Windows 7: "Access denied:" How to overcome denied access to a folder

I'd like to put a .cmd file in my c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup directory, but \Documents and Settings has a lock on it and tells me "Access denied" when I click on it. Is this a job for "Take Ownership" or is there another way? The instructions for "Take Ownership" say not to use it on the C drive, but it's not clear if that applies to the whole drive, or individual files/folders on it. Thanks.

That is the incorrect path. No need to mess with permissions, I'd advise leaving them alone.

The path you are looking for is C:\Users\<your user account>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

The folder for the start menu FOR ALL USERS is located here: C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu
TCG, already pointed out where th per-user start menu folder is located.

Thanks, guys. If I'm the only user on this PC, and I don't use a log-in (I just start and boot to the desktop), which directory should I use?

Directory for what? Your user directory? C:\Users\[username]\

Which of the two suggested directories should I put the .cmd file in to be executed at startup?

Where ever...doesn't really matter. They both will do the same thing.

Hi, I'm facing error while deleting my AVAST antivirus folder. The uninstall file is missing so that I tried to delete the entire folder. Please suggest solution!