I am in my user folder. I am the owner and administrator of this computer. However, it won't let me access several of the folders in my user account. Such as the Templates folder. When I click on it, it says: "C:\Users\Nancy\Templates is not accessible. Access is denied." The icon on the folder looks like a shortcut icon. It is the same folder as AppDate, but with a little arrow pointing up and to the right down in the lower left corner. If I right click on it and go to Properties, I am listed as the owner. This is currently happening to the following folders: Application Data, Cookies, Local Settings, NetHood, PrintHood, SendTo, Start Menu, and Templates. I got the same message with my Music folder a few minutes ago. I rebooted and now I can at least access that one. Any ideas?

Nancy
This is a common problem for users that are looking for the same folder structure in Vista that was used in XP.
The folders you are looking at that appear to be shortcuts are called a Junction or Symbolic Link. These folders are used for backward compatibility, mostly for installation programs that are looking for an old system folder location. They appear where a system folder location, that was part of a previous version of Windows, has been changed in Vista. When an older installation program is installed, these folders will redirect the installation program to the proper folder in Vista. These folders contain no user information.
You can use a command prompt to locate the new folder that the Junction points to in Vista
Press WINKEY+R and type cmd and press OK.
The command window should open at the C:\Users\<username> folder.
Type: dir /ahL and press the ENTER key. (Note the space in the command)
The result will be a list of folders on the C: drive, here is an example.
<date> <time> <JUNCTION> SendTo [C:\Users\<username>AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo]
This shows the old name of the folder (SendTo) with the path to the new location in brackets.
It would be a good idea to print this list for future reference.
For reference, Here is the list of Junctions for a standard, clean installation of Vista Ultimate on the C: drive. Office 2007 is installed. Your results may be different because of different software being installed.
Microsoft Windows [Version 6.0.6000]
C:\Users\username>dir /ahl
Directory of C:\Users\<username>
12/13/2006 03:15 PM <JUNCTION> Application Data [C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming]
12/13/2006 03:15 PM <JUNCTION> Cookies [C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Cookies]
12/13/2006 03:15 PM <JUNCTION> Local Settings [C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local]
12/13/2006 03:15 PM <JUNCTION> My Documents [C:\Users\<username>\Documents]
12/13/2006 03:15 PM <JUNCTION> NetHood [C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Network Shortcuts]
12/13/2006 03:15 PM <JUNCTION> PrintHood [C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Printer Shortcuts]
12/13/2006 03:15 PM <JUNCTION> Recent [C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent]
12/13/2006 03:15 PM <JUNCTION> SendTo [C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo]
12/13/2006 03:15 PM <JUNCTION> Start Menu [C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu]
12/13/2006 03:15 PM <JUNCTION> TEMPLATE[C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Templates
(Where "<username>" is the name of the account you are currently logged onto the system with.)
The "My" designation for a user folder has been retired, so the old "My" Documents, My Music, etc, is now called simply Documents and Music respectively.

Ronnie Vernon Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
"Nancy T."

Thank you. That was a very clear and concise response and it totally makes sense. Now I am thinking that when I couldn't get in to my music folder, I may have been clicking on My Music instead of Music. Thanks for taking the time to answer. You were a great help!
Nancy (I still HATE Vista and Office 2007!)
"Ronnie Vernon MVP" wrote:

Nancy
Your welcome, glad this helped.

Ronnie Vernon Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
"Nancy T."