How to make system folders visible. How to make an invisible folder visible and vice versa

The operating system is finely organized. Damage or removal of some of its key elements can lead to problems in functioning or its complete loss. Due to this, vital system files are hidden, that is, they are not displayed in Explorer. This way they are protected from possible damage. This is important to consider before making an invisible directory.

Sometimes you need to access hidden data. This need most often arises when infected with viruses. The executive and accompanying parts of malicious software “like” to disguise themselves as system elements. Many of them are equipped with a hiding function.

In the fight against virus infections on a computer, the ability to view hidden directories is critical. That is why in Windows there are special settings for displaying documents, by changing which you can hide and show various types of data.

Although these features are practical in nature, some users may also use them to ensure the safety of confidential information, especially when a particular PC is shared or publicly used.

Such measures are unlikely to save you from a targeted search for information, but the amount of accidental access to personal information can be reduced to almost zero. There are many other ways you can protect your data. This method is best preferred when the data is not critical, but still confidential. Together with setting a password, these will be sufficient precautions.

How to hide files in Windows

How to create an invisible folder? There are many ways to do this. The most commonly used are operating system management tools. You can hide data more securely from the command line.

Naturally, the level of commercial security cannot be achieved by such means, but in everyday life such measures are very useful. Disabling the display of a directory or disguising it as a graphic document will prevent unwanted accidental access, but this will not help against viruses or targeted attacks.

Everyone ensures the degree of necessary security and confidentiality on their own, but basic skills should not be neglected. Next, we'll look at the main ways to create hidden directories.

Hiding data in Explorer

The first, easiest and least reliable way to hide important files or documents is implemented in the operating system settings. A more or less trained user will be able to easily detect information hidden in this way.

But to protect against unprepared users, changing the display parameters in Explorer is very effective. To hide data in this way you will need to do the following:

1. Right click on the hidden object;
2. Item “Properties”;
3. In the properties window, the “Attributes” section;
4. Checkbox “Hidden”;
5. "Apply."

Making a hidden folder through Explorer

As a result of these simple manipulations, we will get hidden files in Windows 7 and other versions, which will not be visible with the appropriate settings in Windows Explorer. Similar operations can be carried out both with entire directories and with individual files.

Note: There is a way to find a hidden folder without changing system settings. To do this, you will need to remember the full path to the required directory, and then enter it into the address bar of Explorer. This method allows you to quickly access hidden directories.

Command line to create a hidden directory

The second method involves using the command line. To open the command line, you will need to open the execution window (Win + R) and type “cmd.exe” in the input field, then press “Enter”. In the console that opens, you must enter the following:

attrib +s +h “Full path to the directory to be hidden”

To remove such a display lock, you will need to enter attrib -s –h and the full path to the directory. It is noteworthy that a location hidden in this way ceases to be displayed in Explorer even after changing system settings. In addition, even if it is detected, changing the attributes in the properties is not available until the lock is removed.

This method provides a higher degree of protection for personal data, since the data hidden using it is not visible even when the display of hidden directories is turned on.

Tactical trick

There is another good way to securely hide a folder on your computer. Any ignorant user will assume that the file is an image, but in fact it is an archive. You will need an arbitrary image and an archive with hidden files. They need to be placed closer to the root directory (so that the address written on the command line is shorter).

• cd full path to the directory where the files to be manipulated are located;
• copy /b name of the image with the extension /b+name of the archive with the extension name /b of the image in which it will all be hidden with the extension.

The system will ask for confirmation of the destination file replacement, which must be approved.

Note: You should not use spaces in file names; they break the command syntax. In addition, a space must be placed between the names of the second and third files. The first two and the plus sign must be entered without spaces.

The file obtained as a result of such manipulations can be handled in any way you like. It’s unlikely that anyone would think of opening images in an archiver. True, there is no way to reverse the process; if you delete the original archive, then all the data will remain in image format. If you change the extension to .rar or .zip (depending on the source archive), the file will be opened in the appropriate program.

How to hide/show directories and files in Windows

In all versions of the operating system, the same settings window is responsible for the properties of hidden data. Before opening hidden folders, you need to change the settings in it. The fundamental difference is only in the methods of opening it. In all versions of the OS, the mentioned settings window can be called from the “Run” window. You can call it using the combination “Win” + “R” (the “Win” key with the OS icon). In XP there is a separate line for this in “Start”

In the input line you need to type “control folders” and press “Enter”. It is noteworthy that the last request is stored in the input line until a new one or until the system is restarted. That is, in this way, subsequent access to the settings window can be achieved by pressing just three keys.

In this version of the operating system, to get to the settings menu, you will need to open any directory. By pressing the “Alt” button, an additional menu will appear. It will have a “Service” section, which is what interests us. In its drop-down menu there is an item “Folder Options”; clicking on it will bring up the options window.

The necessary options are located in the “View” tab. At the very bottom of the “Advanced options” list there will be a “Hidden files and folders” section. It contains two extremely clear points. A checked checkbox indicates an active option. After selecting the one you need, just click “Apply”, then “OK”. After which you can see hidden folders.

Display options in Windows 7

The following actions and places will help you show hidden files in Windows 7:

• The mentioned Run window;
• Control Panel;
• Conductor;
• Search bar in the Start menu.

You get to the “Control Panel” through “Start”, there is a separate line there. The necessary options are located in the “Design and Personalization” section. Towards the end of the list there will be a category called Folder Options. Click on its name and the required window will appear.

Explorer opens up another easy way to open the Windows 7 hidden folder settings window. To do this, just click on the “Arrange” button in the upper right corner of the window. In the drop-down menu you will need the “Folder and Search Options” item, which will open the necessary window.

In the seventh version of the operating system, there is another way to quickly access folder settings. It is due to the fact that some of the functionality of the Run window was implemented in the search bar of the Start menu.

To open the mentioned window, you will need, in fact, to click on “Start” and enter “folder options” in the search bar and press “Enter”. This feature allows you to access what you need on construction sites in a few seconds.

In terms of calling the folder properties settings panel, Windows 8 is not particularly different from other operating systems. In G8 you can also use the Explorer window, the Control Panel or the Run window. However, there is a nuance to calling the latter. “Run” can be found in the search for applications or in the menu that appears by pressing “Win” + “X”. Subsequently, the program can be pinned to the taskbar.

There is also a way of showing hidden folders, unique to the G8. It will require you to open the directory and select the “View” tab in the top line. On the right side there will be a “Options” item, clicking on which will bring up the necessary parameters.

Hidden files on flash drive

Hidden files moved from another computer or written to a flash drive may not be displayed even with the correct Explorer settings. In this case, a little trick will help you detect them.

After opening the flash drive in Windows Explorer, you will need to create a new notepad text document. This option is available by right-clicking on an empty field of the window. Having opened it, you will need to write the following line:

attrib -s -h -r -a *.* /s /d

Then “Save As”, replacing the extension from “.txt” to “.bat”. The finished file can be renamed as convenient. To detect it, it will be enough to launch it from the root directory of the flash drive. A black window will appear for a few moments, like a command line, after which all hidden objects on the USB drive will become visible.

Problems setting up folder display

Some users experience that the ability to show hidden folders becomes unavailable. Most likely, this is a consequence of exposure to viruses and other malware. This circumstance indicates that the system conductor was affected.

Reinstalling the OS is a drastic measure in such cases. More subtle and less labor-intensive operations will help improve the situation. The first thing you need to do is check your system for viruses. An in-depth analysis with good anti-virus software will probably find some nasty stuff. After cleaning the system, you can begin troubleshooting.

Restoring the Folder Options item

Even if the virus is removed, the item will not recover on its own. No antivirus provides this feature, so you'll have to roll up your sleeves and do it yourself. To do this, you will have to launch the Group Policy Editor.

In “Run” you need to write “gpedit.msc” and press “Enter”. The Group Policy Editor window will open. In the left navigation part, you will need to follow the following path: Group Policy => Local Computer Policy => Configuration => Administrative Templates => Windows Components => Explorer.

On the right side of the window there will be a line “Remove the “properties” command” from the “Tools” menu; right-clicking will open the properties window. In it you need to select the “Disable (not used)” switch, then the “Apply” and “OK” button.

Then you will need to minimize all windows. You can do this with a special button located on the right edge of the taskbar or by pressing “Win” + “D”. The desktop will need to be moved. To do this, use the F5 key or the “Update” item in the menu that pops up by right-clicking on the desktop field. To be on the safe side, you can also restart the system.

System registry correction

If the manipulations described above do not have an effect, then you will have to adjust the system registry. The virus could delete from it the corresponding entries that are responsible for the “Folder Options” line in the “Tools” menu.

The recovery process is not long. First you need to open “Run” and enter the following into the command line:

%windir%\system32\REG.exe add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer /v NoFolderOptions /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

After copying the line, you need to press “Enter”. After this, all you have to do is restart the computer and that’s it, the display settings are ready again.

Careful reading of the above material will allow you not to experience difficulties in working with hidden directories.

Hello dear readers! What are these files and why hide them, how can you make hidden folders visible in Windows 7? I will tell you more in the article and show you several ways to see hidden, invisible folders in Windows 7. A hidden file or folder is no different from others, except that they are not visible. They can be divided into two groups:

1. Hidden by the Windows system.
2. PC user - specially makes it closed from prying eyes.

The first way to show invisible folders

Let's use a method that is accessible to everyone. Open “Start” - located in the lower left corner, then go to the control panel. As shown in the picture, select “small icons” or large ones, it doesn’t matter and click on “folder options”.

A window will pop up, click on the “View” tab. Scroll the slider to the bottom, and depending on what you need to see, remove the checkmarks from the menu or put them in the desired positions. When the checkboxes are checked in the desired order, do not forget to click “Apply” and then OK.

The second method of displaying “invisible”

If you have the Total commander program installed, you can also view hidden files through it.

Launch the program, select “configuration” in the top menu and click on “settings”.

On the left in the menu, select “panel contents”, check the box “show hidden files” and if you need to see what the system has hidden, check “show system files”, then click “Apply” and Ok.

Both options have been tested and work, so feel free to use them. Which one is more convenient - everyone will decide for themselves. This is where I end. Also go to other sections, look at the articles, maybe you will find something useful for yourself or your computer).

Are you running Windows XP or perhaps you prefer the 2007 version? Be that as it may, many are interested in the question of how to make an invisible folder in your work profile. To learn more about this, let's first look at the concept of a work profile and what it even is.

User profile

User profile is a term in multi-user systems. For Windows it was introduced starting with the XP version (system for professionals) and Home Edition (home edition). Both operating systems already operated with the concept of “user” and, accordingly, the simplest privacy functions. Therefore, the developers built into these environments the ability to create an invisible folder.

As for the profile, this is simply a series of settings, such as desktop design, visual design of programs, sound schemes, security settings and usage rights. All this is stored in the system for the so-called user account in the general system-software database - the Windows registry. Each user registered in the system under any account has such a profile.

WindowsXP. Making an invisible folder is easy

To do this, the “My Computer” icon is usually visible on the desktop. Open it by double-clicking the left mouse button. We will be shown with four tabs: “General”, “View”, “File types”, “Offline files”. Of these, we need a second tab, which is responsible for the type of data displayed. In it, scroll through the “Advanced parameters” field. And we focus on the “Hidden files and folders” item. How to do is shown below.

If we put the visible switch in the “Do not show folders” position, then all created folders and files with the hide attribute will not be shown to the current Windows user. This means that you can actually make the folder invisible to keep its contents private.

To do this you need to follow a few simple steps:

1. Right-click on the displayed folder with the mouse or touchpad.
2. In the submenu that appears, select the last item “Properties”.
3. And set the hide checkbox next to the “Hidden” attribute, the same applies to a separate file.

If everything is done correctly, then you have learned how to make an invisible folder. At the same time, the folder that you hid should not be visible in the My Computer program. To display it again, just on the “View” tab change the direction of the switch to “Show hidden files and folders”. Do not confuse this item with a similar one called “Hide protected system files.”

System flaws

In some cases the following happens. Setting the switch to the “Show hidden files, folders” position may not work. And it will return to its original position. Everything here depends on the software used and the version of the Windows system.

How to make an invisible folder in Windows 7

In addition to the XP version, most computers are increasingly switching to Windows 7. Naturally, its functionality also allows you to hide objects - make them invisible. Therefore, let's look at how to do this using this OS.

To hide a folder object:

1. Hover your touchpad or mouse cursor over the folder you want to hide.
2. Right-click on “Properties” and switch to the “General” tab.
3. In the “attributes” field, select the “Hidden” checkbox.

Now let's look at how to show an already hidden folder:

1. Open the “Control Panel” shortcut.
2. Select the “Appearance and Personalization” sub-item, then “Folder Options”.
3. Go to the “View” tab and set the radio button to “Show hidden folders and drives.” Save the changes by clicking the “Apply” button, you can “OK”.

Thus, we found out how to make an invisible folder using the same tools. We also learned how to show hidden objects using the same tools.

Many elements of file systems in modern operating systems are usually hidden from users. They hide for various reasons. Some of them are hidden due to the undesirability of their contents, for example, the boot.ini file, which stores information about the boot order of operating systems on the computer, is hidden because editing it by an inexperienced user can make it impossible to boot the OS.

Other elements are hidden because their accidental removal could cause system crashes or loss of functionality. Windows 7 folders are also hidden. Many users are interested in the question: how to find and open hidden folders in Windows 7? Another question: why, in principle, might this be needed? The third question: how to restore the visibility (or rather invisibility) parameters of such folders.

We will answer all these three questions in our little note. However, it should be immediately noted that these actions should only be carried out by fairly experienced or overly curious users - they will have to do this at their own peril and risk. If you accidentally damage the contents of such a folder, the consequences may be unpredictable. So, let's go.

How to make the invisible visible and vice versa?

You can find all hidden subfolders in a certain directory as follows:

• Open the source directory. In the upper left corner you need to find the “Arrange” drop-down list.
• Expand the list and select “Folder and Search Options.”
• A dialog box will appear with a list of options, in which you need to check the option (check) “Show hidden files, folders and drives.”
• Consistently click on the “Apply” and “Ok” buttons.

An alternative way is to use the “Alt” key, pressing which leads to the appearance of an additional system menu. Next, select “Tools” -> “Folder Options”. The same dialog box appears as above. This method is similar to the method used in earlier versions of Windows.

In order to make the packs invisible again, you just need to uncheck the box mentioned above. And if you want to open all invisible Windows folders, then you just need to do this procedure for the original “My Computer” folder.

That, in fact, is all the simple wisdom.

In the configuration menu of the Total Commander program there is a special option that allows you to configure the visibility of folders directly from the menu of this useful utility. These tools are located on the “Configuration” tab in the “Settings” menu, which opens access to a dialog box where you need to find the “Show hidden/system files (advanced only)” checkbox.

windowsTune.ru

Show hidden folders windows 7

It turns out that some system files and folders have a hidden parameter and are not visible in the system. You can search for a long time for the AppData file if you don’t know that the AppData file is a hidden file. To see such files and folders, you need to change the settings of folders and files.

How to make hidden folders visible

To see hidden folders, click “Start” - “Control Panel” - “Appearance and Personalization” - “Folder Options” or “Show hidden files and folders”.

A window called “Folder Options” will open.

Go to the “View” tab and look for the “Hidden files and folders” folder in the additional options, and in it put a dot or a check mark on “Show hidden files, folders and drives”. Click “Apply” and “OK”. Now the display of hidden windows folders will be allowed. After that, you will be able to see them on your computer, and you will also see hidden folders on a flash drive and on any other media.

Hidden folders in Windows 7 are slightly different from normal folders; they have a slightly lighter icon.

Video

This video shows how to make hidden folders visible.

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Open hidden folders windows 7

What do you need to do to see hidden folders and system files in Windows 7? I won’t ask why, it needs to be opened, so it’s necessary. And this is done simply...

Click the mouse: Start - Control Panel

For ease of review, we set up the control panel in one motion: In the upper right corner, expand the menu and select large or small icons. Well, then in the main window we click Folder Options

In the top menu, select View, and in the main window, uncheck the following items:

1 Hide protected system files (so that you can see them too)

2 Hide empty disks in the Computer folder (not necessary, for those who need it)

3 Hide extensions for registered file types. I recommend making them open, it will come in handy. But if you have small children, then be careful, they may rename the extension :)

Well, and most importantly, to open hidden folders in Windows 7, put a dot in the item Show hidden files, folders and drives

Http://winblogs.ru/win7/skrytye-papki.html2017-07-19T09:07:07+00:00WINBLOGS.RUWindows 7 lessons What do you need to do to see hidden folders and system files in Windows 7? I won’t ask why, it needs to be opened, so it’s necessary. And this is done simply... Click the mouse: Start - Control Panel For ease of review, set up the control panel in one motion: In the upper right corner, expand the menu and select large or...WINBLOGS.RU Computer for Dummies Share your mood on Social Networks, and we We will be forever grateful to you! Add free photos to your Personal Yandex Collection!

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Invisible elements of the file system: how to make hidden files visible in Win 7

Sometimes PC users, especially beginners, wonder how to make hidden files visible in the Windows 7 operating system? Most operating systems make some folders and files invisible to the user. There are several reasons to do this:

• Files and folders are made hidden to improve security.
• Hidden elements of the Windows file system are designed so as not to clutter directories.
• Invisible directories and resources may fall into the category of frequently duplicated and unused.

Each operating system file has its own set of attributes, some of which can be viewed in the “File Properties” context window. The same applies to folders. Making them invisible means adding the corresponding attribute. For defunct operating systems like MS-DOS, setting or resetting this attribute had no effect on whether elements would be visible.

This operation was for informational purposes only. So the system informed the user programs that it considers this file visible or invisible. The programs themselves could set the attribute. If a browser like Norton Commander considered an attribute to be significant, it would use it when displaying it and the directories would appear hidden. Windows OS always takes this attribute into account.

How to look behind the veil?

Hidden objects in the Windows file system can be made visible quite simply. In order to open them for review, you need to perform a simple sequence of operations.

The way to open invisible files has remained virtually unchanged since earlier versions of Windows. To solve the problem you need to do the following:

• Open the required folder using Windows.
• In the window with its contents, go to the “Tools” menu.
• Select the “Folder Options” submenu, after which a separate properties window will open.
• Go to the “View” tab in this window.
• Check or clear all the checkboxes as shown in the figure:

If there are hidden items in the folder, they will be immediately displayed in its contents window. Typically, such invisible objects are displayed by windows as shaded, as if less clearly drawn. Then you can do the same with them as with all the others: copy, move, delete, view their contents and even launch, if we are talking about applications. As soon as there is no need to display hidden elements of Win 7, you can return the checkboxes to their original place.

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Making hidden folders visible in Windows 7, 8, 10, XP is as easy as shelling pears

Especially in order to edit some system files, sometimes it is necessary to find and make visible hidden folders of the OS itself. Modern operating systems are equipped with special protection against accidental or intentional deletion of system files. An inexperienced user simply will not see files in the system folder, the deletion of which will lead to a malfunction in the system itself.
But it happens that you just need to get into the OS files and edit some points. Most games, as well as programs, along with the full installation, also add their configs to the system section, so sometimes you need to gain access to them and edit them. This article - a supervisor who will give you the opportunity to perform the procedure on any operating system Windows 7 and higher.

1. Windows 7 system partition

First of all, go to “Start” and select “Control Panel”

2. Subtleties of Windows 8

Another one is the system partition, system components that are hidden by the system and warn users against them. To “interfere” with different types of files, you need to perform different actions.

Open the first type of files:

Go to "Explorer"

3. Hidden files and folders in windows 10

In order to edit some important system files, you need to know how to make hidden operating system folders visible. The fact is that in all modern versions of Windows OS, the default settings provide the so-called fool protection. This means that an inexperienced user simply does not see most of the important system partitions and cannot make potentially dangerous changes to them.

But on the other hand, some subtle settings of the operating system may require editing these hidden files. Also, most games and programs place their configs on the system partition, so in order to correct them you need to gain access to invisible folders. This article will provide a detailed guide to implement this procedure on Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 10, which currently occupy the lion's share of operating systems in use in the commercial and private sector.

Secrets of the Windows 7 system partition

This version of the operating system from Microsoft has taken the palm of popularity from the legendary XP, support for which ended several years ago. This success is primarily dictated by the user-friendly interface, in which it is easy to find the necessary settings. This also applies to the option to show hidden folders and files, which is most easily activated through the taskbar.

• First, you need to get to the taskbar in the standard way: open Start and select “Control Panel”.

• Then click on the link “Design and personalization”.

Advice! For convenience, you need to select a display method by category.

• In the variety that opens, we need the “Folder Options” category, or more precisely, its “Show hidden files and folders” option, which speaks for itself.

• In the window that opens called “Folder Options,” expand the “View” tab and at the very bottom of the list of additional options we see the function of showing/hiding special files. All that remains is to set the checkbox to the desired position.

You can get to the “Folder Options” window in Windows 7 in a simpler way: to do this, just open any directory and select “Folder and Search Options” from the “Arrange” drop-down menu.

Advice! If you decide to use this method, by default only hidden files in the current directory will be displayed. To apply this rule to all drives, you must activate the “Apply to folders” option.

Having dealt with the classics, you can move on to more modern systems.

We delve into the intricacies of Windows 8

This version of the operating system is significantly different from Windows 7, which at one time caused many complaints from users. The changes also affected hidden directories: in Windows 8, there are two types of files and folders that are not visible to the user. The first is the actual hidden sections. Not only system files and folders have this status, but also components of various third-party applications. Moreover, the user himself can assign this type to any object on the disk. However, this opportunity is often used by malware, which, for example, results in problems with files on a flash drive.

The second category of invisible files are important system components, which are thus protected from interference by inexperienced users. For these two types, the algorithm of actions will be different. To open regular hidden files and folders, you need to do the following:

• First, you should open “Explorer”, for which you can use the standard shortcut in the “Taskbar”.

• In the folder that opens, in the top settings panel, click on the “View” menu and select the “Show and Hide” function. In the list that opens, you must activate the “Hidden elements” checkbox. In the same way, you can assign hidden status to any selected file or folder.

In order to see particularly important system files, you need to make the following settings:

• In the same “View” menu, go to “Options” - “Change folder and search options.”

• As a result, the “Folder Options” settings window will appear, similar to that in Windows 7. Here you should go to the “View” tab and uncheck the “Hide” protected system files checkbox (recommended).

There is another way to get to this window:

• In Start, which in eight has an unusual Metro interface, click on the gear icon (Computer Settings).

• In the menu that opens, you need to click on the lowest link to open the Control Panel, which is familiar to most users.

• In the “Taskbar”, first select the function display method Large (or small) icons, and then click on the “Folder Options” link, which will ultimately give access to the settings window of the same name.

It is also worth considering separately the algorithm for enabling the display of hidden and system elements for Windows 10, since, despite its similarity to the eight, the settings of this OS have their own nuances.

Hidden files and folders in Windows 10

In the top ten, there is the same division of hidden files into regular system ones, therefore the methods for enabling their display are similar to those discussed in the previous section. In order for the top ten to see files and folders with the hidden attribute, including on a flash drive or any other external media, do the following:

• Open “Start” and launch “Explorer”.

• The appearance of “Explorer” in the top ten is practically no different from Windows 8. Therefore, it operates according to the already known algorithm: View - Show and Hide - set the “Hidden Elements” checkbox to the active position.

In order to see system files and folders, we need to get to the “Explorer Options” function (analogous to the Folder Options option).

• The fastest way to do this is through the search, the icon of which can be found on the “Taskbar”.

Advice! You can also use a keyboard shortcut to access the search. Win+Q.

• By clicking on the search result, we will be taken to the functions window, which we have already encountered several times in this article. Here we are interested in the option “Hide protected system files (recommended), which is located on the View tab.

In conclusion, it is worth saying once again that editing hidden files, especially system files, can cause serious harm to the computer’s software shell, so such changes should be treated as responsibly as possible.

Thematic video: