Not able to show hidden files and folders

Trouble:

Sometimes a virus or some malicious script makes the hidden files and folders not visible even when it is explicitly enabled.

In this case even if the user enables the Show hidden files and folders in

Tools > Folder options > View menu, Hidden files and folder does not become visible.

Lets see how to fix it.

Fix:

First and foremost is the point that the user has enabled the Show hidden files and folder

1. Go to Tools > Folder options. This will show a folder options menu.

2. Go to View tab and select the option “Show hidden files and folder”

The hidden files and folders are displayed by this method normally. But in case some virus or script is preventing the hidden files and folders from being visible, follow the below steps:

1. Go to your Start > Run, type regedit and press enter. This will open registry editor.

2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Folde r\Hidden\SHOWALL

Updated on 9th FEB 2008:

Note:

DELETE the value CheckedValue in the right window if it already there and type is REG_SZ

Now create a new DWORD value again with the same name CheckedValue.

3. Double click the value called CheckedValue, and modify its data value (DWORD Value) to 1 (0×00000001) . Close registry editor after this.

Updated on 9th FEB 2008:

If still folder options is reverted back to don’t show hidden files and folders then it could be due to some virus still in action.

Navigate to the following path:

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

In the NOHIDDEN folder, select CheckedValue and set the value to 1

4. Go to Tools > Folder options. This will show a folder options menu.

5. Go to View tab and select the option “Show hidden files and folder”

The above fix to the trouble came from one of our readers Chris under a virus post comment.

Thanks Chris.

Note: If above solution does not work for you, make sure to make your system completely virus free by updating your anti-virus and running a complete scan. You can do a free scan using Kaspersky Virus Removal tool here.

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Tagged as: hidden-files-problem, show-hidden-files-and-folders