routers OS sorry, just not experienced enough.

martin wrote:

Exclude the /debug from the search by adding |/debug to the file mask.

OK, I can certainly do that thank you.

SFTP.jpg (37.86 KB)

Description: SFTP Error

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Select-String : The file C:\Users\XXXXXXX\AppData\Local\Temp\debug cannot be read: Access ... denied