I know... there's Microsoft Knowledge Base. Can't deal with that.

Problem is, I do not have access to the Documents and Settings folder on my laptop. Vista Home Basic using NTFS. Yes, the Security tab is available to me in all folders. The same goes for a whole bunch of the folders under the ProgramData folder. Half of them have the shortcut icon and I'm denied access. Under Users, the Default User and the All Users folders are shortcuts and I'm denied access. And I'm locked out of a bunch of folders under my own user folder, which also show as shortcuts!!
Why are they shortcuts? I cannot locate the actual folders if they truly are shortcuts.

I AM the Administrator, but there is no separate administrator account... just me with full Admin rights. When I right-click one of those folders, it doesn't show any folder details, but the same tabs are there for Sharing, Security, Customize.

What's the scoop? Do I need to dump this and go back to trusty old XP?

They changed all the folders for that stuff in Vista.
There are still shortcuts with the old names for legacy programs, but only user "system" has access.

The folder you're looking for is now called "USERS"

I think I get it.
Their equivalents are hidden! As soon as you said "system" I knew the scoop.
:thumbsup:
I just un-hid them and BINGO! No more losing my mind!

Thanks Jim

Bet you upgraded from xp to vista?

No... Dell laptop ordered with Vista.
Having previously been in IT for TOO many years, I learned to never, ever do an upgrade of an MS operating system..... ever.
:)