by Jason Garland

Created on: December 18, 2008   Last Updated: January 10, 2009

Windows power users are a finicky bunch who love to toy around with their installations and tweak the settings from time to time. Often this requires getting at files that Windows normally likes to keep hidden away from the average user. Files are hidden by turning on the "Hidden" attribute located in the File Properties box. First, let's take a look at where this attribute is located.

1. Right-click on any file that's handy

2. Choose Properties

3. At the bottom of the properties box, note the "Hidden" attribute with a check box next to it

Checking that box will make the file hidden to the average user.

But what if you're not the average user? How can you see those hidden files should you need to get at them?

1. Open any folder (My Documents will do)

2. On the top menu bar, choose Tools

3. Choose Folder Options

4. Choose the View tab

5. Under Advanced Settings, locate the entry for "Hidden Files and Folders"

6. Click the radio button next to "Show Hidden Files and Folders"

There you go, now you can see all those hidden system folders and files you've been missing out on. The majority of these files and folders are located in the Windows installation directory, but you'll also find them sprinkled around elsewhere on your hard drive. Check out all the interesting stuff now visible in the "Documents and Settings" directory for instance.

There are very few reasons why one would ever resort to disabling the "Show Hidden Files" option from the Windows folder view, but if you're looking perhaps to increase your security beyond the average, it is possible to do. Vice versa, there are viruses, worms, and malware out there that occasionally disable "Show Hidden Files" to make it that much harder for you to remove them. Should you ever need to do so, the following registry hack will do the trick.

1. Click the Start button

2. Choose Run

3. Type "regedit" (without the quotes) in the run box and press enter

4. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE->Software->Microsoft -> Windows -> Current Version -> Explorer->Advanced -> Folder -> Hidden -> SHOWALL

5. Double-click on CheckedValue

6. Change Value Data to "0" to turn off "Show Hidden Files". Change Value Data to "1" to turn on "Show Hidden Files"

7. Close Regedit

Please keep in mind that toying with the registry can have serious consequences, so always make a System Restore Point or backup your registry before messing with it.

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