My son some how changed the windows folder to a notepad document on our other computer. It is running winodows 98 on it. When I try to get to the windows folder it just opens note pad with a bunch of symbols. How can this be changed back to a windows folder??

He can't have changed the whole Windows folder, otherwise Windows wouldn't be able to start up (it wouldn't be able to find most of the files that it needed). When you say that you're trying to get to the Windows folder and it opens Notepad, what exactly is the sequence that you're following?

I go to my computer, c:, windows and it opens in note pad. Instead of a folder showing but has a paper with lines on it

I see. How peculiar - I've never heard of this situation before. Here's something to try which might help:

1. Open My Computer;
2. Select the Tools menu and then Folder Options;
3. Click on the View tab;
4. Select the option for Show Hidden Files And Folders;
5. Make sure that the option for Hide Extensions For Known File Types is NOT switched on;
6. Select the option for Hide Protected Operating System Files;
7. Select the option for Display The Contents Of System Folders (if you have that option).
8. Press OK to close the Folder Options window;
9. Close My Computer and then go back into it again.

Can you see your Windows folder now and, when you double-click it, can you see the folders within it?

Let us know if that helps