A few days back, a client came to me and told me that he was having trouble with his Windows XP. The show hidden files and folders was not working at all. If he selected the radio button “Show hidden files and folders”, and then press Ok .. the changes would just disappear upon opening the dialog again. It was probably some virus attack after which the Windows registry was not being updated properly. So here is what I did to restore it back. There are so many methods to restore back the registry. If one method is not working, please try another one.
Method 1:
Go to registry editor by running regedit in the run box.
Go to this key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoft
WindowsCurrentVersionExplorerAdvanced
In the right hand area, double click hidden and change the value to 1.
Now you’re all set to go. Check it in your tools menu if the changes have taken effect.
Method 2: (By Random Hajile)
1. Click “Start” -> “Run…” (or press Windows key + R)
2. Type “regedit” and click “Ok”.
3. Find the key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorer
AdvancedFolderHiddenSHOWALL
4. Look at the “CheckedValue” key… This should be a DWORD key. If it isn’t, delete the key.
5. Create a new key called “CheckedValue” as a DWORD (hexadecimal) with a value of 1.
6. The “Show hidden files & folders” check box should now work normally. Enjoy! 
Method 3: (By Denny)
1- Click Start –> Run –> regsvr32 /i browseui.dll –> enter
A confirmation message will appear like given below
2- Click Start –> Run –> regsvr32 /i shell32.dll
Wait for the confirmation and click OK.
Method 4:
If none of the above methods work, please download our Smart Virus Remover from here:
[download id=”6″]
Using this Virus Remover please restore your Windows settings and your show hidden files and folders will be set to default.
Please spare a few moments from your precious time and tell us about your experiences.
Comments
1,097 responses to “Show Hidden Files and Folders not working?”
thanccccccx…..a lot
the second method really works!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for the solutions. The 2nd method worked perfectly for me. Thanks a lot & keep up the gud work
the 2nd solution works…
thanx
Thanks, The second method. Thanks a lot.
2nd worked perfectly……….thanx 2 all…… my problem is solved………..what happens in 3rd method exactly?
hi…step 1 solved my problem…thanks.. but when I choose the “Do not show hidden files” and the choose “show hidden files” the hidden files won’t show again…any solution to these??
follow up: I tried method 3 and solved my proble…thanks for that!.. but can we safely say that I’m not infected by a virus(that caused my problem on hidden files)??
thanks.
Mark you should install a real time antivirus to protect yourself from malware including viruses. See the following article for free antivirus softwares:
http://www.technize.com/2008/09/26/top-5-free-antivirus-software/
tj, method 3 re-registers the dlls given in the message in the shell, hence resetting all the configuration regarding those dlls.
THANKS FOR YOUR USEFUL COMMANDS. I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. BUT NOW CLEARED.
THANKS A LOT………
I’VE TRIED ALL ABOVED METHOD…..NON OF THIS METHOD OK FOR ME….PLS HELP ME….
THANK YOU
Hey,thanks a lot , method 2 worked for me.
Hey,thanks a lot , method 2 &4 compained worked for me. again thanks a lots
#2 worked great! Thanks!
thanks…. 🙂
Tried method 3 first… didn’t work. Then Method 2: (By Random Hajile) worked like charm! Thank you
HI guys,
I did all the things explained above. But that didn’t worked for me. If I change the D_WORD Key to 1, it is again changing back to 0.
I am ready to format my pc. If I format can i get my hidden files? or I need to do anything else to get hidden files?
Please help me to get my valuable files……..
Venkat
Venkat you should scan your system for viruses and then try these methods. They’ll work for sure.
Great man.Really I Wonder when i Use regsvr32 /i shell32.dll Command.
For Show Hidden Files And Folders
Thanks Mr Denny
You guys are the best thanks for the help.
Method 2 works on me just see d defference on 1 and 2. 1rst is current user and 2nd is local machine..
Windows Vista X86 SP1
found the solution here 😀 tnx so many…
2nd one solve my problem.
thanx
“Hidden File And Folder Option” not working
First method not working
Second method work well
Thanks
Number two worked for me. TYVM!
God, thanks! been having this kind of problem for months now! been switch to different antivirus looking for the one that’d correct this. Turned out, method 4 was the only thing needed. I do hope there are no side effects on this method 🙂 thank you guys 🙂
Hello, i am in big trouble, I hide a folder (containing extremely important data) using this software ‘Free Hide Folder’. However, i forgot to make any backup (my mistake). Later I had to reinstall my Operating system (xp) and when i ran FHF after re installation it had kept no track of the hidden folders. Now i cant find that folder of mine. Its still there because it occupies about 3.5gb of my hard disk but its not visible and neither can i access any data inside it. i’ve tried various utilities but to no avail. Please help…..
great job man !!!!!!!!!! 3 kudos to ur effort with method 3 i am able to tretrieve my hidden files !!
Thanks a lot
🙂
Thanks a lot guys you are the life savers.
dear sir
i apply all ur method but my problem cant solve,even that when i delete the checkedvalue key and then create a new key and assign same name then a message appear which is contain that u cant assign that name because it already exit,and when i close the regisry and again open then checkedvalue showing in panel so plz help me.
thankx
Regards
khslid jamal
Thanks a lot! I resolved my problem using the Method #3.
Thanx , u are really awesome , it solved my problem voila……
Works great many thanks!
Thanks, it seems to be working
Thanks a lot.
Its working.
The #rd one seems to be an advanced approach!! Thaks alot.
thanks a lot
thanks method 2 worked
Thxsca lot sir/mam…….its really helped me.its working now……thxs
Hellow ….
Thanks alot .
@ Myanmar
Option 2 works brilliantly.
🙂
Method 3 – worked for me too…man that was driving me crazy! Big Kudos from a new “Vista Ultimate” user in Montana.
Method 2 worked for me. Now i can easily view my hidden files and folders.
[AutoRun]
open=cj3k.exe
shell\open\Command=cj3k.exe
i found this virus
name is cj3k.exe its doesn’t able to delete this virus plz solve this prob
thank’s & Regards
shakti
Thanks a million ! Have been struggling with this problem for ages…
Thanks so much .I was unable to check back the hidden folders because everytime i checked the box”SHOW HIDDEN FILES”It automatically got changed to DO NOT SHow…..METHOD 3 WOrked PERFECT for me.
FOR WINDOWS XP SP3 only
make a txt document.
copy the code below
paste the code below, in it.
save the file.
rename it to .reg.
right click the file select merge.
click on yes.
DONE
none of the mothods on the web worked for me. So, I had to solve it myself. Seems like my HKEYROOT (in both NOHIDDEN and SHOWALL) was wrong and NOBODY mentions this in all of the web. the correct setting is “0x80000001” (in hexadecimal).
code starts here:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerAdvancedFolderHidden]
“Text”=”@shell32.dll,-30499”
“Type”=”group”
“Bitmap”=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,74,
00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,53,00,
48,00,45,00,4c,00,4c,00,33,00,32,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,34,00,00,
00
“HelpID”=”shell.hlp#51131”
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerAdvancedFolderHiddenNOHIDDEN]
“RegPath”=”Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced”
“Text”=”@shell32.dll,-30501”
“Type”=”radio”
“CheckedValue”=dword:00000002
“ValueName”=”Hidden”
“DefaultValue”=dword:00000002
“HKeyRoot”=dword:80000001
“HelpID”=”shell.hlp#51104”
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerAdvancedFolderHiddenSHOWALL]
“RegPath”=”Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced”
“Text”=”@shell32.dll,-30500”
“Type”=”radio”
“CheckedValue”=dword:00000001
“ValueName”=”Hidden”
“DefaultValue”=dword:00000002
“HKeyRoot”=dword:80000001
“HelpID”=”shell.hlp#51105”
best software… Thanks ……
third one is working … thanks guru
thx… i can see my hidden file
cool,,ur virus remover is so sexy!!!!!!
you are mind blowing persons
thnx a lot
Thank u so much
3rd method was great…
didn’t know it before…and loved it!
😀
thanx a lot man…