How to View Hidden and System Files and Folders in Vista | Microsoft Vista | Tech-Recipes

How to View Hidden and System Files and Folders in Vista

Contributed by Hack_Vista

July 31, 2006

Tagged: Microsoft Vista

This tutorial shows the user how to view hidden files and folders on their system.

Seeing your hidden files and system files in Vista is not much different than in XP. Here are the step-by-step directions. Remember that system files are hidden for a reason. Don’t go messin’ around with stuff.

1. Click the round blue Start thing in the left corner
2. Click Control Panel
3. Click Folder Options
4. Click the View tab
5. Click Show hidden files and folders
6. If you want to see system files as well, unclick Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)
7. Click OK

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Viewing 14 Comments

Anonymous 5 months ago 1 point
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Dude, this really helped me out, i finally found a folder that has some important stuff to me in it, Thanks!

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anonymous 1 month ago 1 point
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My friend thought it was funny to hide a 3gb folder on my memory stick (taking up all the memory). Needed this to find and delete it.

Thank you for your help.

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Jonathong 1 month ago 1 point
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Thanks dude, godsend :P

(not used to silly vista)

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Celine 1 month ago 1 point
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Alrighty, thanks so much!

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Mr F Shields 1 month ago 1 point
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how do you delete the notes on the recent items on widow svista

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Lindsey 1 month ago 1 point
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Help! I'm trying to hide my sensitive files because I have an employee coming in this weekend. I hid three of the directories in my main folder, but now I can't even figure out how to view them myself! How do I un-hide them? I'm in the root directory (called "Lindsey,"), it's one tier up from My Documents. When I click on "customize this folder" i get an error message saying properties for this item (Desktop?) are not available!!

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james 1 month ago 1 point
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My question was how to see the pictures in an album formatt and not how to find files.

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robz 3 weeks ago 1 point
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Chrs Thank you xxxx

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lovelyslickyvixen 3 weeks ago 1 point
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the folder option isnt there! how??

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sud 1 week ago 1 point
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type folder options in search in control panel

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DeAdnre 3 days ago 1 point
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Or on the left side click "Classic View" and then look for "Folder Option" Once again.

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sud 1 week ago 1 point
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very gud info

thanks.....

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VistaMan 6 days ago 1 point
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good stuff buddy.. thanks alot, i had totally forgotten how to findem'

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Cam 2 days ago 1 point
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Awesome! Thanks a lot man! I accidentally hid a bunch of folders on my desktop and did not know how to view them again!

This really helped!

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