Question: I am unable to access any Web pages with Microsoft Internet Explorer on my Windows 98 computer. A notice appears saying "check content advisor for missing information." I have done this but unfortunately at some time a supervisor password was used and I do not recall it.
Answer: Normally that shows up when the "ratings.pol" file has been corrupted or removed. Perhaps someone in your house has been tampering with the Content Advisor settings?
The file contains information to protect Web users from off-color/adult-oriented material on the Web. It is set up by the Content Advisor feature in Microsoft Internet Explorer, the Web browser built into Windows.
For those that have not seen this feature before it can be accessed by choosing "Tools" from the menu at the top of the browser. Then choose "Internet Options" and then click on the "Content" tab. After that click the "Enable" button to configure the browser based on content in four categories: Violence, Nudity, Sex and Language.
When these are set, the browser will prompt the Web surfer to enter a password when a questionable page is detected. If you lose the password, there's no getting around the problem except with a little computer surgery. You're going to have to cut into the bowels of Windows to fix it. This can be a little scary, but it's quite straightforward.
To start the procedure, you have to go into the Windows registry. That's kind of like a hidden filing cabinet used by Windows to keep track of all kinds of system, software and file settings. Click the "Start" button on the bottom left side of your Windows desktop, then select "Run" and type in "REGEDIT". Then click OK.
This opens the registry editor. You'll see a window with two panes. Down the left will be a list of entries with plus signs (+) next to them. Click the plus sign in front of the "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE" entry. It will turn into a minus sign (-) and a sub-menu will open to reveal a list of further entries with more plus signs next to them.
Next click the plus sign in front of "SOFTWARE", then "Microsoft", and then "Windows", "Current Version", and finally "Policies". In the "Policies" list click once on "Ratings". Look to the right pane of the registry editor. There should be two listings. One says "Default", the other says "Key". Select "Key" with your mouse and press the Delete key to remove it. Leave "Default" and any other entries as is. Close the Registry.
Next, use Windows Explorer to browse to the C:\windows\system folder. Click the "Tools" menu at the top of the Windows Explorer window, and then click "Folder Options" and then the "View" tab. Click "Show hidden files and folders". Click OK. Then hit F5 to refresh the Windows Explorer file listings and locate the "ratings.pol" file. Delete it.
Then reboot your computer. When the system restarts you'll be able to get into the Content Advisor and reset the passwords.