A Description of Protected Folders

By default, Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Me) hides the contents of the following folders:

• Windows
• Windows\System
• Control Panel
• Root directory of C:
• Program Files

The contents of these folders are hidden when Web View is enabled.

You can use one of the following methods to view the contents of these folders:

Method 1:

1. Double-click the folder you want to view.
2. On the View menu, click whatever view option you want to use. For example, on the View menu, click List.

When a user views the entire contents of a folder, Windows Me stores a record of this activity in its memory. After you view the contents of the folder you can hide its contents again by clicking the Hide the contents of this folder option.

Method 2:

1. Double-click the folder you want to view.
2. On the Tools menu, click Folder Options.
3. On the General tab, under Web View, click Use Windows classic folders.
4. Click OK.

Method 3:

1. Double-click the folder you want to view.
2. On the Tools menu, click Folder Options.
3. Click the View tab.
4. Click to select the Display all Control Panel options and all folder contents check box.
5. Click OK.

NOTE: When you click the Hide the contents of this folder option in one of the protected folders, the check in the Display all Control Panel options and all folder contents check box is automatically removed.

The Web View preference for system folders is controlled by DWORD values for each protected folder. A value data of "0" (zero) causes the folder contents to be displayed. A value data of "1" (one) causes the contents to be hidden. Each protected folder has its own value:


These values are located in the following registry key:

HKEY_Current_User\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
\WebView\BarricadedFolders