Show Hidden Files and Folders not working?

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.

regsvr32-shell.dll.png
regsvr32-shell.dll.png

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.

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Sanix

Comments

1,097 responses to “Show Hidden Files and Folders not working?”

  1. Waqas

    Thanks it works well

  2. Felipe

    “Random Hajile” you totally ROOOCK, man, now I can breath again, having my problem solved.

  3. Bhupeshreddy

    Hi
    Thank you very much. To whom so ever, for smart_av.exe its a very nice tool to see the Hidden files. its worked stright away to me.
    Here is the tool
    http://technize.com/2008/01/22/smart-anti-virus/

  4. aditya

    thanks man!!!!! d 2nd one did d job keep it up

  5. Berker

    thx alot buddy

  6. sajth

    kooollllll…

  7. chandan

    all the times when i faced this problem i keep on formating windows but frm ur three methods first 2 didnt worked but ur software saved me…..its awesome yaar….thanx for the software…!!

  8. Shantana

    I was really getting mad with this problem… but thanx a million…. ur solutions were awesome.
    Keep up ur good work…

  9. Mahesh Devnani

    Thank you ……………Thanks a lot
    I was struggling to retrive my hidden folders for a couple of days…..finally I am able to retrive it with your help….I am relieved now
    Thanks again.
    Dr Mahesh Devnani,MHA

  10. Narayanan Aier

    Thanks a lot for the info. My comp got infected with some virus and ever since I haven’t been able to retrieve my hidden files. But your blog helped. Thanks again!

  11. faizul nizam

    its work tq

  12. Khan_z

    2nd method is Best way to get rid of this error….. Thanks to person how introduce it & how paste it here..

  13. Prathima

    Thanks a lot. Second option really works. Thanks again.

  14. pcatu

    Restore All Folder Option Settings:
    Method two worked for my situation. Thanks for your help. Great Blog.

  15. sonny

    Thank you so much for your explanation. I already tried and it worked. Once again thank you for sharing your knowledge.

  16. nanees

    method 2 worked with me :)))) and am really so thankfull for supporting 😀

  17. ZASH

    Hey thanks bud! your instructions worked….
    cheers!

  18. maeen

    thanks dude..its working..

  19. Keerthi Kiran M

    thanks Random Hajile
    your solution worked….
    thanks a lot…

  20. arun

    thanx bro that smartantivirus is an awesome antivirus ……..
    thanx a lot from my frnds side tooo

  21. amit

    thanx buddy .. ur second option work

  22. Nelson

    Method 2 works smoother than Method 1. Hey, why is there no direct way of uninstalling Smart AntiVirus?

  23. ahmhm

    Thank you very much I now can show hidden files
    regads

  24. Faith

    thanx for d help dude! =D

  25. dost

    i had the same problem yesterday..started with a virus called semo2x.exe..(its a new virus as far as i know)…i downloaded pc tools antivirus it detedted it and deleted it but then my drives didnt open so i downloaded disk heel used it worked…then my hidden files didnt open so i followed the steps of the registery solution and it worked 🙂

  26. Kaushil

    Thanks Yaar It’s Really Worked

  27. shikher

    thanks for the help it works u guys rocks//

  28. Renzie

    it works… thanks!^_^ God Bless..

  29. Deepak Kela

    Great,……
    Its realy working…Now i can see all hiden folders.
    Tahanks………Great Help to me

  30. Jimmy

    thx a lot. I fixed the problem using Method 2. I’m just curious when did the registry being changed.

  31. Gaurav Madan

    Thanks mate. Method 2 worked for me. my system was infected by ravmon virus, which started all this trouble.
    Cheers!!

  32. Jawad

    Thank you, its working

  33. Iqual

    Test

  34. Osvaldo Alvarez

    This is the best option and the only one that works better.
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
    CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
    Hidden = “1”
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
    CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Folder\
    Hidden\SHOWALL
    CheckedValue = “1”
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
    CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
    SuperHidden = “1”
    ShowSuperHidden = “1”

  35. prateekazam

    thanks sir

  36. manila

    Your solution really helped me to see the hidden files. Thank you very much !

  37. Kamilo

    Works great, thank you 🙂

  38. Rubayet Faisal

    i used symentech and avira, but they didnt work perfectly.
    but all these tips work nicely and save my time.
    Thanks all of the honourable team members whos are helping and share their knowledge.

  39. Ruchir

    Thancccxx yaar……. method 2 worked 4 me…….

  40. Deepu

    Hi Sanix,
    Thanks for ur logic……. and it works GREAT…….
    I had solved the probelm with Ur 2nd method.

  41. Sir Angie`

    Thank you so much! and keep up..

  42. cof

    Method 2 worked for me. Thanks.

  43. varun

    method 2 works for me too..thanks

  44. Praveen

    Thanks dude…it helped me alot.Really you saved me alot of time.
    Regards,
    -Praveen

  45. Krunal

    Excellent information mate..thanx a lot..helped solve a chronic problem..cheers

  46. TMIR

    THANKS!
    the second option worked for me 🙂
    YAHOO!!!

  47. MA

    Thanks. The first method did not work (it left the default unchecked in both option and checking “show hidden” did not yield results). The second method worked.

  48. Shantu

    Thanks a lot. For me also first method did not work (When i used this both the radio buttons were unchecked and when i try to check the “show hidden” it went back to “Do not show”). But second method worked

  49. Shahzad Munir

    Thanks, both methods works.

  50. Premanand

    some times the registry editing trick is not working. After i change the value it used to same 2 after I save it.