After a virus attack in one of my client machines, the folder options from the windows explorer was missing and we were unable to show all the files including the hidden ones. So here’s what I did to restore it back:
Go to Run –>gpedit.msc
User Configuration –> Administrative Templates –> Windows Components –> Windows Explorer
Enable and then Disable “Removes Folder Options menu from Tools menu”
Close all windows explorer windows and then open again.. most probably your folder options is back 🙂
Folder Options missing in Windows XP
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292 responses to “Folder Options missing in Windows XP”
the best solution fer this problem is to export this folder from reg edit of one of ur frens pc an import it to the regedit of ur pc.. here’s the path of the folder u’l need to transfer
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Folder\Hidden\SHOWALL
the best solution fer this problem is to export this folder from reg edit of one of ur frens pc an import it to the regedit of ur pc.. here’s the path of the folder u’l need to transfer
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\
CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Folder\Hidden\SHOWALL
really a gud solution and it worked out
well guys, it’s great that you have a great attitude to help others.
I have a problem with my desktop. Iam using xp sp2 . From last 7 days all my folders turned to read only mode. Even if i change manually by unmarking it , it once again goes to readonly mode. please help me . iam vexed with this.
bro sanix,thank you for the big help i really really apreciate it so much.now i can fix my pc. more power and god bless.Ü
Thx guys u all r real whizzids. added ur site 2 ma favorites straight up!
Please sanix how do i get rid of this “cannot find C/recycled/SCVHOST.exe” message. i get it at every startup. thx!
you helped me a lot! thanks!
Great site, I have been able to restore folder options on my system. However, I can’t find my “Run” in start menu, pls help me on this. Thanks.
Also, I can’t t Internet Explorer Home page. Pls help me on this. Thanks.
Also, I can’t set Internet Explorer Home page. Pls help me on this. Thanks.
Also, I can’t access System Restore on my system. Pls help me with all these. Thanks.
Thaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaank alooooooot
Thanx a lot
wow! great, thanks a lot for the solution 🙂
hey
I just recently had a virus attack too it was some worm thing and since then, i have not been able to see the Folder Options in Windows Explorer. I tried hte gpedit.msc method but the file could not be found, so then i used the regedit method, however i am getting an error message that registry editing has been disabled by your administrator. This is not possible because i am the only user of this computer. I dnt kno what to do?? plz help!! Is there any way i can get it back?? it has been gone ever since the virus attack. thank u for your help!
Ridz, thanks for the comment. Please download our smart antivirus from our downloads sections and restore all your Windows settings.
http://technize.com/antivirus-tools/
Select Smart_AV.exe to download the software. Install and use. Do tell us about your experiences afterwards.
thanks for the original solution…
hey!
it worked!! Thank you SO much! everything is restored and is working properly! is there a way i can get rid of the virus/virus’s that are on my computer??
Glad to hear from you Ridz .. you can use an online virus scanner to get rid of the viruses in your pc. Please select one virus scanner from the list and scan you PC for viruses.
http://technize.com/2007/06/27/free-online-virus-scanners/
Do tell us about the results.
Hei, Sanix… i had the same problem as Ridz… thanks to your advice i managed to solve it… thanks a lot man… take care..
you welcome C.J. :-).. keep in touch. Do tell me if you have any problems .. we can always solve the problems as a team..
Thanks for your support in solving the missing folder option problem. I have another problem after an virus attack the search service is not not working in win xp sp2 what is the solution to this is problem
help me please….
I have a problem with my folder options I’m getting the folder options in my tools menu but the problem is even when i enable the “show hidden files and folders ” option it is not showing the hidden files and by default it is taking “do not show hidden files or folders” how can i solve this problem…
i’m using windows xp pro with service pack 2.
i’m waiting for respond thanks a lot…..
Hi. Thanks a lot! your guiding solved my folder option problem. But I dont know either the virus has been removed or not. Thanks again.
Bye.
Hi! I have the same problem as NOMI and I’ve followed the steps that you’ve given Nomi: Start –> Run –> regedit. The registry editor will open. Go to the following key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer.
I followed your instructions, but it didn’t work for my computer.
Then I tried Go to Run –>gpedit.msc
User Configuration –> Administrative Templates –> Windows Components –> Windows Explorer
Enable and then Disable “Removes Folder Options menu from Tools menu”
BUT there’s NO “Removes Folder Options menu from Tools menu”
What will I do? Help me please…Thank you.
hi this is phani my problem is my folder options is missing as u said above i have tried and its working but there is another problem for me the files or not yet showing me and even my task manager is missing
thanks Alot,
You really helped me
please accept my Regards,
superbbbb..can i get some more tips like this.mail me to slaymort@gmail.com
hey sanix,
dis post is really old, but thanx dude, you totally helped me, i was major freaking out,
thanx again!!!
I viewed your recommendations concerning Folder Options missing in Windows XP but have not been successful in returning the Folder Options window to the explorer Tool Menu. My problem began during an uninstall of Quicken 2008. The last step of the install process is DELETE THE QUICKEN SHARED FOLDERS. To do this I need to “Show hidden files and folders”. Can you help me?
Hey Man thanks for the POST.. really good. i finally solved this problem with the Folder Options 😛
hey!
ok this isnt related to the folder options but i wanted to know how i can make my computer faster. its been really slow but i thought it mitve have been because i didnt have much memory left. but then i moved all my picturs, music, movies to a separate hard disk which freed up 54% of my C drive. also i got my ram memory upgraded to 1 gb [b4 it was 512 mb]. however, my computer is stil very slow. i defrag it about once a week or eveery 2 weeks and also every few days i delete my temp internet files and cookies. however it is still quite slow. what can i do without formattting my computer? plz help! thank u
Thanx a lot sanix!! it really works for my pc!!
Thank you so….much-Helplessly devoted to technize.com!
Hi, i have read your posts on how to fix the menu bar missing and tried the gpedit but it did not work, i have restarted the machine and still nothing. The problem i have is this:
Windows Explorer – working fine
Taskbar – working fine
Quicklaunch – working fine
Folders – nightmare!
In the folders (all of them), there is no menu bar at the top (incase ive not called it by its right name, i mean the bit with FILE, EDIT, VIEW, etc in in), its there if i use windows explorer to view my machine but not if say i click on my computer, or a shortcut to any folder.
Any thoughts ?
thank you so much for your site….finally my folder options is back hurray!
hey i have a quiry can you help me with my problem?
cant find my folder option?
when i try the answer above a window will pop up telling me that “registry iditing has been disabled by administrator”
i already scan my pc with kaspersky unti-virus but still the result is the same.. please help me.. many thanks
emman, please download our smart-antivirus from the following link and restore all your Windows defaults. It will re-enable your Registry Editor, Task Manager, Folder Options etc. Please also tell us your experience if you were successfully able to solve your problem or not. Thanks.
http://www.technize.com/2008/01/22/smart-anti-virus/
hey.. thanks for the quick reply..
thanks you help me alot
my folder options now is back
till next time..
thanks again
GOD bless
Thanks, now I figured out how to solve this problems, after bunch of tries with other this.
Now guys.. I must say: 3 days of surfing the net, 4 hours per day past midnight, after long day at work trying to find a solution to hidden folder after virus infection. Then read your thread. Didn’t know I could create my own registry key…. You ENLIGTHENED ME… really well done…. THANKS A MILLION, MILLION, MILLION TIME… Men, you are serious guys, be blessed.. now can go manually I deleted the bastard vrus which self re-install itself, no matter how many time anti-virus whipped it… BY the way:download (free version) of multiple anti-virus and spyware remover… run them all: they pick different stuff!!!
Ta
Helena
Question.. if my folder option is missing, it means my computer has a virus? is that right?
emman, thanks for asking. Missing folder options does not mean that your system has a virus. It can also be disabled administratively. But if your PC is a home pc, then it’s almost sure that some type of virus has been playing with your system. Besides recovering folder options, you should scan for viruses in this case.
ah okie thanks..
if its disabled administratively how can i enable it?
one more
what if my folder option is missing and when i try to click ctrl+alt+delete this message will pop up “registry editing has been disabled by administrator” is that means my laptop is having a virus?
thanks for answering my questions (^_^)
emman, Folder options can be administratively disabled by doing the following:
Go to Start –> Run –> gpedit.msc
This will open group policy editor. Go to the following key:
User Configuration –> Administrative templates –> Windows Components –> Windows Explorer.
In the right hand pane select “Removes the Folder Options menu from the tools menu”
Enable it or disable it from there.
emman, if you need a good antivirus, please see my following post where you can get 6 months trial of Kaspersky internet security. Enjoy 🙂
http://www.technize.com/2008/05/22/bit-defender-antivirus-2008-and-kaspersky-internet-security-6-months-trials/
wow!!!
thanks for your help.. ^_^
till next tym
GOD bless you
thanks again
Hi Sanix,
I’m using WindowsXP home and I’m facing the same problem as Ridz. I can’t seem to download Smart_AV.exe from the site too 🙁
Would greatly appreciate it if you could help! Thanks.
Can’t thank you enough Sanix.. I finally got my folder options back.. thanks again 🙂
If you don’t see any NoFolderOptions then you should create a DWORD named NoFolderOptions and put 0 as it’s value. That means you’re forcing the explorer to show folder options.
Comment by Nomi on May 30, 2007 @ 8:09 pm
IT ACTUALLY WORKS lol