The hide function protects files and folders from prying eyes, and also protects them from accidental deletion. If these files and folders need to be edited, copied or deleted, they can be opened. This is done as follows.
Instructions
Step 1
Open the start menu and go to the Windows Control Panel. Double click on the "Folder Options" icon. In the dialog box that opens, go to the tab called "View", which controls the display of folders. In the list, find the line "Hidden files and folders" and check the box next to the command "Show hidden files and folders" under it. After that click the "Apply" button and close the dialog box by clicking the "OK" button. Now hidden files and folders will appear in Windows, but they will appear semi-transparent. In order to open them completely, it is necessary to change some of the attributes of these files.
Step 2
Right-click on a hidden file or folder whose attributes you want to change. In the context menu that opens, select the "Properties" item. In the Properties dialog box, under Attributes, uncheck the box next to Hidden. Now this file is open and publicly available. If this action was done with a folder, the system will also offer to change the attributes of files attached to the folder, since when the folder is hidden, the files may be hidden with it (or they may remain open). Select the desired action for the folder files.
Step 3
You can also open hidden items using file managers working under Windows, in particular Total Commander. To view hidden files and folders, just click the "Hidden Items" button in the upper toolbar of the program.
