The Windows operating system hides files and folders important for its normal functioning from an unprepared user. However, the settings to disable this option are present in the control system. There is also a setting in it that includes the display of all files with the activated "hidden" attribute.
Instructions
Step 1
Double click on the "My Computer" shortcut located on the desktop of the Windows 7 operating system. If you have this version of the OS, but there is no such shortcut, then press the key combination WIN + E. Both of these methods are designed to launch Explorer, which acts as a manager files. On the left side of its interface, you need to click the "Organize" button, from which a list will drop out containing the item "Folder Options" you need - select it. The result will be the launch of the OS component, which gives access to the folder settings.
Step 2
Go to the "View" tab of this component and in the "Additional parameters" list, find the line with the text "Hidden files and folders". To remove all restrictions on the display of files, in the properties of which the attribute "hidden" is activated, you need to check the box associated with the item "Show hidden files, folders and drives". And to remove the restriction on the display of system files, you need to uncheck the "Hide protected system files (recommended)" line.
Step 3
Click the "OK" button to commit your changes.
Step 4
If you are using Windows XP, then launching Explorer in the same way, you will not find the "Organize" button in its interface. Instead, you need to open the "Tools" section in the program menu and select the "Folder options" line there - in this version, in this way, you can open the same component that gives access to the folder display settings.
Step 5
Go to the "View" tab. Here, the procedure is the same in both versions of operating systems - find the item "Show hidden files and folders" in the "Advanced options" list and put a check mark next to it. Then do the reverse operation in relation to the item "Hide protected system files (recommended)" - uncheck the box next to it. Then, to commit the changes, click the "OK" button.
Step 6
Use Explorer to find files and folders that were previously hidden. You can also use the "Search for files" function located in the main menu of the system on the "Start" button.
