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Removing the Content Advisor Password

Internet Explorer has a feature where it can block access to web site based on their content. This requires the site to be using the right code to identify the content of the site. Many sites don't bother so the facility has limited use.
If you have enabled this feature then you would have been asked to provide a password. This is to stop it being bypassed. If you have forgotten the password then you can quickly reset it.

This technique requires a registry edit. Please ensure that you have read the disclaimer at the bottom of this page before continuing.

1. Close all running copies of Internet Explorer and any other applications such as Outlook or Outlook Express. These use Internet Explorer in the background. (A good tip here is to simply logoff the machine and log back in again, then do not start any applications) 
2. Run regedit and go to the following key:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Ratings
    
3. After clicking on the yellow "Ratings" folder on the left, look for a key on the right called "key". Right click on "key" and choose delete.
4. Close regedit.
5. Search your system for a file called "ratings.pol". This will usually be found in c:\windows\system\ratings.pol or c:\winnt\system\ratings.pol. After you have found it, rename it to something like ratings.old.
6. Restart the computer.
7. Once the machine has come back, start Internet Explorer, then click on Tools, Internet Options, Content. At the top, the "Settings" button should be greyed out and the "Enable" button available. If this is not the case, then the option hasn't been disabled. Restart the computer again and repeat the process without starting any other applications.
8. Once you have confirmed the option is disabled, you can delete ratings.old

Registry Disclaimer: We cannot be held responsible for any damage done to your machine by using registry files or following any of the advice given on this site. Modification of your registry is done at your own risk. You should always have a back up of your registry before making any changes. Click here for more information on backing up your registry.