This article is a simple guide to show hidden files on your computer.
Hidden files in Windows can be files that you have hidden yourself or more usually Windows system related files. Occasionally a virus or malware will hide files or entire folders of files on your desktop or your My Documents. However there is a simple way to get them back and visible again.
In general, files are hidden from view because there is a good reason for them to be hidden. For example, files may need to be in a folder where the user has general access, but the creator of the file really doesn’t want the user to be messing with that file, either changing it or deleting it.
Some Virus and Malware writers have taken this onboard, and as part of their software’s actions, they hide some of your files or folders so that you can’t see them. Whilst this is really annoying, the files are still there, and someone that knows what they are doing can easily get them back. So at least they haven’t deleted the files.
Show Hidden Files on Windows XP
- In Windows XP, the easy way to show hidden files is as follows:
- Open a Windows Explorer window or just go to My Computer.
- Go to the Tools menu and select Folder Options.
- In the new window that pops up, click on the View tab.
- In the list of items that appears, make sure that Show hidden files and folders is ticked and click OK.
Show Hidden Files on Windows Vista and Windows 7
- In Windows Vista or Windows 7, go to your Start menu and select Control Panel.
- Click on Folder Options and in the new window that appears, click on the View tab.
- In the list of items that appears, make sure that Show hidden files and folders is ticked and click OK.
After you have shown the hidden files, you will be able to see them in Windows Explorer. However you will notice that the icons for the files are semi-transparent. This is a way of knowing that the file is normally a hidden file, even though you can now see it.
If you want to change a file or folder so that it is permenantly visible and not marked as hidden, right click on the file or folder and select Properties from the context menu.
In the window that appears you will notice that the Hidden attribute is ticked. Untick it and click OK.
After doing this the file or folder will no longer be marked as hidden.