"System Folder" called username on desktop

[BJG]

This is probably 101 stuff but I've only just noticed it. If a student opens a folder and then clicks "Desktop" in the left-hand pane, they can see a folder which has their username and is identified as "System Folder". If they open that they can reach folders under:

 

c:\Users\%username%\...

 

Huh? This username/folder doesn't appear on the desktop and system folders are hidden...

[tmcd35]

The users desktop is a subfolder within their profile. C:\users\ contains user profiles loaded on to that machine. C:\users\%username%\ is the students profile and C:\users\%username%\desktop is the students personal desktop.

 

Similarly C:\users\public\desktop is where you place shortcuts you want to appear on everybodys desktop.

[BJG]

Thanks, but, can I stop them seeing it? (Some idiot was trying to save stuff in it.)

[tmcd35]

Unfortunately I can't remember where and I haven't checked it's effect on this part of Windows 7, but somewhere in GPO there is an option to allow/disallow access to specified drives. I think all you need to do is disallow access to the C: drive and it will stop the pupils from seeing/accessing it.

[danelliott87]

Hey, you can hide it by hiding the favourites pane. Make the following reg change:

 

1. Open the Start Menu and type regedit.exe in the search line, then press enter.

 

2. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes.

 

3. In Regedit, go to the location below:

Code:

HKEY\CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{323CA680-C24D-4099-B94D-446DD2D7249E}\ShellFolder

4. In the left pane of regedit, right click on the ShellFolder key and click on Permissions. (See screenshot below)

 

5. At the top, select the Administrators group. At the bottom, check the Allow box to the right of Full Control and click on OK. (See screenshot below)

 

6. In the right pane of regedit, right click on Attributes and click on Modify.

 

7. To Add Favorites to the Navigation Pane

NOTE: This is the default setting.

A) Type in a0900100 and click on OK.

 

B) Go to step 9.

8. To Remove Favorites from the Navigation Pane

A) Type in a9400100 and click on OK. (see screenshot below)

 

9. If you have 64-bit Windows 7 Installed

Note

CREDIT TO: Kookster for this addition.

 

To also add or remove Favorites from the "Open" and "Save as" type windows as well in 64-bit Windows 7, you will also need to do this step.

 

If you have a 32-bit Windows 7 installed, then skip this step since doing steps 1 to 7/8 will add or remove Favorites from the "Open" and "Save as" type windows as well.

A) In Regedit, go to the location below:

Code:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Classes\CLSID\{323CA680-C24D-4099-B94D-446DD2D7249E}\ShellFolder

B) Repeat steps 4 to 7/8 above.

10. Close regedit.

 

11. Restart the computer to fully apply.

[BJG]

Can I do something with Group Policy? Bit of a pain to hack every PC...

[danelliott87]

Can I do something with Group Policy? Bit of a pain to hack every PC...

 

Yeah it is a huge pain, though at the time i was moving to windows 7 so included it as part of the image build.

 

As far as i am aware there is nothing like this in GP. I don't think you can script the reg change either as you manually need to give admins permission to the shell folder to make the change.

[plexer]

You can push out a reg edit using GPO or GPP

 

Ben