Show Hidden Files and Folders not working?

by usman on July 16, 2010

in Troubleshooting and Fixes

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_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
Advanced\FolderHidden\SHOWALL
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:

Smart Virus Remover
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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{ 131 comments… read them below or add one }

Sid July 18, 2010 at 1:54 PM

Hey mate, thanks a ton man!…Really, I mean it. I couldn’t find “explorer” following the first step and then I followed the second. Changed the value to 1 from 3 in “CheckedValue”. Hope this is permanent. If it’s a virus which cannot be detected by ESET 4.0.468, then I badly need to find a good antivirus. Please let me know. Thanks again and may God bless you.

Nitin July 18, 2010 at 2:20 PM

thank you very much you are so good .

Iliyan July 19, 2010 at 3:39 PM

Hi, Thanks a lot!
It was method 2 that worked for me!
Thanks a million, I am also with ESET Nod 32 but I had a virus before installing it, so I think, this is just one of the things that the virus left behind. However, I tried method 1 and then method 1 and 2 together, so I believe it is method 2 that was the solution.

Nalaka526 July 20, 2010 at 10:30 AM

Thank you very much…
Method 3 worked for me. Its clean and easy. (didn’t try others)

ashrith July 21, 2010 at 1:54 AM

The solution of hidden files worked

Ravindra Singh July 21, 2010 at 3:44 AM

Too good it is working ……..thank you so much

manoj July 22, 2010 at 6:41 PM

after loading folder lock s/w i cant operate the show/hide option but by your 3 rd method i got yhe things thanksa lot

ali July 22, 2010 at 6:48 PM

Method 2 works! Thanks a lot brother.. you are computer genius

Babu July 23, 2010 at 10:19 AM

Awesome Bro!!!!!

vijay July 23, 2010 at 12:26 PM

Relly Awesome !!!!

Thanks for this

Ravikanth July 23, 2010 at 4:49 PM

Thanks a lot for the information provided. First one did not work for me, but second one worked.

hanmaji July 29, 2010 at 4:13 PM

Thanks 3rd one is worked for my system iam happy with your solution.
995988178

Jazzy July 30, 2010 at 2:28 PM

i tried methods 1-3 but it still isnt working for me it goes right back to [0]…i tried 4 and downloaded it but an error popped up saying “autoit error” error: array variable has incorrect number o subscripts or subscript dimension range exceeded.

Arnold July 31, 2010 at 4:21 PM

Method 3 works! Thanks

ahmad August 2, 2010 at 2:30 PM

hello
thanks a lot for your help.method 2 is very good.
I can easy find my problem on the Internet.

vipin August 2, 2010 at 4:13 PM

thanks Bro…..
yaar 4th worked for me…infact i am now able to open regedit……virus had blocked that also…..
thanks

hemanth August 6, 2010 at 1:58 PM

hi

regsvr32 /i shell32.dll worked for me

thank u so much

wasi August 9, 2010 at 10:26 AM

oh dear….. a lot of tnx……….

shah faisal karwan August 10, 2010 at 1:52 PM

i had problem with my usb hard drive and it hate by short cut virus and i can’t see my data over in the hard drive

i m using windows vista business edition
thanks
help me

Mohan August 12, 2010 at 11:24 AM

Faisal,

go to folder options– uncheck Hide protected operations system files

This should solve ur problem :-)

zubair August 12, 2010 at 1:48 PM

Method 2 really worked.

Thanks a million mate

jarlo August 14, 2010 at 5:23 PM

tanks!…1-4 doesn’t work for me till i dwnload your smart virus remover

nir.e August 15, 2010 at 9:58 PM

No. 3 worked for me, TNX a lot
all the best :)

kakaru k August 17, 2010 at 2:33 PM

“Hidden files and folder not working”‘

I face the same problem as many of them!I tried following those useful help but unfortunately it says “regestry editing has been disable by your system administrator”
How ca u help?please!

hori873 August 18, 2010 at 9:45 AM

hello! thank you sooooo much for the help! method 3 works, thanks thanks thanks thanks

R August 18, 2010 at 10:08 AM

Hi,

Please note that Microsoft recommends that you should not be playing with the registries. Bad Habit, because you would end up in making the system disable or could be the operating system crash. Instead you could do is can simply rename the user profile it would work.To Rename the user profile, reboot the system, login with the system admin profile get in to the documents and settings\userprofile\select the userprofile\Right click on it \Rename it. Login with the new userprofile. Check it.

With Love and Regards,
R

Pradip mitra August 18, 2010 at 1:31 PM

the 1 method works for me its nice. i had tried many websites and software, which don’t work, but its simple and easy
thanks.

apurba August 18, 2010 at 3:32 PM

i have prob with hidden file.
then i try no-2.it works..thank uuuuuuuuu bro.

Ashutosh August 21, 2010 at 7:22 AM

Hey the method 3 is awesome.. thank you

magua August 21, 2010 at 8:45 AM

I tried methods 1 & 2…the values spring back to 3 and 0…then I started all over from method 1 to 3 reboot my PC and it worked…your great dude, thnks alot

sarang August 22, 2010 at 1:42 PM

It worked for me
Thanks a lot

Anil August 22, 2010 at 7:09 PM

Thanks a lot,

Method 3 work for me.

:)

Felix August 23, 2010 at 4:29 PM

I only tried method 4 and it worked perfectly. Your Smart Virus Remover is terrific. Thank you.

Faraz August 23, 2010 at 5:47 PM

None of the tricks worked for me. I ran a Registry Fix scan and repaired problems and it worked!

Melvin August 26, 2010 at 7:53 AM

really helpful.. 2 method worked for me… thanks a ton!!!!

Khairul Hafiz - Malaysia August 29, 2010 at 1:21 AM

Bro, thanks.. I already wasted my time to remove the spyware inside my laptop..After I use all 3 methods fail, then I install the virus remover software. And it is work very damn good!..However, hidden files still cannot appear. Than I use method 3..Yeah, its function well!..Thank you bro!very2 tq!

piyush August 29, 2010 at 9:46 AM

thanks buddy

Rajesh August 29, 2010 at 4:18 PM

Thanks buddy.. it works fine!

chib August 29, 2010 at 7:54 PM

yep!
method 1 with regedit did the trick right away!
thansk!

Alok Singh August 31, 2010 at 6:30 PM

I had a problem with a.k.a ”shortcut virus” it hides all files and folder in my usb, after I clean my usb and I can remove the hidden option from the folder/file.

hope u reply son

Abubakar August 31, 2010 at 8:45 PM

Thank You ;-) It Works

Nadiabro September 3, 2010 at 4:35 AM

Bro,

No luck. I tried all 4 methods at least twice, and I still honestly can’t get my hidden files & folders to show.

Does anyone else have this prob? Also, my STANDY (SLEEP) mode is disabled. This problem is so annoying.

Thanks anyway.

Cypriot September 5, 2010 at 9:19 PM

method 2 worked for me… thanks a lot

OnezeroOrezeno September 7, 2010 at 1:19 AM

thanx dude..method 1 works instantly

Aldrian September 12, 2010 at 11:44 AM

Thank you so much sir! forever!

Symphalion September 12, 2010 at 4:32 PM

i didn’t think that non of this solution will solve my problem.. T_T i was loosing hope cause I used the 1-3 method..but at last I found out that 4 was the solution for my problem.. :) thanks again for the software.. :)

sanjeev September 13, 2010 at 9:11 AM

thank you very much you are so good

Edson September 17, 2010 at 5:08 AM

Thank you for the wonderful solution. May we use it all on a good purpose. God bless us all. =D

Evzone September 22, 2010 at 4:09 PM

ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty very much!

Ramani September 25, 2010 at 2:55 PM

Method 4 Virus Remover Worked for me Nicely

Vaibhav September 27, 2010 at 1:40 PM

hey thanks a lot method 3 is very easy
and worked for me.
keep it up.

Jude September 27, 2010 at 6:58 PM

Praise the Lord. Method 3 worked for me. Great idea. Thnx a lot.

awais September 29, 2010 at 1:37 PM

100% working
thanks a lot

mAk September 29, 2010 at 1:39 PM

It Works Thanxxxxxx

kaushik October 2, 2010 at 12:21 PM

this is great. thaks a lot

keith cameña October 2, 2010 at 3:46 PM

I tried all four, and nothing worked. I tried the Smart VR last. I ran it and restarted. But before I get to Windows the black screen says “missing file”–a dll that was apparently deleted. And I’m like “oh, s**t.”

Currently reinstalling Windows. Looks like a long night. Argh. To the other guys having the same problem: good luck. I’ve encountered a similar hidden file extensions problem before, but I think this is new.

BTW, I was running ESET AV 4.0.468.0. Did a complete scan and nothing was detected.

krishna October 3, 2010 at 12:54 AM

Thank you very much…
Method 3 worked for me. Its clean and easy. (didn’t try others)

HOSSAM October 16, 2010 at 5:56 PM

THANKS SIR M. NO 4 ITS WORKING
THANKS AGAIN

Safiullah October 18, 2010 at 2:11 PM

You are great. It works well by 3rd method. Thanks a lot,

Keep up.

Saeed October 18, 2010 at 5:09 PM

you’re Great man

bingbing October 19, 2010 at 7:05 AM

Thanks a lot,

Method 2 worked for me,, good job

Ammar October 21, 2010 at 5:36 PM

thanx………………………………………………… a lot…………

Don October 25, 2010 at 12:45 PM

method 3 worked
thanxxxxx alot

Safi Asifi November 4, 2010 at 6:18 AM

I can’t see my external Hard disk please help me please

Safi Asifi November 4, 2010 at 6:19 AM

I can’t see my external Hard disk files please help me please

George November 14, 2010 at 2:53 PM

thanks a lot, it worked.

Parth November 16, 2010 at 1:14 PM

thanks a million…..this thing really works…..
u rock guys

immalee November 20, 2010 at 9:17 AM

Thank you for the solutions. It were clear and easy to follow.

Harikrishna November 24, 2010 at 5:23 AM

I have tried with all the methods . it did not worked in my system.

Jamil November 25, 2010 at 6:31 PM

You are Great, Thanks a lot.You resolved my problem. Appreciated.

Pradeep December 5, 2010 at 4:52 PM

tnks very much brother

Chowdary December 8, 2010 at 11:41 AM

Hey Man,

Thanx soo much….I was able to see my most important folder now….option 2 worked for me…!!

chakra December 8, 2010 at 6:00 PM

2nd method work for me.

Thanks a lot……….

arjun December 11, 2010 at 4:35 AM

:( :(
none of the 4 could solve my prob…i can get back the taskmanager usig the 4th one but cant fix the folder and searching options problem..its stil inactive…can sm1 helpme out plz
9966894789..

Ragesh December 19, 2010 at 9:47 AM

THANK YOU.
THE 1ST METHOD WORKED FOR ME.
THANK YOU.

DavidUK84 December 23, 2010 at 9:15 PM

Tried Method 2 and it worked a treat. Thanks very much.

siva December 29, 2010 at 2:20 PM

thank you so much method 4 worked for me

Huda December 31, 2010 at 7:36 AM

Thank you! Method 3 worked.

hemant January 1, 2011 at 5:13 AM

Excellent!! method 3 work for me. Thanx a lot

Seanny January 3, 2011 at 11:00 PM

hey guys,
Thanks a lot
Method 1 & 2 failed but luckily Method 3 worked for me.

Awesome.

kongi January 4, 2011 at 8:49 AM

ah!! i love you guys!! method 3 FTW. now its fixed :)

tokey RF January 6, 2011 at 12:55 AM

thank you bro..

method 2 worked greatly for me..

nix January 6, 2011 at 3:21 PM

wow! it really worked! thank you so much!
i did not know where the registry editor was so i proceeded to method 2 and in less than a minute i was able to do it. thank you very much for helping us! :)

Bahar January 7, 2011 at 3:40 PM

Thank you very much! 2 works! :)

Fu Bar January 9, 2011 at 4:21 PM

Method 2 worked – but!

For me the problem was specific to a user, not system-wide. So I had to change HKEY_CURRENT_USER instead of HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE. Thanks very much!

vahid January 10, 2011 at 2:35 PM

None of 4 could solve my problems

suchitha January 16, 2011 at 7:41 PM

i never posted any comment in any site….. but wanna post my compliments for your knowledge regarding this hidden files…thank you very much :) god bless you!!

Waqar Ali January 24, 2011 at 10:50 AM

You really solved my very old problem and most of the all my suspense…….Hope God rewards you for such beneficial works……..I m really thankful to u…….Take care

Sporkinator January 27, 2011 at 6:59 PM

I tried method 3. It worked! I don’t see how it got messed up in the first place, but it’s good to know my computer problems are not unique.

hassan January 30, 2011 at 2:46 PM

hi ,thanks a lot . Method 2 solved my problem .
thanks again.

Nabila January 30, 2011 at 9:21 PM

Method 2 Solved my problem since 6 months

Today that my laptop is not working…Ur genius mind helped me find a hidden template on ma pc to do a VIP work for office

Thanks loads dude for sharing

ISHAN SHARMA February 1, 2011 at 1:53 PM

THANKS ALOT THANK*10000000000000000000

AJ February 4, 2011 at 4:53 PM

I tried them all in order. Method 4 was the only one that fixed it! :) Youdaman!!!

yunior February 7, 2011 at 5:41 PM

Second method worked perfectly for me. Thanks

MAC February 9, 2011 at 9:30 AM

Thank u very much . i thought it might be gone from my computer but ur method helped me lot.
thanks once again

Shizuyoko February 9, 2011 at 6:39 PM

heey Thanks a lot !! i thought that i would never get that folder back .the second method worked perfectly.Thx, man.

mgsln February 11, 2011 at 6:42 AM

WOW! I used Denny’s Method (method 3) and it worked! and its very efficient to.. i dont even have to search the registry.. Thank you so much!

Muhanad February 11, 2011 at 7:31 AM

Method 3 worked
tnx Denny

naros February 14, 2011 at 8:32 AM

i found hidden files but show hidden files and folder is still not working
thanks man i used attrib * -h -s /S/D
bec above methods didnt work

nikkhil February 21, 2011 at 9:36 AM

method 3 worked..
thanks a lot Denny…..

mee March 2, 2011 at 6:29 AM

method 2.. tyvm.. yehaaaa

malaka March 3, 2011 at 7:54 AM

Thanks a lot. method 1 is working properly. Thanks Friend.

prasad March 8, 2011 at 5:36 PM

tooo good thank u very much

Fazal Mehmood March 12, 2011 at 9:02 AM

Thanks a lot. Method 2 worked for me !!

Jishnu Pradeep March 15, 2011 at 9:41 AM

Usman, you are a bomb

danhielle March 18, 2011 at 6:39 AM

THANKS A LOT IT DID WORKED!! (METHOD # 2)

KEEP ON CREATING SOLUTIONS GUYS!

THANKS A LOT!!

MORE POWER!!
(^_^)

Vailan March 19, 2011 at 10:20 AM

Thanks a lot, my Laptop was having this problem for the past 1.5 years.

ashNfall March 26, 2011 at 12:13 PM

nc dude tryed mothed no.2 and it works like a charm tnx man

Gagandeep March 27, 2011 at 9:49 AM

Thnx bro.. method #4 worked for me..
thanks

Miriam March 29, 2011 at 3:17 PM

Thanks a lot!!!!

asus April 16, 2011 at 2:17 AM

method 1,2,3 did not work but method 4 work thanks a lot

Tamanna April 16, 2011 at 6:19 AM

Thanks alot… Method 2 worked for me…. :) :)

ej April 19, 2011 at 4:18 PM

samrt virus work for me!thanks a lot!

arunraj April 24, 2011 at 9:31 AM

thans thanks thanks alot dude..2nd one has worked for me …..

supper etsh April 24, 2011 at 9:30 PM

oh man
ultra thanks for you
thanks thanks thanks ,, you just saved me ass
i found my work designs now
oh my god i thought it will be my end in my job :)
thank you agin

Abid Ali May 1, 2011 at 6:51 PM

thanks bro its really worked,that was a great help

Kia May 4, 2011 at 3:26 PM

Method 3 don’t work 4 me. Something is missing. Table appears saying that i should “make sure it is valid dll”. other methods doesn’t help too. Now trying your antivirus ;D

Adi June 5, 2011 at 8:03 AM

that was awesome dude..thanks a lot

greely June 8, 2011 at 5:24 AM

Method 1 worked but was not a permanent fix, clicking the on button would make the issue reappear.

Method 3 seems to have made the permanent fix and worked best.

PC was infected with Conficker.B virus.

I carried out aforementioned steps AFTER I neutralized the virus, but one of the lingering remnants was the corrupted “Show hidden files” issue.

Not sure if Method 3 will work if you have not run a virus scan and neutralized it.

Thank you!

encrypt June 18, 2011 at 4:05 AM

Thanks so very much!!! Method 3 worked for me but decided to also download the scanner which worked like a charm, removed the annoying virus. Thanks again bro and keep it up!

Kin June 28, 2011 at 4:04 AM

Thank you! Method 2 works!

retgre June 28, 2011 at 6:27 PM

all 4 methods are fck shit

retgre June 28, 2011 at 6:28 PM

all 4 methods are fcking shit

vivek July 23, 2011 at 6:27 PM

third option worked!!
thanks a lot!

theo July 23, 2011 at 8:10 PM

my friend U are simply GREAT …excelent
thx a mill
:)

Cutie August 10, 2011 at 2:22 PM

Thanx man
vry much helpful

Ruchi Mishra September 1, 2011 at 3:24 PM

thts excellent way u told…. i was really worried fr so maaannnnyyyy days… and thankfully u sold my problem…. i’ll definitely share ths information …. God Bless You

Anish September 13, 2011 at 6:26 PM

Thanq Very Much……..!

Gog Bless You….. :)

Vishnu September 16, 2011 at 6:05 AM

Thanks a ton man.. U r a gem…!!

Koustubh October 9, 2011 at 10:22 AM

hey I used 3rd method & it works for me !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

David Koch October 24, 2011 at 5:01 AM

Thanks a lot buddy. Method 1 worked perfectly. I have been having an issue with one of my devices in which when I put my SD card into it, it just freezes up and completely crashes. I figured out that it was because of a file called autorun.inf that gets placed onto the root of the card when auto-play is enabled. Now, with show hidden files and folders enabled, and hide protected operating system files disabled, I can now just delete the autorun.inf file whenever I am done putting music or books onto the card. Thank you so much for you’re help.

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