It does seem to be a privilege issue, but merely adding a new directory in C does not fix it.
in other words...
@echo off
cd c:\test
pause
ren 1.hlp 1.txt
does not work for me(bat file and 1.hlp moved to c:\test)
by changing the permission of the shortcut to "run as admin" results in a prompt to proceed and then it does run.
I will try this with the full batchfile and report back.