Hidden folders and files are directories that the user is unlikely to need (only in certain cases). Of course, if there is a need to make them visible, then to do it is quite realistic and without any special problems. Most often, hidden folders are system files that are hidden automatically by the user's operating system. Separate information is also recorded in them, as in other folders, only the user does not notice this. In such hidden files and folders, the virus may even “settle”.
The user can independently make any files or folders hidden. To do this, you just need to right-click on the file and check “Hidden” in its attributes.
As for opening invisible folders and files, it will take more time to do this. The user needs to find the "Folder Options" item.
File and Folder Visibility in Windows XP and Vista
In the Windows XP operating system, to open hidden files and folders, go to the Start menu and then open the Control Panel (you can simply open any folder). Go to the “Tools” tab and select “Folder Options”. After a new window opens, go to the "View" tab. In the “Advanced Settings” table, you need to find the line “Show hidden files and folders”, and check it.
As for Windows Vista, here you also need to go to the "Control Panel" and go to its classic look. Find the item “Folder Options”. After a new window appears, you need to click on the "View" tab and select "Show hidden files and folders."
File and folder visibility in Windows 7 and 8
On Windows 7, this procedure takes a little longer. The first steps are exactly the same as the previous ones (Start menu, Control Panel). In the "Control Panel" you must change the view mode. To do this, find the “Parameters” line, which is located in the upper right corner of the active window and then select the “Small Icons” item. After the “Control Panel” takes on a new look, you need to find the “Folder Options” item and go to the “View” tab. Select the option “Show hidden files, folders and drives”.
In Windows 8, you need to open any folder. In the upper right corner of the window, click on the arrow, after which an additional panel will open. On the "View" tab, check the box next to the "Hidden items" line.
How to share hidden folders and files in Windows 7 XP?
Hidden folders and files
On Windows, folders and files may be hidden. That is, the “hidden” attribute is in the properties of the folder or file and you cannot see or enter this folder, for example, through “My Computer”.
Often critical system folders are made hidden folders so that the user cannot delete or modify important files. But viruses can also hide in hidden folders.
The folder in which Windows XP and Windows 7 stores temporary files, that is, garbage, is also hidden.
Access hidden folders in Windows XP
1. Open My computer. In the menu bar, select Tools - Folder Options.
2. In the window that opens, go to the tab View and uncheck the item Hide protected system files (recommended). In point Hidden files and folders make item active Show hidden files and folders.
3. I also recommend unchecking the item Hide extensions for registered file typesso that the folders display extensions for all files.
Otherwise, the extensions of the files with which the installed programs are associated are not shown. That is, if you have Word installed, then .doc files do not display the extension. Virus files are often tuned for this. After all, the .exe extension (executable file) is also not shown. Typically, viruses with the extension .exe have the icon of an MS Word document, video file, or other common program. Assuming you open a video file or document, you run a file with the extension .exe, which is an executable file - that is, a virus program.
To avoid such misunderstandings, it is just useful to see the true extension of the executable file. To do this, uncheck the indicated item in the list.
Now click OK. The window closes, and all folders, including hidden ones, are displayed in Explorer.
Access hidden folders in Windows 7
1. Go to the menu Start - Control Panel
2. Select Design and personalization
3. Select a menu item Folders settings
4. Click the tab View. Uncheck the box Hide protected system files (recommended). Include item Show hidden files, folders and drives.
5. I also recommend unchecking the item Hide extensions for registered file types. The answer to the question “why” is given in the third paragraph of the previous chapter.
Click OK. Now all folder files will be displayed, including hidden and system ones.
Open hidden folders in Windows 7
Let's start with this version of the operating system. So, we are faced with the task of finding hidden folders. Suppose we are looking for the System Volume Information folder - it contains recovery points. It is located on any drive for which the recovery function is enabled. And hidden by default.
In our example, for the system drive "C: /" this function is activated. But in the picture the folder we need is missing. How do we make it viewable?
Click "Start", then "Control Panel". Here we are looking for the "Folder Options" icon - click on it. In the window that opens, go to the "View" tab, and scroll through the list of parameters to the end.
Here we need to configure the parameters as follows:
- Uncheck the box next to "Hide protected system files"
- Uncheck the box next to "Hide extensions for registered file types"
- Select the option "Show hidden files, folders and drives"
Then "Apply" and "OK."
Let's check. We return to the disk "C: ".
As you can see in the picture, the hidden folder System Volume Information has become available for viewing. Now you can work with it, and with other hidden files and folders.
How to access and open hidden folders in windows operating system. Get access to hidden system folders
If you are trying to find the system folder, but do not find it in the right place, you need to check - it may be hidden.
The Windows operating system is configured by default so that the main system files and folders have the Hidden attribute. This is done in order to not burden the user with unnecessary information, and restrict access to the system settings. After all, not everyone has the necessary knowledge and experience.
In the event that you know exactly what needs to be done, and you need to open hidden windows folders, use our instructions.
Open hidden folders in windows 7
Let's start with this version of the operating system. So, we are faced with the task of finding hidden folders. Suppose we are looking for the System Volume Information folder - it contains recovery points. It is located on any drive for which the recovery function is enabled. And hidden by default.
In our example, for the system drive "C: /" this function is activated. But in the picture the folder we need is missing. How do we make it viewable?
Click "Start", then "Control Panel". Here we are looking for the "Folder Options" icon - click on it. In the window that opens, go to the "View" tab, and scroll through the list of parameters to the end.
Here we need to configure the parameters as follows:
- Uncheck the box next to "Hide protected system files"
- Uncheck the box next to "Hide extensions for registered file types"
- Select the option "Show hidden files, folders and drives"
Then "Apply" and "OK."
Let's check. We return to the disk "C: ".
As you can see in the picture, the hidden folder System Volume Information has become available for viewing. Now you can work with it, and with other hidden files and folders.
Hidden folders in windows 8
In the new version of the operating system, we got two options for opening hidden system folders.
Everything ingenious is simple. If you know the exact name of the hidden folder, go to the directory in which it should be located. In our example, we continue to work with the System Volume Information folder. It is located on drive "C". We open it and in the address bar write the name of the desired folder:
It will open - everything is very simple!
You will find it useful: the address bar of the browser.
This method is similar to the one we used when working with windows 7.
So, open the explorer, go to any folder, there is no fundamental value.
In the top menu bar, click the "View" button, then "Options". You will see a window for setting display options for folders (as in windows 7).
Then, by analogy, we go to the "View" tab and set all the parameters: do not hide system files and folders, show hidden ones, etc.
Our recommendations
In the event that your actions led to the failure of the operating system, use the system recovery tool.
If you want to play the android application on a personal computer, you will need an android emulator for windows.
If you decide to reinstall windows, you will need a windows 8 boot disk.
How to open hidden folders and files
Posted on: March 25, 2015. Posted by: Igor
Sometimes, when setting up the system, you need to have access to hidden system folders that are hidden from inexperienced users. Namely, they hide them so that they would not be accidentally removed or moved, because how this can affect the operation of the system.
But every day there are various viruses that can hide your files and folders, which you can see only if you turn on the display of hidden folders and files. But, removing viruses is not the only situation in which you need to open access to the display of such folders. Just recently, I described solutions to the problem “Missing a menu item will be sent to the“ Desktop (create a shortcut) ”, where it was necessary to copy the file to a folder that is system and was not visible to ordinary users.
Of course, it’s better not to go into these folders, but sometimes it’s impossible without them, so now you will learn how to open hidden folders and files.
How to open hidden folders in windows XP
Let's start with windows XP. Open the "Start" and click on the "Control Panel".
So, as we open invisible files, we need to go to the "Folder Options"
Also, you can use an alternative way to configure the folder. To do this, go to any window and select "Properties" -> "Folder Options" in the top menu.
In any case, the settings window opens. Here we go to the “View” tab and in the additional parameters we go down to the very bottom to the item “Hidden files and folders”. Check "Show hidden files and folders" and click "Apply."
In some cases, even after setting up the show of hidden folders, still some remain inaccessible. To display them, you can use one more item in the settings: “Hide protected system files”. Just unchecking and saving some other folders that are considered system folders will appear, perhaps among them will be the folder that you needed. But, I want to warn you right away if you come across some unfamiliar folder, then don’t write it off, maybe this is one of the system ones that is needed for the OS or application to work correctly.
How to display hidden folders in windows 7
In windows 7, to enter the folder settings, we also go to “Control Panel” and then “Folder Options”
To enter the settings through the window of any folder, click on "Organize", and there we already select "Folder and Search Settings".
In the window itself, check "Show hidden files, folders and drives" and save the settings.
How to show hidden folders in windows 8
In the new windows 8 OS, by going to any folder, click on “View”, then select “Options” and then “Change folder and search options”.
In the settings menu of the folder’s parameters, as in the examples described above, just select the same item as on other OSs, then click “OK”
Once again, meet a hidden folder with a name unknown to you, do not delete it, and after finishing working with hidden files, do not forget to return everything back, this is done in the same order, just check the box, do not show hidden files and folders. You might also be interested in an article about setting up an extension for registered file types.
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How to open hidden folders in windows 7
Good day, dear visitors of the blog cho-cho.ru. Our today's topic is about windows, we will answer the question - how to open hidden folders in windows 7.
Inexperienced users of personal computers, switching to windows 7, encounter problems when working with the new interface. This is due to the fact that in windows 7 they tried as much as possible to simplify shell management
Some controls have disappeared from the usual look for users of windows XP. For example, many users do not understand how to display or hide some files and folders. I will try to explain how this can be done quickly enough by spending less than a minute on it.
First option
- We go into "My Computer" and see the "Arrange" drop-down list in the upper left corner under the address bar.
- A menu will drop out where we will need to select "Folder and search options"
- A window will open. Find the tab “View”. There, in the additional parameters window, scroll down the scroll and put a mark to the left of the item "Show hidden files ...". Be sure to click after that the “OK” button at the bottom right of the window
Second option
It is very similar to the first. The way to display the “Folder Options” here is different:
- We click on “Start”, we find the line “Control Panel”.
- On the right, select the second “Appearance” block from the top. We go through it and find the "Folder Options" below.
- By clicking on "Show hidden files and folders" we again get to the "Folder Options" menu.
- Now we do the same. Going to the “View” tab in the additional parameters box at the bottom, scroll through the entire list until we find the “Show hidden files” switch. Do not forget to confirm the action by clicking the "Apply" button at the bottom right of the window and "OK".
The third option is simpler than the second
- We also get through the "Start" menu to the "Control Panel".
- At the top under the address bar you will find the switch “View: Category”. By clicking on it, select the “Large Icons” option.
- In the alphabetical list of shortcuts we find the “Folder Options” icon
- Now we find ourselves in the window that is already familiar to us, where we select the “View” tab. Scroll down the options. Select "Show hidden files." Confirm the action with the “OK” button.
After all the manipulations, you will be available to invisible files and windows folders, both on your hard drive and on a USB flash drive. To hide files or folders again, you need to disable this option by unchecking this checkbox in the advanced settings and remember to click “Apply” and “Ok”.
These are the ways and options for opening and hiding folders on Windows 7, we considered, I hope the article was useful to you, if so, then share it with your friends.
Be sure to familiarize yourself with:
How to open hidden folders using windows 7 as an example
In the windows operating system, it is possible to assign special attributes to directories. With their help, directory properties change, for example, you cannot change anything from the contents in them or they no longer appear in the hard disk. This article describes how you can show and open hidden (that is, with the Hide attribute enabled) folders on a computer running windows 7.
General information
These parameters are necessary in order to protect directories with important content for the system to operate from inexperienced users. If you unknowingly delete or modify any desired file, windows or some third-party programs may not work correctly.
However, there are often cases when users need to access hidden information. A vivid example is the invisible AppData folder, which contains browser service data. If you need to clear the cache or backup personal information, you need to access AppData.
There are 2 fairly simple ways to open hidden folders: change the settings of Windows Explorer or remove the “Hide” attribute from the folder using a special bat-file.
The remainder of this article discusses both of these options.
Explorer Properties
In order for you to be able to see the hidden files and directories, you need to configure the program settings for working with the file system in windows in a special way. This program is called Explorer. To change its properties, follow a few simple steps specified in the instructions:
- Launch Explorer using the My Computer shortcut on your desktop or in the Start menu.
- Click on the “Arrange” tab in the navigation menu at the top of the window.
- In the expanded drop-down list, select the "Search and folder options" item.
- Go to the “View” section using the corresponding tab in the top menu.
- Scroll through the list of configurations to the very end. Find the category called Hidden Folders and Files.
- Set the checkbox next to the item "Show".
- Click “Apply” to save the changes and “Ok” to close the window.
Creating a bat file
In order to change the attributes of directories and files, you can use a special file with the bat extension. Create a plain text (txt) document and add to its name “.bat”. Open the document through Notepad.
Copy the line “attrib -H / S / D” into the input field and save your changes. Now you need to transfer your own created program to the directory in which the data you need is stored, and run it. Thus, you remove the "Hidden" option from all available files and partitions.