The microsoft article should solve the access issue if it was followed correctly.

 

This is the only way I know of to correct this issue.

 

Can you rename it in safe mode?

I printed out the article and followed the directions.  When I first went into safe mode I couldn't even access the documents folder from there.  After completing the steps I was able to open the documents folder and access the contents from within safe mode.  This lead me to believe all was well.  As soon as I rebooted into Windows the problem returned.. Access denied.

 

I can't rename the documents folder in safe mode.  When I right click on the folder there is no menu option for renaming it.

 

Some tech sites state the combination of being denied access and the file name changing from "shared documents" to "documents" could be releated to a corrupt desktop.ini file.  The instructions for fixing this involve making corrections to the registry which I don't feel comfortable doing without specific instructions.  It would appear the author of this particular site assumes the reader knows something about doing registry edits.  http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/37/1/Shared-Documents-folder-renamed-to-Documents.html

 

Others seem to think it has something to do with ownership of the folder being changed.  Once again, these solutions seem to involve making registry changes without giving clear instructions on how to do this.  http://windowsxp.mvps.org/sdperms.htm

 

I sure hope there's an easier way around this problem..

 

If you can get into the folder again, look in there to see if there is a desktop ini file, if there is, delete it if you can, and reboot. Windows will replace it with a default one.

 

Yes registry editing can be intimidating for the inexperienced

I just went back into safe mode to access the folder.  There is no file in the documents folder named desktop.ini.  I even checked under hidden files. 

Are there files in there you need?

 

I think I would just make a new folder called "shared documents"

 

Bang head here>>    X

Yes, there is one folder in there with a lot of files I need access to. 

 

Ya gotta love Windows.  :)

The directions here are pretty straight forward and do not involve the registry

http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/37/1/Shared-Documents-folder-renamed-to-Documents.html

 

You need to create a desktop ini file in the documents folder , this is easy, just create a text document and paste this into it

 

[.ShellClassInfo]

LocalizedResourceName=@shell32.dll,-21785

 

save the text file, then change the file extension from .txt  to  .ini    now you have the ini file you need in there.

 

*  you might create this ini file somewhere else, then copy it into the documents folder.

If this fails to copy to the folder, try to create the ini file while in the documents folder.

 

Now open a command prompt and type in the following and hit enter, to open a cmd prompt hold the Flag key down and tap R key, type in   cmd   in the run box and hit enter.

 

cmd /c attrib +r "%allusersprofile%\documents"

 

You should be able to access the files now.

 

 

Go read the link I posted, you may have to do the permissions thing again. Read the article carefully.

In order to access the documents folder I had to go back into safe mode.. Inside the documents folder I created the desktop.ini file as instructed using notepad.  I typed the text exactly as it appears

[.ShellClassinfo]

LocalizedResourceName=@shell32.dll,-21785

 

I closed the file, went into file properties to insure it had the .ini at the end of the file name desktop.ini

 

I rebooted and went back into windows.  From there opened the command prompt and manually entered the string    cmd /c attrib +r "%allusersprofile%\documents"  Received the message "parameter format not correct."  Figuring I typed the string incorrectly I copied and pasted it exactly from your post.  upon hitting enter I received "Access Denied - c:\documents and settings\all users\documents.