Disabling Documents Folder on the Start Menu

 Last reviewed: March 5, 1998
Article ID: Q168920
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0 - Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information on how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" online Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" online Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

SUMMARY

When you lock down a Windows NT 4.0 client, users still have the Documents folder on the Start menu. This article discusses methods to disable the Documents folder so that it always reads (Empty).

MORE INFORMATION

To disable the Documents folder on the Start menu, select the procedure according to the following three configurations:

  • NTFS partition on a computer running Windows NT Workstation 4.0 or Windows NT Server 4.0
  • FAT partition on a networked computer running Windows NT Workstation 4.0 or Windows NT Server 4.0
  • FAT partition on stand-alone computer running Windows NT Workstation 4.0 or Windows NT Server 4.0

Ideally, the first fix is the easiest to implement and restore. The other techniques require editing the registry and are more complex. The last method requires disabling the Recycle Bin and this should be used only in the direst of situations.

NTFS Partition on a Computer Running Windows NT Workstation 4.0 or Windows NT Server 4.0:

  1. Log on as the user who needs folder disabled.

  2. Go to <winnt systemroot>\Profiles\<username>\Recent

    NOTE: You may have to go into Options (on the View menu) in Windows Explorer and select Show All Files to see Recent, which is a hidden file.

  3. Set permissions on Recent so that everyone has read-only access.

    NOTE: On Windows NT Server and in other instances, there may be other users in the Recent permissions. Everyone is the only group that can be there, with only read access.

FAT Partition on a Networked Computer Running Windows NT Workstation 4.0 or Windows NT Server 4.0:

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys And Values" online Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" online Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it.

  1. On a server in a network that the workstation can access:

    a. Create a share.

    b. Give users read-only access to the share.

  2. On the workstation, log on as the user who needs the folder disabled.

  3. Run Regedt32.exe

  4. Go to the following registry key: 

          HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version
      \Explorer

    NOTE: The above registry key is one path; it has been wrapped for readability.

    a. In Shell Folders, set "Recent:REG_SZ:<\\server\read onlyshare>".

    b. In User Shell Folders, set "Recent:REG_EXPAND_SZ:<\\server\ 

          read onlyshare>".

FAT Partition on Stand-Alone Computer Running Windows NT Workstation 4.0 or Windows NT Server 4.0:

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys And Values" online Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" online Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it.

  1. Log on as the user who needs the folder disabled.

  2. Go to PROPERTIES of the Recycle Bin and select "Do not move files to the Recycle Bin. Remove files immediately on delete.”

    NOTE: All files will be deleted for this user and cannot be recovered.

  3. Run regedt32.exe

  4. Go to the following registry key: 

          HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version
      \Explorer

    NOTE: The above registry key is one path; it has been wrapped for readability.

    a. In Shell Folders, set "Recent:REG_SZ:C:\Recycled".

    b. In User Shell Folders, set "Recent:REG_EXPAND_SZ:C:\Recycled". 

Keywords          : ntdomain NTSrvWkst
Version           : WinNT:4.0
Platform          : winnt
Hardware          : x86
Issue type        : kbhowto

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Last reviewed: March 5, 1998
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