Superhidden files still don't show up

  • Thread starter Thread starter epack
  • Start date Start date
E

epack

Been reading the various discussions on SuperHidden files and folders
with interest, but so far haven't quite figgered out how to get them
to actually show in windows explorer. I have all the hidden/protected
system file settings in WinExp folder options selected (or not, as
applicable) so that they SHOULD show up (and most of course do). I've
also set ShowSuperHidden and SuperHidden both to 1 (the first one was
originally a 2 instead of a 0 as I'd have thought, interestingly) in
the registry per suggestions here, and rebooted, but I still can't see
(for example) the hidden NTUninstall folders that I'd like to get rid
of, which DO show up in a search colored blue (hidden). Is there
something else I need to do?

Thanks!

elaine
 
Hi,

Don't forget this step in Windows XP Pro using the NTFS File System.

Right-click the Hiden folder then click Sharing and Security.
Click the Security tab.
Click Add, and then type the name of the user to whom you want to give
access to the folder. Choose the account location if appropriate (either
local or from the domain). Typically, this is the account with which you are
logged on. Click OK, and then click OK again.
Double-click the hidden folder to open it.

Regards,
Bert Kinney MS-MVP Shell/User
http://bertk.mvps.org
Member: http://dts-l.org
 
Unfortunately the options on the S&S tabs are grayed out because the
NTUninstall folders live in the Windows folder, i.e., a system folder,
which cannot be shared. There are also 6 or 7 superhidden files/
folders in the root, and I'm already sharing that, but still can't see
those 6 or 7 files/folders.

There appear to be a number of these super hidden files/folders on a
typical XP Pro machine, and while I certainly am not dumb enough to
randomly remove them, I do want to see what and where they are, if
only for my own education. There MUST be a way to make them visible,
surely? I did change one of the NTUninstall folders I found in the
search from HC to C and now I see it, but you have to KNOW what you
are looking for before you can find it :)

elaine
 
Explorer; Folder Options, View tab:
So called superhidden files are a monstrosity created by the egotistical
techies that want to look great and mysterious to the uniniated. All you
have to do to see them all, is see that the following are selected in the
tab above:
-- Show hidden files
-- Show system files
-- Uncheck Hide File Extensions ...
-- Uncheck Hide Protected Operating System Files
There is no such thing as "superhidden" files in any operating system.
Just look for anything to do with file displays; they're all right there in
the same window. You'll be looking at EVERY file on your computer once you
set them all properly.

Wherever you're getting the "superhidden" thing from, you're being duped; as
perhaps those people were also.

Pop`
 
Not true. I have had ALL of those parameters set *exactly* as you
describe since Day 1 with all of my 'puters, but just in my windows
folder alone, I was able to unhide 77 folders named $NTUninstallxxx
that were not showing at all until I ran a Find (where they DO show),
and in the results pane changed the attributes from HC to C. I see
those files now in windows explorer. If you are not seeing those
folders, open the windows folder in WinExp and you may see something
like "405 objects (9 hidden)" as I do now. It's those 9 hidden ones
that I cannot see at all and because I don't know what they are, can't
even search for them. There are 68/7 hidden in my root.

Assuming you routinely run Windows Update, you probably have those
$NTUninstall folders, which as I understand it are there for those
updates that can be uninstalled, and they should be hidden regardless
of anything else. If you DO see them, then you must have done
something ELSE to unhide them, because my folder options are set
*exactly* like yours and I do NOT see them.

elaine
 
epack said:
Been reading the various discussions on SuperHidden files and folders
with interest, but so far haven't quite figgered out how to get them
to actually show in windows explorer. I have all the hidden/protected
system file settings in WinExp folder options selected (or not, as
applicable) so that they SHOULD show up (and most of course do). I've
also set ShowSuperHidden and SuperHidden both to 1 (the first one was
originally a 2 instead of a 0 as I'd have thought, interestingly) in
the registry per suggestions here, and rebooted, but I still can't see
(for example) the hidden NTUninstall folders that I'd like to get rid
of, which DO show up in a search colored blue (hidden). Is there
something else I need to do?

Thanks!

elaine
Click to expand...

Run CMD.EXE, and at the prompt, type: CD \

and then type: ATTRIB -s -h *.* /s /d

This will remove the hidden and system bits on every file on your system
drive which you have authority to modify. If you log in as administrator
and perform this command, it will remove the hidden and system bits on
every file on your system drive.

Note that you will still not be able to see all files. In your profile
directory is a hidden file called NTUSER.INI which contains an entry
that inhibits the display of several folders in Explorer. You will need
to edit this file and remove the entry in order to display those folders.
 
Interestingly, on my work XP Pro machine, I found 4 or 5 NTUSER.INI
files just as you mentioned, but on my home XP Pro machine, which has
all the same settings as the other one, a search does NOT show up ANY
of those files. Lots of NTUSER.dat and NTUSER.dat.log but none
with .ini extensions.

I'm a bit reluctant to set every single file on the system to full non-
system, non-hidden status if I don't have to. Without having an
ntuser.ini file, I'd think I'd be seeing everything, wouldn't I? But I
don't. Isn't there some other way to see the superhidden files? I am
logged in as a user with full admin rights. Will a true admin login
show something different?

Thanks!

elaine
 
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