unable to rename a folder

This is probably a permissions problem with the folder (or one of its parent folders) - even if you are running as an Administrator and perhaps even if you created the folder yourself.  You need to take Full Rights or maybe even take Ownership of the folder.  Where is the folder located (it's full path name including the name of the folder) - that could make a difference?  You may need to be an Administrator to change the name in that folder and you may be signed on as a standard user - if so, log in as an administrator and try again.  What is the name of the programs (name and version) that you think might have open files in this folder - perhaps they (maybe a small part of them) start at startup and can be deactivated through Autorun http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx.  Check and make sure if you suspect any such programs (but the error message is different from what would appear if that were the case so I don't think that's the problem). 

Here are some guidelines that will help with permissions and ownership:

To see your permissions, right click the folder/file, click on properties, and check out the security tab.  Check to see what permissions you have by clicking on your username (or user group).  Here are the types of permissions you can have: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/What-are-permissions.  You need to be an administrator or the owner to change permissions (and sometimes being an administrator or even an owner isn't enough - there are ways to block even them from access (though a smart administrator knows these ways and can get around them - but usually shouldn't because they were denied access usually for a very good reason).  Here's how to change folder permissions in Vista: http://www.online-tech-tips.com/windows-vista/set-file-folder-permissions-vista/.  To add take and grant full right permissions and ownership to the right click menu (which will make it faster to get in once it is set up), check out the following article: http://www.mydigitallife.info/2009/05/21/take-and-grant-full-control-permissions-and-ownership-in-windows-7-or-vista-right-click-menu/.  You may need to go to Advanced to check out the Special properties and remove those which are inherited (as long as the username is already included in the main permissions listing with the permissions you want to give it) - but that's not a common problem except in the system files (where you shouldn't really be adding folders or modifying anything unless you REALLY know what you're doing - even I hesitate to work in these areas because an error can cause you to lose a program or even cause you to need to re-install the OS (which you definitely don't want to have to do).

 To fix this problem with the folders, take ownership of the folders or the drive (as an administrator) and give yourself full rights.  Right click the folder/drive, click on properties, go to the security tab and click on Advanced and then click on the Owner tab.  Click edit and then click the name of the person you want to give ownership to (you may need to add it if it isn't there - or it may be yourself). If you want it to apply to sub-folders and files within that folder/drive, then check the box for replace owner on sub-containers and objects and click OK.  Back out and now there's a new owner for the folders/drive and files who can change permissions as needed.  You can now change them from read-only (even if the main folder says they still are read only - you can have access yourself as the owner).  You can keep them as read-only for other users and guests and even administrators (though they can take ownership themselves and gain access if they so desire and there really isn't much you can do to stop this except protect the folder with a password using a 3rd party product.  Here's more information on taking ownership of a file or folder: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/67717-take-ownership-file.html.  To add take ownership to the right click menu (which will make it faster to get in once it is set up), check out the following article: http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/add-take-ownership-to-explorer-right-click-menu-in-vista/.

Good luck and I hope this helps!