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?”
Show “Hidden” files etc… settings wouldn’t work even after i hit apply and when i checked them again they would mysteriously be reset.??? I tried steps #1, and #2 and ran smart_vr_.exe still didn’t fix it. Then I did step #3 and that finally solved my problem.
Thanx a million!
Jon
PC repair tech
Thanks you.. I had a same problem. Thanks for help.. it worked great
I am using windows 7 and many of my folders have disappeared from the hard drives. I can only see them when i right-click and see the drive’s or the directories properties. it shows that the size on disk to be around 4 Gb with 4000(approx.) files..but doesn’t show any folder there. it shows only 2 files there..just two song files.
I’ve tried all these methods but none have worked for me.
Can anyone help?
Thank you in advance.
non of the 3 methods works on my problem… my files still not showing…
none of the 4 methods above works for me. Please advice and email to keithforfun@gmail.com. Thanks
methods 1,2 and 3 dd not work for me unfortunately but the method 4 Smart Virus remover did all the trick, Thanks guys for the good work really appreciate that …….. Cheers
great dude…. keep up the spirit….!!
Method 3 Rocks! Cheers guys, thanks a bunch.
i applied both methods nothing is working plz help me to save my important files
plz plz plz
Thanks a lot!!!!!
The 3rd method worked for me! and its less techy as well…
Thanks again, saved a lotta important docs!
thanks 100% work
Method 1 : sucks… No recomended 🙁
method 2 : really work… thanks.. great job… you rock …. 🙂
Method 2 THXXX :X:X:X:X
Method 3 is perfect
2nd method worked. Thanks.
I realy relay thank u
I really really thank u
good antivirus dlete all ur files
really thanks for the information, i had settle my problem now.
Thanks man, imagin me shouting hurraay,,..
Thanks..I tried 3 rd method..now I got my hidden files..This is good one
hi,
I am hide my computer hard drive, but when i access form another computer then i am not able to cut,copy,pest,delete any data from the hidden partition.
Good Tricks,..Method 2 worked 4 Me,…Thank Ya,…
I tried the 4th method and it really worked, thanks a lot guys
really appreciate your help
Nice and very helpfull.. Thanks for sharing infos mate! I tried method 3 and it works like charm 😀
Again,thanks
The 3rd Method worked… Thank you so so much 🙂
I lost a whole night on solving the problem from other sites due to infected by spyware. You solved my nightmare in just a click using the method 1!! How come the others just misled me so far around the corner!?
Thanks 🙂
Methods 1-3 have not worked for me, and I’m not sure I want to take the chance to download virus things, becasue sometimes those really are viruses themselves. Feedback anyone?? Is method four safe??
i did only the 4th method and it worked perfect. Thanks again guys
Yes I have a problem with some of our workstation here in our office. If i choose to view the hidden files from folder options, the windows will bring the options back to do not show hidden files. I don’t know if this is a virus. I would try this methods here anyway, thank you people who does the effort in posting.
Method 2 did the trick for me. Thanks !
Than ka lot. Method 4 is so nice one. I solved my problem in first step. no need to googling more. Thanks again.
thanks a lot. method 2 solved my problem. many thanks again.
HI,
Tried all 4 methods and none is working, I mean the autoruns are deleted…and all the exe from all partitions…. but after a minute they are back 🙁
as for methods 1-3 … none is working … value comes back to 0 anytime I try to modify the reg…
any other suggestions?
thanks!
Method 1 worked for me, thanks a lot.
Method 3: (By Denny)
I settled problem by using Method 3: (By Denny)
Thank you.
GREAT GREAT GREAT GREAT GREAT GREAT GREAT GREAT GREAT GREAT GREAT GREAT It’s worked thank you so much
i have followed the 1st 3 methods…but no use..please tell me another method….i don’t have internet..so i’m download the anti virus….
thanks and regards
—————–
Sekhar Reddy
i have followed the 1st 3 methods…but no use..please tell me another method….i don’t have internet..so i’m not download the anti virus….
thanks and regards
—————–
Sekhar Reddy
I am soooo thankfulll:)) I used metod 2 and IT WORKED:DD Thank youuu!!
Method 3 work for me
thanks a lot…method 2 works.
thank you so much! it works!
i am very happy because your method 3 success full.
thank so much sir,
thousand thanks to you method 2 worked for me, thought it was a virus
method 2 worked for me. Thanks.
thank u i tried the fourth method it helped me restore the folder options
Thank u I appreciate u to give this brilliant solutions
what a helpfull site method 2 worked for me i have a virus called worm which i removed after i didnt know how to work my hidden folder functions but your step by step method worked for me ….may god bless you
thanks a lot…its working…