This is by default and "by design" - although it's read-only, it's only
read-only by the operating system. Basically, it's just as normal - nothing
to worry about, just a simple tick box which means very little :oP

Ian I haven't gotten far enough to not have permission on documents yet BUT.  
I downloaded trend pccillin beta for Vista x64 and it did not properly
install so it never actually starts.  I tried add remove and it couldn't
remove the program.  I went to reinstall and it kept trying to uninstall so I
decided to just remove the program files.  Guess what - I dont have
permission and I need to talk to the system administrator (ME).  Does anyone
know how to remove a freakin file on this thing since I dont have permission.

Anyone know how to remove a program file/folder.  Seem that I who built the
damn machine and installed the program do not have permission.

Hello,

It is helpful to remember that in Windows Vista, even though you are running
as an administrator account, every program you run is running under a
*standard user* account, and does not have administrator-level permission.
The only way a program can get administrator-level permission is if the
application automatically prompts you for permission, or if you explicitly
give that application permission.

So ... what are the actual ramifications of this when dealing with the
filesystem? Let's take a look at the default access permissions for most
folders in windows:

- A user has read access to just about everything
- A user generally cannot write to anything outside of his profile directory
- Any user can create a folder almost anywhere in the filesystem
- The owner of a folder has full control over it and its contents
- Administrators have almost full control over just about everything

So... this means, that even though you are an running in an admin account,
all your explorer windows and programs you run (having normal user
credentials) will be able to read almost any file, but will not be able to
write anything unless it is in your profile directory, or a directory that
you created or took ownership of.

So, here's the major problem:

- Folders and files from a different windows installation probably won't
allow you to write to them, even if they're YOUR files you created from a
different version of windows.

- You will need to modify their permissions to give either Everyone full
access or your user account in Vista full access. Taking ownership of them
is NOT RECOMMENDED as you may have trouble accessing them from the other
windows installation.

- Managing your files and folders are going to be a real pain ... which
brings me to

HOW DO I MANAGE MY FILES AND FOLDERS if explorer run as a standard user ?!?!

Here's how:

- Click Start
- Type: explorer.exe
- When it shows up under Applications, right-click it and click Run As
Administrator

You now have an "administrator" explorer, kind of like a root shell in that
other operating system, that will allow you to change permissions and access
files as admin, just like in the good 'ol days.

Hope this helps! :)

- JB