# Lost access to old 'My Documents' folder... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 5, 2004, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-access-to-old-my-documents-folder/232681 "2004-03-05T11:26:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2004, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-access-to-old-my-documents-folder/232681/1 "2004-03-05T11:26:05Z")
I had to do a semi-clean install of Windows XP (by semi-clean I mean I installed it over the top of an older installation, not using the repair option, but not doing a format either) As a result I have duplicates of all the folders within the ‘Documents and Settings’ folder. And I am unable to access the older version of the one belonging to me (the one with my login name as the name of the dir). That directory is taking up about 300MB of my Hd. Most of that space is downloaded music (legal, from a pay-per-download site) Which I want to keep as I have paid for it. \*\*Question 1 - \*\*Is there any way I can re-gain access to this directory? or failing that - delete it? (I suspect I can get the licences for the music and re-download it without having to pay again) \*\*Question 2 - \*\*How do I re-name the new versions (they have silly capitalized names like “Lobsang.LOBSANG-POC0293RUY” to distinguish them from the old directories) once I have removed the old ones (after sifting for files I want to keep, assuming I get an positive answer to question 1) Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Achilles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dc4da7/32.png) [@Achilles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achilles)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2004, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-access-to-old-my-documents-folder/232681/2 "2004-03-05T11:27:44Z")
On Question 1, sorry Can’t help. Question 2 - just highlight the file / folder and hit F2 to rename. Hope that helps ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2004, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-access-to-old-my-documents-folder/232681/3 "2004-03-05T11:36:29Z")
I have done a search and I _might_ have a fix. (ms doc on ‘taking control of a folder’) I have to reboot into safe mode to do it. I’ll keep you posted. **Achilles** no offence, but I know how to rename a directory normally. I am asking how to rename a ‘special’ directory that is named by windows. Renaming it the normal way might not work or might mess it up somehow. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2004, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-access-to-old-my-documents-folder/232681/4 "2004-03-05T11:38:45Z")
I never knew windows XP had a safe mode. balls! I coulda used that to fix the old install instead of having to re-install over the old one. Oh well. Off I go… (rebooting into safe mode) ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2004, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-access-to-old-my-documents-folder/232681/5 "2004-03-05T12:14:41Z")
It’s done. All my files are moved and most of the directory is deleted. I can’t delete it all because of ONE STUPID FILE in a directory called ‘installer’ It says the file is in use and cannot be deleted. As a result it’s folder and ALL the parent folders can’t be deleted. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2004, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-access-to-old-my-documents-folder/232681/6 "2004-03-06T01:05:36Z")
Well it _was_ done, until I want too far and decided to completely fuck up the whole fucking user account! Spent my sleep time sorting it out. Now it seems to be ok, but windows update won’t work properly. might end up re-installing windows _again!_