A few days back my “Show hidden files and folders” option was not working at all even if I selected the option Show hidden files and folders from the folder option window, the changes would just disappear upon closing the dialog. 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.
Method 1: Registry Editing
Click Start > Run… (or press Windows key + R)
Type regedit and click Ok.
Find the key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Advanced\Folder\Hidden\SHOWALL
Look at the CheckedValue key. This should be a DWORD key. If it isn’t, delete the key. Create a new key called “CheckedValue” as a DWORD (hexadecimal) with a value of 1.
Now open My Computer, on the toolbar go to Tools > Folder Option and click on the View tab.
The Show hidden files & folders check box should now work normally.
Method 2: Application
If you don’t want to apply the above method, download Smart Virus Remover from here. Using this Virus Remover you can restore your Windows settings, your “Show hidden files and folders” will be set to default.
Do let us know in the comments if these methods helped you or not ?
Share this article!
35 Comments
STUMBLED!
This blog is turning ito an everything blog, great post.
This is a real time saver tutorial. I was looking a way to fix this problem for my friend. Now i got it! thanks!
This has happened to me many times. This is quite a useful website to show you how to easily enable hidden files and folders due to a virus.
I was thinkin of ways to circumvent the virus effects when i stumbled upon this…thanks!
Guys seriously , you guys r life savers …i was just about to reinstall my windows all over again when i found this site . U guys r amazing .Thanks loads .
Thanks for all your comments. And yea we made this site to save everyone’s life
You can check more similar tips and tricks on this site. If you are having any problem and can’t find the solution to the problem on this site, feel free to Contact me and we will do our best to solve it for you.
Hi, I really feel happy to find this tips on this website
No need to worry anymore with that stupid worm. Thanks a million.
Dear Sir,
Thank you for this POST. It really helped me out.
Thank you again,
Pakistan, Karachi
Whew! It’s been 2 weeks since I’d had this problem about my Folder Options and it took me a while to search online. And finally, I stumbled upon this webpage, and wham!… problem solved. Thank you sooo much for posting this tip!
Mike. Philippines
hey…
great post, but…
still not working for me..
the checkedvalue going back to 0 when i closed registry editor..
for info my pc was attacked by sality.y.aa but when i scan with kaspersky it found nothing..
can you solve my problem?..
thx..
thanks dude it really helps man
hi
my hidden files option is not applying …
i have scanned my system also
..didn’t know it was this easy to solve this problem,though of reinstalling the windows,thanx a lot
….thnk u very much..i though it was a virus..XD
that is useful tips for me…thanx a lot..Godspeed….
Thank you so much, It works!!!!
You are the MEN…KUDOS
Works perfectly….Thx
Neither of these Options is work in my PC what should I do PLEASE help me .These files are very Important to me and I can’t even remmember there names
i dont know what to say beside thank you very very much………
hey man this tutorial not work the Checkedvalue not be deleted
Method 1 worked perfectly with me mates, cheers
really man it worked…!!! thanks a lot
A lot of thank you,for publish this useful way to enable hidden files and folders,when from windows directly can’t,most common type of viruses can do that is a Trojan type,his do that to cannot open system volume information[spread location] with some programs from DOS or not DOS app. or some location hidden,where can easely autoclone and spread from a partition to another like C,D… etc.Here is a registry key needed!
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Folder\Hidden]
“Text”=”@shell32.dll,-30499″
“Type”=”group”
“Bitmap”=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,74,\
00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,53,00,\
48,00,45,00,4c,00,4c,00,33,00,32,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,34,00,00,\
00
“HelpID”=”shell.hlp#51131″
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Folder\Hidden\NOHIDDEN]
“RegPath”=”Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Explorer\\Advanced”
“Text”=”@shell32.dll,-30501″
“Type”=”radio”
“CheckedValue”=dword:00000002
“ValueName”=”Hidden”
“DefaultValue”=dword:00000002
“HKeyRoot”=dword:80000001
“HelpID”=”shell.hlp#51104″
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Folder\Hidden\SHOWALL]
“RegPath”=”Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Explorer\\Advanced”
“Text”=”@shell32.dll,-30500″
“Type”=”radio”
“CheckedValue”=dword:00000001
“ValueName”=”Hidden”
“DefaultValue”=dword:00000002
“HKeyRoot”=dword:80000001
“HelpID”=”shell.hlp#51105″
Hi Guys,
Thanks. the first registry option worked for me. Keep up the good work.
After a long journey to solve this problem… finally i got it…
Thank a lot buddy… u r the best.
Thanku so much……..
Great solution Keep it up
Tons of thanks
hi.i do it but after refreshing the value of checkedvalue changes to 0 again.not working for me.help plz
OOps ..
the problem persisting ..
Is it means any virus abstructing ?
OOps ..
the problem persisting ..
Is it means any virus abstructing ?
OOps ..
the problem persisting ..
Is it means any virus abstructing ?
thx for pretty program
hurray!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it works , i googled a lot from many days , finally i was able to make it , thanks a lot ,
Hi
Thanks
But when I change the Checkedvalue Dword to “1″ after a sec back to “0″
And I don’t know how so solve this Problem
Please Help ME
Thanks! Finally solved the problem
3 Trackbacks
[...] tak buat backup andaikata jadi apa-apa pada laptop. Lebih kurang sejam tadi, aku discover blog ni http://www.addictivetips.com/windows-tips/how-to-enable-show-hidden-files-and-folders-option-when-di…. Memang ringkas dan info yang berguna dan bermakna. Smart Removal Tool boleh delete malicious code [...]
[...] the error saying that it has been disabled by administrator? Some days back we covered a post on How to enable show hidden files and folders when disabled by a virus, the problem of Disabled Add/Remove program is also a registry tweak caused by some virus and is [...]
[...] How To Enable ‘Show Hidden Files And Folders Option’ When Disabled By a Virus [...]