WD: "Hide Network Neighborhood Policy" Changes Template Icon

ID: Q153821

The information in this article applies to:

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, you should first make a backup copy of the registry files (System.dat and User.dat). Both are hidden files in the Windows folder.

SYMPTOMS

Word template icons are displayed as question marks inside balloons when you use the System Policy Editor to "hide" the Network Neighborhood icon on the Windows 95 desktop and set the User Templates location to the Office 95 administrative directory on the network drive. Although the icons are displayed incorrectly, you can still use the templates.

RESOLUTION

You can edit the registry using System Policy Editor (Poledit.exe) or Registry Editor (Regedit.exe). Check with your network administrator before you make any changes to the registry.

If you are using the Office 97 system policy templates that are included in the Microsoft Office 97 Resource Kit, you must use the version of the System Policy Editor that is included in the Microsoft Office 97 Resource Kit or the Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Resource Kit.

NOTE: You can download Policy.exe, a self-extracting executable file containing Poledit.exe, from online services. Download this file from the following Web site: 

   http://www.microsoft.com/office/ork/appa/appa.htm#dex4
Use the following steps to edit the registry with System Policy Editor to change the Network and Shell policies:

1. Click the Start button, click Run, type "poledit" (without quotation 

   marks) in the Open box, then click OK to start System Policy Editor.
2. On the File menu, click Open Registry.

3. Double-click Local User.

4. Double-click Shell.

5. Select No Entire Network and No Workgroup Contents.

6. Double-click Network.

7. Clear the Hide Network Neighborhood check box. Select the "Disable File 

   Sharing" and "Disable Printer Sharing" check boxes.
8. Click OK.

9. Save the changes to the registry, exit System Policy Editor, and 

   then restart Windows 95.
When you make this change, the Network Neighborhood icon will be appear on the desktop, but the workstation user cannot browse any network resource. The user can, however, map to a drive if the user knows the exact server and path and can disconnect a drive; however, all drives are hidden in the Network Neighborhood window.

STATUS

Microsoft is researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

Additional query words: 7.0 poledit.exe poledit 

Keywords          : kbenv kbnetwork kbtool
Version           : 7.0 7.0a 97
Platform          : WINDOWS

Last Reviewed: January 20, 1999