Windows Tips

Peeking Through Windows

There you are, minding your own business, trying to use your networked Windows 95 or NT 4 machine (with Internet Explorer 4's Desktop Update installed) to look at the Program Files folder on a Windows 98 machine elsewhere on the network. If you have View, as Web page checked, you may be treated to a scary warning screen. If you enlarge the window, you may be able to see some of the folder's contents, but since the window lacks scroll bars, you won't get very far. What to do?

You get stuck with this undesirable view because the Windows you're using to look at Win 98 doesn't know where to find a certain file (Webview.css). Fortunately, the fix is pretty easy. Just select View, as Web Page, and uncheck that option. For a more permanent fix, replace Folder.htt--the Web view settings file in the Windows 98 PC's Program Files folder--with another settings file that doesn't care about Webview.css; or copy Webview.css to Program Files, and edit Program File's Folder.htt file to tell it Webview.css's new location.

First, the simple method, which disables the warning. Start by choosing View, Folder Options in Windows Explorer or in any folder window. Click the View tab. Under "Hidden files," make sure "Show all files" is selected, and then click OK. Next, locate Folder.htt in Program Files on the Windows 98 system. Rename it something like Folder.old.htt (you may not see the .htt if extensions are hidden). Now find Folder.htt in the Windows\Web folder of the Windows 98 machine. Copy it to that system's Program Files folder. The next time you access that folder from a networked PC running Windows 95 or NT using IE 4, you'll get a plain-Jane Web view­-with scroll bars and no warning. On the other hand, if you'd rather strengthen the warning--and hide all files until you click "Show files" (as normally happens when you view the Windows and System folders in Windows 98)--copy Folder.htt from the Windows 98 PC's Windows folder (or its System folder) to its Program Files folder.

Of course, replacing the default Folder.htt in Program Files will affect everyone's view of that folder. If that's a problem, follow these steps: First, make sure all files show as before. Then copy the Win 98 system's Windows\Web\Webview.css file to the Program Files folder of the same system. Next, with the Windows 98 PC's Program Files folder showing on your PC, choose View, Customize this Folder. Click Next twice to open the folder's Folder.htt in Notepad. Find the line beginning with "link rel=" (it's near the top of the file). In that line, delete "%TEMPLATEDIR%\"; when you're finished, the line will read link rel=stylesheet href="webview.css" title="Windows". Choose File, Save and then File, Exit. In the "Customize this Folder" wizard, click Finish. You'll still see a warning in Web view, but you'll have scroll bars for working with the files or folders in the Win 98 PC's Program Files folder.