Knowledge Base

All Drives in My Computer Are Hidden

Article ID: 153000

Article Last Modified on 11/15/2006

Microsoft Windows 95
Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Standard Edition
Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition

This article was previously published under Q153000

SYMPTOMS

Although you have turned off the Hide Drives In My Computer option in System Policy Editor, all the drives in My Computer may still be hidden.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs if you use System Policy Editor to create a system policy with the Hide Drives In My Computer option enabled. This option cannot be disabled in a system policy once it has been enabled because of a setting in the default template (Admin.adm).

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, modify the default template. To do so, follow these steps:

Make a copy of the default system policy template file (Admin.adm). This file is located in the Windows\INF folder. Note that this folder may be hidden.
Use Notepad to open the Admin.adm file.
Search for the text hidedrives. The default entry for this section should be:
POLICY !!HideDrives
VALUENAME "NoDrives"
VALUEON NUMERIC 67108863; low 26 bits on (1 bit per drive)
Modify this section to read as follows:
POLICY !!HideDrives
VALUENAME "NoDrives"
VALUEON NUMERIC 67108863 ; low 26 bits on (1 bit per drive)
VALUEOFF NUMERIC 0 ; ******
Save and then close the file.

MORE INFORMATION

Once you have enabled the Hide Drives In My Computer option in System Policy Editor, the option cannot be permanently disabled using the default template. If you disable the option in System Policy Editor, the change stays in effect only until the next time you start System Policy Editor. After you start System Policy Editor, the option becomes enabled again when you restart your computer.

System Policy Editor (Poledit.exe) is available in the Admin\Apptools\ Poledit folder on the Windows 95 CD-ROM. Use the Add/Remove Programs tool in Control Panel to install System Policy Editor.

NOTE: System Policy Editor is not included in the floppy disk version of Windows 95. You can download Policy.exe, a self-extracting executable file containing Poledit.exe, from online services. Please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base for information about downloading Policy.exe:

135315 CD-ROM Extras for Microsoft Windows 95 Upgrade

Additional query words: winnt prodnt

Keywords: kbenv KB153000