Cannot view hidden files

[MartinC]

I have been trying to help out a neighbour who has a problem with being able
to view hidden and system files in Explorer.

Every time I check the "Show hidden files and folders" opton in
Tools/FolderOptions/View, it totally ignores it. It also ignores the
unticking of the "Hide extensions for known file types". They have admin
rights.

I read about changing the SHOWALL registry value at
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Folder\SHOWALL
and have set the CheckedValue field to 1, but this made no difference.

For info, their Showall settings are:
CheckedValue = 1
DefaultValue = 2

The NoHidden settings are:
CheckedValue = 2
DefaultValue = 2

I looked at my own registry (which works), but found that I did not have the
Folder key, just a completely different set of keys entirely (all keys under
the 'Advanced' key, with no other 'folder' keys, so I am not quite sure what
is going on there, for a start!
What I mean by that is that my registry under 'Advanced' is all at one
level. Their 'Advanced' key has a Folder and subsequent sub keys.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Martin

 

[Martin C]

I have run a virus scan using Norton Internet Security 2008 (or something
like that) and also run Spybot, Malware, Superantispyware. There are no
problems found.

My neighbour did say that Norton had found something a little while back
that had requested manual removal, but I have been given very little further
information - other than the fact that when told to delete something, she
did.

As this situation may have been caused by a 'nasty' that was once on the PC,
is there a solution to getting things back to allow 'higher' system changes
(such as view hidden files) other than a complete reinstall. I must say, I
am starting to come to that conclusion anyway, but it would be nice if I
didn't have to.

Cheers

Martin

 

[sandy58]

I have been trying to help out a neighbour who has a problem with being able
to view hidden and system files in Explorer.

Every time I check the "Show hidden files and folders" opton in
Tools/FolderOptions/View, it totally ignores it. It also ignores the
unticking of the "Hide extensions for known file types". They have admin
rights.

I read about changing the SHOWALL registry value at
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Folder\SHOWALL
and have set the CheckedValue field to 1, but this made no difference.

For info, their Showall settings are:
CheckedValue = 1
DefaultValue = 2

The NoHidden settings are:
CheckedValue = 2
DefaultValue = 2

I looked at my own registry (which works), but found that I did not have the
Folder key, just a completely different set of keys entirely (all keys under
the 'Advanced' key, with no other 'folder' keys, so I am not quite sure what
is going on there, for a start!
What I mean by that is that my registry under 'Advanced' is all at one
level. Their 'Advanced' key has a Folder and subsequent sub keys.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Martin

RECYCLER.exe...this will be your bug. I had it not so long ago &
checked back here for how I was told to get rid of it. It's all here
in the link.
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-6142_102-0.html?threadID=247496

 

[ArameFarpado]

Em Segunda 09 Novembro 2009 10:37, Martin C escreveu:

I have run a virus scan using Norton Internet Security 2008 (or something
like that) and also run Spybot, Malware, Superantispyware. There are no
problems found.

those programs don't work as people think they do. they catch some things
but dont' catch all of them. and you can't thrust those programs when
they're running on a infected system.
the same way an anti-virus can prevent a file to be loaded into memory, so
an active virus can prevent any program (including AVs) to access some
files.
i've seen a virus not been detected by the AV on the infected computer, but
a copy of the obvious file* on another computer running the same AV fired
the alarm.

* (a program called by a autorun.inf on the root of C: that i could only see
it using the command line and could not remove it in any way)

the war between malware and anti-malware was lost long ago... and malware
won.

My neighbour did say that Norton had found something a little while back
that had requested manual removal, but I have been given very little
further information - other than the fact that when told to delete
something, she did.

As this situation may have been caused by a 'nasty' that was once on the
PC, is there a solution to getting things back to allow 'higher' system
changes (such as view hidden files) other than a complete reinstall. I
must say, I am starting to come to that conclusion anyway, but it would be
nice if I didn't have to.

Cheers

Martin

The only way to be sure the system is clean from malware is a clean install
starting from rebuiding the partition table (only formating doesn't allways
get the job done).

After that, depends how the system is configured and how it is used, to stay
clean.

 

[sandy58]

I have been trying to help out a neighbour who has a problem with being able
to view hidden and system files in Explorer.

Every time I check the "Show hidden files and folders" opton in
Tools/FolderOptions/View, it totally ignores it. It also ignores the
unticking of the "Hide extensions for known file types". They have admin
rights.

I read about changing the SHOWALL registry value at
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Folder\SHOWALL
and have set the CheckedValue field to 1, but this made no difference.

For info, their Showall settings are:
CheckedValue = 1
DefaultValue = 2

The NoHidden settings are:
CheckedValue = 2
DefaultValue = 2

I looked at my own registry (which works), but found that I did not have the
Folder key, just a completely different set of keys entirely (all keys under
the 'Advanced' key, with no other 'folder' keys, so I am not quite sure what
is going on there, for a start!
What I mean by that is that my registry under 'Advanced' is all at one
level. Their 'Advanced' key has a Folder and subsequent sub keys.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Martin

Martin, do you own a flash drive? If so format it. Then follow the
link I posted.

 

[Martin C]

I don't think it is the flash drive problem as they hardly ever use one and
the one I put into their machine was not infected - but I will check on it
anyway. Have not had a chance to go round there yet to check it all out.

I have found a registry hack that gives the proper keys to be entered, so I
will see if that fixes the hidden files problem. I rather think that I will
have to back up their data (carefully and check for the problem you
described) and then perform a total blitz on the disc and reinstall. I am
sure there are more problems hidden that are still to rear their heads.

For example, initially I couldn't get the security tab to become visible -
they have XP Home. The way I used on my PC did not work. I had to edit the
registry to allow it to be displayed. Yet another registry problem that was
maybe crapped out by the virus they had. I wish they had written down which
virus had been found.

Thanks for everyone's help.

Martin

I have been trying to help out a neighbour who has a problem with being
able
to view hidden and system files in Explorer.

Every time I check the "Show hidden files and folders" opton in
Tools/FolderOptions/View, it totally ignores it. It also ignores the
unticking of the "Hide extensions for known file types". They have admin
rights.

I read about changing the SHOWALL registry value at
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Folder\SHOWALL
and have set the CheckedValue field to 1, but this made no difference.

For info, their Showall settings are:
CheckedValue = 1
DefaultValue = 2

The NoHidden settings are:
CheckedValue = 2
DefaultValue = 2

I looked at my own registry (which works), but found that I did not have
the
Folder key, just a completely different set of keys entirely (all keys
under
the 'Advanced' key, with no other 'folder' keys, so I am not quite sure
what
is going on there, for a start!
What I mean by that is that my registry under 'Advanced' is all at one
level. Their 'Advanced' key has a Folder and subsequent sub keys.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Martin

Martin, do you own a flash drive? If so format it. Then follow the
link I posted.