Fix Missing or Corrupted Hidden Files and Folders Option in Windows

Some virus may try and hide themselves this way

By default, Windows Explorer does not display files with the Hidden attribute. However, there is an easy way of showing hidden files and folders in Windows. Hidden files and folders will appear dimmed to indicate they are not typical items and they are usually program or system files that should not be deleted or changed.

NOTE:In addition to theHidden files and foldersoption discussed in this post, hidden files and folders can be viewed when using search, or using the “dir /a” (without the quotes) command in the command prompt window.

To access theHidden files and foldersoptions, open My Computer in Windows XP, or Computer in Windows 7, and selectFolder Optionsfrom theToolsmenu.

When you click theViewtab on theFolder Optionsdialog box, you may encounter a situation where both radio buttons underHidden files and foldersare checked, as pictured below.

Both radio buttons can be checked at once if your system has been infected by malware, which modifies some keys in the registry. To view the registry keys affected, selectRunfrom theStartmenu.

On theRundialog box, enter “regedit” (without the quotes) in theOpenedit box, and clickOK.

If yourHidden Files and Foldersoptions are corrupt, theCheckedValueregistry value of the following registry keys may have been modified.

NOTE:Many viruses disable or corrupt theHidden Files and Foldersoptions so their hidden malicious executable or script will not be displayed in Explorer. Some viruses may even remove theHidden Files and Foldersoptions completely from theViewtab of theFolder Optionsdialog box.

To close theRegistry Editor, selectExitfrom theFilemenu.

To fix the corruptedHidden files and foldersoptions, right-click on the following link and selectSave link as(in Firefox) orSave Target as(in Internet Explorer) to save thefoldersettings.regfile.

http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/foldersettings.reg

NOTE:When you save thefoldersettings.regfile, Windows may add a.txtextension to the file, because it is essentially a text file. Edit the filename and remove the.txtextension.

In Windows Explorer, navigate to where you saved thefoldersettings.regfile, right-click on the file and selectMergefrom the popup menu. The fix in this registry entry file can be applied inWindows XPas well as inWindows 7/Vista.

NOTE:When you try to merge thefoldersettings.reg file, you may encounter a problem opening the file, and see the followingSecurity Warningdialog box. We have scanned this file for viruses and then used it to fix this problem, and the file does not seem to be infected or corrupted in any way. ClickRunto close it.

Or, you may see an error dialog box like the following. If you encounter this dialog box instead, clickOKto close it.

To be able to merge thefoldersettings.reg file, right-click on the file and selectPropertiesfrom the popup menu.

ThePropertiesdialog box for thefoldersettings.reg file displays. Make sure theGeneraltab is active. Click theUnblockbutton.

ClickOKto close thePropertiesdialog box.

A confirmation dialog box displays to make sure you really want to add the information in the.regfile to the registry. ClickYes.

A dialog box then displays saying the information has been successfully added to the registry. ClickOK.

The options are fixed and theShow hidden files and foldersoption is selected. You can now change the selected option as desired.

NOTE:Even if you choose theShow hidden files and foldersoption, there are some protected operating system files you will still not be able to see. These protected files are not intended to be visible to you as they’re not intended to be modified by a normal user of Windows.

However, if needed, you can view these files by unchecking theHide protected operating system files (Recommended)check box on theViewtab of theFolder Optionsdialog box.

Make sure you keep your anti-virus software up-to-date and to run a full system scan on a regular schedule. It’s also a good idea to install an anti-malware program, such asSpybot, and periodically scan for malware.

by Lori Kaufman

Founder of Help Desk Geek and managing editor. He began blogging in 2007 and quit his job in 2010 to blog full-time. He has over 15 years of industry experience in IT and holds several technical certifications.Read Aseem’s Full Bio

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Fix Missing or Corrupted Hidden Files and Folders Option in Windows#

Fix Missing or Corrupted Hidden Files and Folders Option in Windows