Hi wally74!
I have had this same problem and here's how I worked it out so that I
could reset the password. Do not fear -- it *is* possible, it just
takes a little digging and you will have to enter the registry. I
highly recommend making a backup of the registry just in case
something should go awry.
There is a key in the registry which you simply need to delete. This
will allow you to reset your ratings and password.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Rati
ngs
I used this for my laptop which was running Windows 98 (this was a
couple of years ago) and had suddenly blocked sites I needed to work
with for my job. It was very frustrating until I figured out how to
get control back.
For more information on the Registry and editing it, take a look
through Microsoft's page on the subject:
http://www.winguides.com/registry/
This Registry Tutorial will help you understand how the registry works
and how it can help you have a lot of control over your computer (You
can even set it so that the registry can't be edited by just anyone,
thus making your computer even more secure.)
"What is the Registry?
The Registry is a database used to store settings and options for the
32 bit versions of Microsoft Windows including Windows 95, 98, ME and
NT/2000. It contains information and settings for all the hardware,
software, users, and preferences of the PC. Whenever a user makes
changes to a Control Panel settings, or File Associations, System
Policies, or installed software, the changes are reflected and stored
in the Registry."
http://www.winguides.com/article.php?id=1&guide=registry
Editing the Registry:
"The Registry Editor (REGEDIT.EXE) is included with most version of
Windows (although you won't find it on the Start Menu) it enables you
to view, search and edit the data within the Registry. There are
several methods for starting the Registry Editor, the simplest is to
click on the Start button, then select Run, and in the Open box type
"regedit", and if the Registry Editor is installed it should now
open...
Note: it is always a good idea to backup your registry before making
any changes to it. It can be intimidating to a new user, and there is
always the possibility of changing or deleting a critical setting
causing you to have to reinstall the whole operating system. It's much
better to be safe than sorry!"
http://www.winguides.com/article.php?id=1&page=3&guide=registry
Hope this helps!
Filian
SEARCH TERMS
editing windows registry |
Clarification of Answer by
filian-ga
on
24 Mar 2003 12:05 PST
Hi wally74!
I've been searching like mad for this answer as I know just how
frustrated you must feel since I was once in the same position and
unable to work for a couple of days because of it. I truly sympathize
with you. Unfortunately I don't use Macs and have very little
experience with them.
From what I have gleaned so far online, you need to go into something
called "kiosk mode" and make changes there. I'm still trying to nail
down exactly what you need to do but this site explains a bit about
kiosk mode:
http://www.macdevcenter.com/pub/a/mac/2001/04/27/mac_hacks.html
Someone had answered on a message board with these instructions, but I
don't know how yet to tell you to implement them:
"Leon,
You can use WINSelect KIOSK to disable
(gray) the Options Menu item in IE 3.02.
Denis"
http://www.askeric.org/Virtual/Listserv_Archives/EDTECH/1998/Mar_1998/msg00101.html
What kind of Mac do you have? Which version is it? And which version
of IE does it have running on it? I can keep searching for you but you
may also want to go ahead and see if Microsoft can help at all. I'd
hate to see you stuck without being able to use the machine.
This forum I found featured a person who had a problem getting into
her regular desktop. I don't think this was a Content Advisor problem
but it may give some insight on how to dig around in a Mac. If only I
had one handy I could dig for myself! :)
http://www.computing.net/mac/wwwboard/forum/6682.html
It seems Microsoft has a page for Mac but they still direct you to
contact them:
"For information about how to contact Microsoft Product Support
Services, please visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://support.microsoft.com/support/contact/default.asp"
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;q216551
This newsgroup (microsoft.public.mac.explorer)has something you could
try (I of course would make backups and be careful before attempting
these as I don't know how reliable they are):
"> I have 34 Mac computers in a classroom accessing the Internet with
IE 5.
> One machine gives a message that the Content Advisor will not allow
you to
> see this site. I cannot find how to fix this problem and have even
> reinstalled plus gutted numerous preferences.
>
> JLeggett
If you're talking about IE 5.0, try running the "Microsoft Internet
First
Run" application - that should allow you to disable the Content
Advisor
feature."
From the same thread:
"Try deleting Macintosh HD:System Folder:Preferences:Internet
Preferences"
These solutions were suggested by Mickey Stevens whose signature says
this:
"Mickey Stevens (Microsoft MVP for Office:mac)"
If worse comes to worse you could try emailing him.
://www.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=lang_en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&threadm=045d01c2eb1c%247bb200b0%24a601280a%40phx.gbl&rnum=12&prev=/groups%3Fq%3DMac%2BAND%2Bcontent%2BAND%2Badvisor%2BAND%2Bpassword%26start%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3Dlang_en%26ie%3DUTF-8%26oe%3DUTF-8%26selm%3D045d01c2eb1c%25247bb200b0%2524a601280a%2540phx.gbl%26rnum%3D12
I found another post on a newsgroup (pdx.singles) whereby the woman
who posted simply needed to change one setting she's inadvertently
turned on (look at the very first message):
"Well, two days later a friend of mine
brought by his 17 year old son and he showed me what to do. Seems
that he
had done the same thing and showed me that when you hit the "enable
settings", even though you do not enter a password, it turns on
anyway. I
had not noticed that the words on the button had changed to "disable
settings". All he did was just click on the button and when it asked
for a
password he just clicked OK without entering a password and it turned
off."
://www.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=lang_en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&threadm=misdh-1102981219080001%40reuter.cse.ogi.edu&rnum=15&prev=/groups%3Fq%3DMac%2BAND%2Bcontent%2BAND%2Badvisor%2BAND%2Bpassword%26start%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3Dlang_en%26ie%3DUTF-8%26oe%3DUTF-8%26selm%3Dmisdh-1102981219080001%2540reuter.cse.ogi.edu%26rnum%3D15
I wish I had a Mac and could help you more! If all else fails, please
do try and get in touch with Microsoft. I'm sure they will be able to
help you. Let me know if any of this worked at all.
Also, as a final note just be very careful with any advice given on
newsgroups or other websites. Always back up your information before
making any changes. I don't mean to spook you, but it's better safe
than sorry.
:)
Filian
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