Share Names With a "$" Character at the End Are Hidden

ID: Q90929

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows 98
Microsoft Windows 95
Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.51, 4.0
Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.51, 4.0

SUMMARY

When sharing folders or drives with Windows, if a dollar sign ($) character is added to the end of a share name, the share name does not appear in a browsed list of available shares on the server.

If you know the full name of the hidden share, you can obtain access to it normally by typing its name with a $ at the end.

This functionality is also supported in LAN Manager

MORE INFORMATION

For example, if drive C: is shared as ROOT$ on the machine SERVER, then ROOT$ does not appear when SERVER is browsed by a workstation. However, if a user enters \\SERVER\ROOT$ as the path in the Connect Network Drive dialog box, the user can connect to the hidden server.

Additional query words: 3.1 3.10 wfwg win31 hide

Keywords : kbnetwork kbusage win95 win98 wfwg
Version : WINDOWS:95; winnt:3.51,4.0
Platform : WINDOWS winnt
Issue type : kbinfo