Windows 7 quandry

I just bought a new Lenovo T520 with IBM's installation of Windows 7 and I am having issues with administrative powers. I have seen where it said I am an administrator. But many things I try to do fail with an error message saying "Access Denied. You don't have permission to do that."

So how is it that, for one example, I can't even enter the "Documents and settings" folder which shows a padlock on its icon?

There have been numerous instances of "Access Denied," altho I haven't made a list of them yet. I have attempted to get into security permissions, but I am useless with that stuff even in XP, and what I have tried gives me "Access Denied."

For what it's worth, I've heard that Win 7 is far better than Vista. That has to mean that Vista is really very complicated and time consuming.

Does any of this "ring a bell" with anyone? Is there a way to get full administrative control? Does one have to sign in AS "Administrator" to get permissions other administrators do not have? If so, how? This is making no sense to me at all. In XP Pro I am listed as administrator and have full administrative power as me. But being listed that way in Win 7 must be totally different??

Puzzled.

 

"Documents and Settings" is not by default visible in Win 7 unless the user opts to unhide protected operating system files, as you have done. It is not a folder at all, it is a symbolic link necessary to enable some programs written for XP to run in Win 7. The equivalent of the Documents and Settings subfolders are mostly located under your user account in Win 7.

It is best while going through the Win 7 learning curve to keep the system files in their default hidden state. You will then find you are able to access your folders without seeing these permission messages.

 

So all that multi-layered stuff is so it can run XP programs. Weird

Thanks