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How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7

Windows 7 hides important folders and files in order to keep users from modifying or deleting their files and subsequently damaging their systems. Windows 7 does not show hidden files by default. For example, the pagefile.sys file is a...
Method 1 of 4:

Showing Hidden Files in Windows 7 Using Folder Options

  1. How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 1How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 1
    Click on the Windows 7 Start button.
  2. How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 2How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 2
    Click on Control Panel. You can also click the Start button and then type 'folder options' in the search box. Select 'Folder Options' in Control Panel from the resulting list.
  3. How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 3How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 3
    Click on 'Appearance and Personalization.'
  4. How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 4How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 4
    Click 'Folder Options.'
  5. How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 5How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 5
    Click on the View tab in the Folder Options window.
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    Click 'Show hidden files, folders, and drives' in 'Advanced settings' and click 'OK.'
  7. How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 7How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 7
    Choose the 'Show hidden files, folders, and drives' radio button in the 'Hidden files and folders' category.
  8. How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 8How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 8
    Click 'OK' at the bottom of the Folder Options window.
  9. How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 9How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 9
    Close the Control Panel window. You should now be able to view all files and folders as well as drives hidden in Windows 7.
  10. How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 10How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 10
    Test this by navigating to the C: drive. Look for a program named 'ProgramData.' If you can see this, you are now able to view hidden files and folders.
  11. How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 11How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 11
    Notice that the icons for hidden files and folders are grayed out. This is how you can differentiate between hidden and unhidden files.
Method 2 of 4:

Showing Protected Operating System Files

  1. How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 12How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 12
    Click on the Windows 7 Start button.
  2. How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 13How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 13
    Click on Control Panel.
  3. How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 14How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 14
    Click on 'Appearance and Personalization.'
  4. How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 15How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 15
    Click 'Folder Options.'
  5. How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 16How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 16
    Click 'View.'
  6. How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 17How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 17
    Click 'Show hidden files, folders, and drives' in 'Advanced settings' and click 'OK.'
  7. How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 18How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 18
    Click 'Apply.'
  8. How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 19How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 19
    Uncheck the 'Hide protected operating system files' box.
  9. How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 20How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 20
    See a dialog box asking if you are sure that you want to do this.
  10. How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 21How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 21
    Click 'Yes.'
  11. How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 22How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 22
    Click 'OK.'
Method 3 of 4:

Showing Hidden Files using the Registry Editor

  1. How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 23How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 23
    Click the Start button.
  2. How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 24How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 24
    Type 'regedit' in the search box and press enter.
    1. You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do these steps.
  3. How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 25How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 25
    Click 'Yes' if prompted to confirm you are an administrator.
  4. How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 26How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 26
    Find this key In regedit: HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerAdvanced.
  5. How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 27How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 27
    Go to the right side of the Advanced window, where the values can be seen.
  6. How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 28How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 28
    Find the value 'Hidden.'
  7. How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 29How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 29
    Right click it and change it to 1.
Method 4 of 4:

Showing Protected Operating System Files Using Registry Editor

  1. How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 30How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 30
    Click the Start button.
  2. How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 31How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 31
    Type 'regedit' in the search box and press enter.
  3. How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 32How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 32
    Click 'Yes' if prompted to confirm you are an administrator.
  4. How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 33How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 33
    Find this key In regedit: HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerAdvanced.
  5. How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 34How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 34
    Go to the right side of the Advanced window, where the values are seen.
  6. How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 35How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 35
    Right click on 'Super Hidden ' and click on Modify.
  7. How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 36How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 36
    Type 1.
  8. How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 37How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7 Picture 37
    Click 'OK.'
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