Subscribe to our RSS feed     Get daily updates in your mail box

Show hidden files and folders - option missing or does not work

Q: Even though I’ve enabled the Show hidden files and folders option in the Folder Options, the hidden files are not displayed in Explorer. I can see the files when doing a search, or using the DIR /A command from the Command Prompt window.

Also, when you go to open the Folder Options and click the View tab, both the radio buttons Do not show hidden files and folders and Show hidden files and folders" are enabled:

Clicking the Restore defaults button did not help either.

A: This happens if the system is infected by Virus or other Malware, which modifies the CheckedValue registry value in these branches:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ Advanced \ Folder \ Hidden \ NOHIDDEN
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ Advanced \ Folder \ Hidden \ SHOWALL

This ploy is used by many Viruses, so that the hidden file (malicious executable or script) won’t be displayed in Explorer. (REF Google Search Results). Also note that some Viruses remove the above option altogether from the View tab of Folder Options applet.

To fix the above setting, download foldersettings.reg and save to Desktop. Right-click on the file and choose Merge. This fix can be applied in Windows XP as well as in Windows Vista systems.

Reconfigure the Show hidden files and folders option now. Then update your anti-virus software and run a full system scan. And don’t forget to follow-up with a thorough checkup for Malware.

RELATED POSTS


Bookmark this Page!BlinkList | del.icio.us | Digg it | Furl | reddit | Spurl | StumbleUpon | Wink |
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to our RSS feed! We feature Tips, Troubleshooting information, Scripts and Utilities for Microsoft Windows Operating Systems!
Prefer an E-mail subscription?

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

There Are 2 Responses So Far. »

  1. Your this advise helped me, and now I can see hidden file and folders, Thanks

  2. Thank You …. for giving this solution.
    But this folder setting can’t seen hidden folders in PEN Drive.,
    So plz tell me how can i saw my hidden folders in pen drive that hidden due to virus ….

Post a Response