Special shared resources

Depending on the configuration of your computer, some or all of the following special shared resources are created for administrative and system use. These shared resources are not visible from My Computer, but you can view them by using Shared Folders. In most cases, it is recommended that you not delete or modify special shared resources.

You can hide other shared resources from users by typing $ as the last character of the shared resource name (the $ then becomes part of the resource name). These shared folders are hidden from Windows Explorer like special shared resources, but otherwise they are not special. For more information about how to share a resource, see To share a folder or drive.

If you change permissions on special shared resources, such as ADMIN$, the default settings may be restored when the Server service is stopped and restarted or when the computer is restarted. Note that this does not apply to user-created shared resources whose share name ends in $.

You may see some or all of the following administrative shared resources in the Shares folder in Shared Folders. Other applications may create additional special shared resources. To view special shared resources in the Shares folder, see To view information about shared resources.

drive letter$

A shared resource that enables administrators to connect to the root directory of a drive.

ADMIN$

A resource that is used during remote administration of a computer. The path of this resource is always the path to the system root (the directory in which the operating system is installed, for example, C:\Windows).

IPC$

A resource that shares the named pipes that are essential for communication between programs. You use IPC$ during remote administration of a computer and when you view a computer's shared resources. You cannot delete this resource.

NETLOGON

A required resource that is used on domain controllers. Removing this shared resource causes a loss of functionality on all client computers that the domain controller serves.

SYSVOL

A required resource that is used on domain controllers. Removing this shared resource causes a loss of functionality on all client computers that the domain controller serves.

PRINT$

A resource that is used during remote administration of printers.

FAX$

A shared folder on a server that is used by fax clients in the process of sending a fax. The shared folder is used to temporarily cache files and to access cover pages that are stored on the server.