Windows

Forget Your Content Advisor Password?

Posted by on Apr 18, 2005 | 27 Comments

You can restrict access to Web sites using the Content Advisor feature of Internet Explorer. This is a useful feature for parents who have children that use the computer to surf the Internet. By creating a supervisor password, only those users who know the password can access restricted Web sites. However, what happens if you forget the password? It does happen, especially these days when you need to remember a username or password or pin or code for so many things.

No, you don’t need to format your hard drive and reinstall the operating system. The work around for this is to delete the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Policies\ Ratings.

Once this key is deleted, you can start Internet Explorer and disable the Content Advisor. When you are prompted for the Supervisor password, leave it blank and simply Click OK. You can then re-enable the Content Advisor feature and create a new Supervisor password.

  • ron bernstein

    where do I type what you have indicated?

  • Dean Blanchard

    I forgot the password to the Content Advisor

  • Jim Lellman

    The advice is right on! A friend had this problem, and even though I knew the administrator password, I could not turn off the content advisaor, which was blocking everything, including microsoft.com.

    If it’s a mystery to you, then you may not be familiar with the registry editor. You may wish to find someone who is, the registry is very unforgiving of mistakes.

    • http://Moonnnkkey@yahoo.com Bob

      how do i get to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE i have no idea to where im supposed to go can someone help me?

  • The Nuke

    In the registry path specified here its “software” and not “siftware” after HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE. You dont have to delete the key “ratings” but delete the name “key” displayed in the right split window,when u click on “ratings”. Rob, to open registry editor u have to type “regedit” after clicking on “Start->run”. As Jim says, the registry is indeed the core part of Windows and very unforgiving, it doesnt even give u a warning when u play with it :) . Avoid messing up. Back up the registry before u make any changes to it. PLZ DO NOT TOUCH THE REGISTRY IF U R NOT SURE OF WHAT YOU ARE DOING. This’s my advice. I work for Microsoft.

  • Mary

    Hi there my name is Mary, I see what you have posted there about unlock the pass word thing.. I tryed that and in regedit it did not come up with the search, so where would i go from there and heres
    what i type in for to find but i get nothing.

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Policies\ Ratings

    Im just wondering did i miss spell anything there or miss out something

  • tagapandan

    this was great.. amazing.. i don’t think i can.. but i did.. now i don’t to worry if i forget my password.

    i just want to ask this..
    If i do it in a couple of times, will it cause errors or something?

    thanks

  • jennifer

    i tried going to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Policies\ Ratings but when i open the rating folder to the right all i see is a button called default…any idea one what i missed?

  • Rushil

    Thanks !!!

  • Adnan

    Thanks alot. It worked for me. I just went to the regedit by “run” and then to the registry as it was and deleted the whole Rating instead of just deleting the “key”. And it worked for me.
    Thank you soo much. I was thinking to reinstall the Windows again. I used Firefox to get here on your helping site. Now i don’t need to use Firefox..
    Thank you Diana Huggins. I am very grateful to you.

  • Joseph

    thaks a lot … followed instructions to a “t” and content advisor password went bye bye.

  • Prabhu

    Awesome, it worked for me

  • Toni McConnel

    For those who don’t know how to get to the registry (odd no one has made this clear yet), press Start button, click on Run. In the run window type regedit. That will take you to Registry menu. From there follow directions above. I too emphasize what others have said: follow directions carefully and feel sure you are in the right place before you press that delete key.

    And BIG thanks to Diana Huggins. Saved me a bunch of trouble!

    The CyberCrone

  • terri marble

    i tried what you said and it did not work. when i click the e for internet explorer it still asks for the password what else can i try the operating system is windows xp pro. i do not have the cd the computer belongs to someone else and i am trying to help them someone suggested using firefox but it is causing to many problems not finding the web pages i am trying to go to

  • Zon

    Thanks , it works . truly now i have a ease of mind thanks
    +rep

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/windows/2005/04/18/forget-your-content-advisor-password/ LIAM

    It backfires omfg!!!!! do u ppl even know wat a demensration key is???
    (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Registry)
    It stores every setting and the operation software
    if u delete u lose everything!!!

  • Joe

    Hi there my name is Joe, I forgot my password and I am unable to access any site, to unlock the pass word thing.. I tryed that and in regedit it did not come up with the search, so where would i go from there and heres
    what i type in for to find but i get nothing.

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Policies\ Ratings

    Please can anyone guide me as too where do I start off from …
    Where is — HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE

  • irving

    Awesome..it work but have to real careful…read before you delete

  • rodney

    after current verison i don’t see policies and the rating folder im using winxp what should i do

  • Vesh

    Hay guys i found this a bit confussing so i search a few more websites and a found a better one that takes you throught it one step at a time

    http://www.pchell.com/support/contentadvisor.shtml

  • telulah

    Was confused at first but once I walked through it was a piece of cake!

  • DEMITA HEMPHILL

    how do i disable content advisor with internet service

  • Samuel

    I cant find this thing I’ve tried looking over the hole pc I cant find it… HELP ME!!!

  • Keith Hendler

    Very helpful. Fixed the problem. Everything’s back to normal. Thanks.

  • the hack

    DO NOT TRY THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!
    IT WILL ERASE EVERYTHING ABOUT PASSWORDS AND WINDOWS WILL NOT RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • aleks

    thx that really work for me…i have much to learn yet :P

  • matt

    thanks for the fix, it worked perfect