How To Show or Display Hidden Files and Folders


(Windows XP)

1.Open Folder Options in Control Panel.

• Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
  
• Click Appearance and Themes, and then click Folder Options.
  

2.On the View tab, under Hidden files and folders, click Show hidden files and folders.

Note:

• Hidden files and folders will appear dimmed to indicate they are not typical items. Usually, hidden files are program or system files that should not be deleted or changed. To display other hidden files, clear the Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)
  
• If you know the name of a hidden file or folder, you can search for it. For more information, click Related Topics.
  
• If you want to see all file name extensions, clear the Hide file extensions for known file types check box.
  

(Windows Vista)

1. Open Folder Options by clicking the Start button [url=http://res2.windows.microsoft.com/resbox/en/Windows Vista/main/4/f/4f6cbd09-148c-4dd8-b1f2-48f232a2fd33/4f6cbd09-148c-4dd8-b1f2-48f232a2fd33.png][You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] clicking Control Panel, clicking Appearance and Personalization, and then clicking Folder Options.

2. Click the View tab.

3. Under Advanced settings, click Show hidden files and folders, and then click OK.