It is fairly simple...once you understand it all! It used to be that you had to type in DOS commands and couldn't click on anything on the screen: that was simple, but not very much fun. It sounds like you are trying to teach yourself to do things by clicking and guessing, and by assuming it will be the same as previous. You can do that, but in my experience you never know what you don't know, and you waste a lot of time. For example, how much time have you spent on this one issue? My suggestion is -- and don't be insulted -- that you need to buy yourself the book "Windows 7 for Dummies." The Dummies series are very helpful books (I've used them myself) that walk you step-by-step through how to make things work. The version that I've linked to below even comes with a DVD that gives you a couple of hours of hands-on instruction. Here is a link that might be useful: Windows 7 for Dummies

bg - I followed your instructions, but ran into a problem at: "On the tools tab, select Check Now" I don't see that option anywhere. Should I have been in safe mode? Nevertheless - I think I may have figured something out. Let's see if I can explain this. I only have one floppy with Word documents on it. Luckily I have copies on my C drive. I went back to the beginning and started over. First I went into Word, inserted that floppy and tried to access the documents I know I have saved there. Got the Access Denied message as stated in my original post. Next I went into My Computer with that disk still in the drive, clicked on A: and got a message that the disk was not formatted. What? It was at one point since I have lots of documents saved on it. I also label my floppies, so I know I didn't have the wrong one. Went back into Word, inserted a different floppy, opened a document on my C drive and tried saving it to the new floppy. IT WORKED!! I could save it and then I could open it. Didn't get the Access Denied message at all. So I guess it was a floppy disk problem. I still don't know why I got that: You do not have access to the folder 'A:\'. See you system administrator for access to this folder. message if the disk was bad.

Actually, I did look at both of them & went thru the properties & they're identical. They each have 2.68 GB of info in the total folder. If one was a shortcut, it would usually only have 1kb. As I stated above, when I deleted one of them, they both went to the Recycle bin. I also had both open to compare them & when I deleted a file, it immediately removed it from both of them! This is weird. I also searched on Microsoft & didn't find anything remotely similar.

I don't have everything under control but it was a wonderful day when I put a laundry basket beneath the small desk in our entry way. When mail comes in, I put all standard monthly bills inside without opening. I now have added a zip lock bag to the laundry basket and store all receipts/maintenance for the house in that laundry basket. At the end of the year, I pull out the zip lock bag and put that in my file cabinet for the house filed by year. The rest of the stuff in the laundry basket goes into a kitchen trash sized bag with a stickup label on the outside that has the year. I store the bag in our loft which we use for storage (could put it in an attic or closet, etc.) At the beginning of the year, I make sure the laundry basket beneath the desk is EMPTY. This location is handy because I can sort my mail quickly. I have two or three times needed to go into this basket in the years since I've been doing this. Once I remember I needed a water bill to show I was a city resident and could use the dump for hauling trash. I found what I needed within 10 minutes. I have added a second ziploc bag to the laundry basket labeled "Annual bills/invoices/records" such as when I get our health and home insurance statements, (can't remember what else goes in there. ) This is still a work in progress but I LOVE having a place to immediately file. (I have another small pot I use for storing tax related stuff that comes in starting in January) and since we itemize, I have a small box close by for medical receipts that are kept file yearly. (Haven't figured out where or how or when to store blood test results, etc...work in progress) Trick for me is to make it EASY to file immediately. I have a box for junk mail that I use for tossing, don't even open. Then I take whole box (when it fills up) to Office Max store where they charge modest amount to shred. I don't even have to keep a shredder anymore. As a result of this thread, I think I will change and find a new "Pot" for "IMPORTANT" and save and store on a yearly basis and don't throw away periodically. I think filiing immediately and trying to avoid sorting until you must find something is a good strategy. As a result of remodeling, I will have a new fairly nice sized closet near the entry way. I plan to put my "pots" in there. However, I don't think I will move the laundry basket. It has been such a life-saviour, I don't want to mess with a good thing.