In the Windows operating system, the display of system files is disabled by default, as an inexperienced user may accidentally delete them. In addition, they will distract you from searching for the desired folder, clutter the "Desktop". In general, it is better and more convenient when you do not see them.
However, in some cases it becomes necessary to show hidden files Windows 7 so that you can, for example, clean the Temp and Prefetch system folders, thereby slightly increasing performance operating system.
You can enable the display of such files very easily, using one of the methods, which will be discussed later. In fact, in each method, only the sequence of actions necessary to access the "Folder Options" will change.
Through the menu "Service"
So, you have installed Windows 7. You can show hidden files and folders in this operating system as follows:
- Go to My Computer and press Alt on your keyboard. A panel will appear where you need to select “Service”. By clicking on this button, a drop-down menu will open, in which you need to go to the "Folder Options".
- Now select the “View” tab and go to the bottom of the list. Here you will need to remove the checkbox next to the option “Hide system files” and mark the function responsible for showing hidden folders.
- By clicking “Apply”, a warning appears that deleting such files may adversely affect the operation of the operating system. If you are confident in your actions, then click the "Yes" button.
That's all! Now you know how to show hidden windows files 7, so if necessary, you can use the knowledge gained.
Through the "Control Panel"
The second method differs in the algorithm of actions, since in order to open the "Folder Options", you will need to enter the "Control Panel".
So, open the Start menu and go to the launcher. If you have installed display by category, then select the “Appearance and Personalization” section. In the "Folder Options" subsection, click on the "Show hidden files" caption.
Now mark the item below, thanks to which you can see non-displayed folders, and uncheck the box next to the option “Hide protected files”. The last step is the “Apply” button, and then in the window that opens, click “Yes”.
If, after opening the PU, you see that you have large or small icons displayed, then simply find the “Folder Options” item and go to it. The further algorithm of actions is absolutely identical to those discussed above.
Now you can show hidden and system files Windows 7 using the control panel.
Using the Run Command
The third way to enable the display of such files is to use the Run command. To call this tool, press the “Win” and “R” buttons.
Now in the window that opens, you need to insert the command “control folders” and click “OK”. Folder Options will open, where, by going to the View tab and following the steps above, you can show hidden Windows 7 files.
To someone this method I like it most, since all that is required of you is to remember one command or write it down. Although the first two methods are nothing complicated.
Conclusion
So, now you can show the hidden Windows 7 files. If necessary, you can turn on the display of system folders at any time and adjust their contents as you wish.
With all this, it is worth remembering that without the need, and even more so without certain knowledge, making any changes to these files is not recommended.
These are folders for which the Hidden attribute is set. Usually folders with this attribute do not appear in Explorer. In order to hidden folders started to display need to make changes to the operating system settings. In this article, you will learn how to show hidden folders in Windows 7.
In order to make the Windows 7 operating system show hidden folders, we need to open any folder and press the ALT button on the keyboard.
After pressing the ALT key, under address bar a number of drop-down menus will appear: File, Edit, View, Service and Help. Here we need to open the "Tools" drop-down menu and select the "Folder Options" item.
After that, you will see a small window called “Folder Options”. In this window, you can configure all the basic settings that relate to the display of folders, files and drives in Windows Explorer 7.
It should be noted that if you cannot open the "Folder Options" window through the drop-down menu, then you can use the search in. To do this, open the start menu and enter “Folder Options”. After that, Windows 7 will find desired program and will offer to open it.
So, you have opened the “Folder Options” window, in order to show hidden folders in Windows 7 you need to go to the “View” tab and find the parameters that are responsible for displaying hidden folders.
You need two parameters:
- “Hide protected system files” - it must be disabled;
- "Show hidden files, folders and drives" - it must be enabled.
After making changes, close the window by clicking on the “OK” button to save the changes. After that, you will be able to see hidden folders and files. Now, if there is such a need, you can remove the “Hidden” attribute and the folder will become normal. To do this, right-click on the folder and select "Properties". After that, turn off the Hidden function and close the window.
After you have removed the “Hidden” attribute, the display of hidden folders can be turned off. Further, this folder will be displayed in any case.
You are interested in the question of how to view hidden files and folders in Windows 7?
If so, then you are in the right place. In this lesson we will discuss with you how to see hard drives all hidden files and folders inWindows 7. In fact, it is very simple, I already touched on this topic once, I wrote,. Well, today we will do all this in the Seven.
So let's go. We enable viewing of hidden files and folders in Windows 7.
We go to " Start - Control Panel».
In the folder that opens, change the view to “Small Icons”.
Now we find the item " Folders settings" and open it.
In the window that opens, go to the "View" tab, then go down to the very bottom and put the switch on the " Show hidden files, folders and drives"Then save by clicking" OK ".
Now check. I go to the drive (C :) and already here I see hidden folders are displayed.
This is how we made hidden folders and files visible in Windows 7 with a few clicks. But, in general, I recommend enabling this function only if necessary.
If we have any hidden folder inWindows 7 and we need to access it, then we included the ability to see hidden files and folders. As they did all their business, they immediately turned off this feature.
That's all for me!
Surely, each user personal computer sooner or later came across a phenomenon such as extinction some files or folders from the hard drive or other drive. You cannot find them where they simply have to be.
In this situation, most ordinary PC users immediately have one thought - someone deleted the data. However, their sudden loss may be associated not only with this. Often they are just invisible.
Later in the article we will look at the main ways of showing hidden folders and files on the example of the operating system Windows 7 (however, this will also work in XP, Vista, 7 and 8). But first, we will explain why, after all, such situations arise.
Attributes of files and folders or how data becomes hidden
As you know, any modern operating system has many features for managing files and folders. This is not only well-known operations for creating, deleting, copying and moving data, but also operations for setting them up. Each file or folder can be assigned a so-called attributeresponsible for certain properties of the object. For example, a file can be assigned an attribute such as " Only reading", And the user will no longer be able to edit it, since the system itself will not let him do it.
They also include the attribute - “ Hidden". As the name implies, it will make the object invisible. And if the system is not configured to display such objects, the user will not see elements hidden in this way.
Making files or folders invisible is quite simple. To do this, just go to properties desired object and assign him this attribute.
Let's try:
From here begs conclusion - any user can make any element hidden.
But if I did not hide my files and folders and no one else uses my computer, then what?
If in your case any elements from the disk disappeared by themselves, then the answer is obvious - the virus programs have worked.
Unfortunately, manage attributes files can not only users but also any programs. There are many different virus programs on the network that, getting into the system, can do anything with its settings and data stored on the disk. If in your case such viruses have hidden some of your folders or files, then do not worry - there are more can I return.
There are many ways to open hidden folders in Windows 7. Consider the simplest of them.
Customize the system
Each operating system (including all windows versions from XP and even earlier to the 10th) has internal settings that are responsible for displaying any data stored on disk and any other media. So, to make files and folders visible, you need to do the following:
This method is suitable if the files and folders hidden on your computer had only the attribute “ Hidden". Usually when working virusesthey additionally make objects systemicwhich it will still be impossible to see, even if you enable their viewing in this way. To detect such files, in the menu " Folders settings»You need to uncheck the box“ Hide protected system files", as it shown on the picture:
If you try to uncheck this item, the system will warn you that this is not recommended. It's okay - just agree.
Unfortunately and it does not always helpsince some viruses can easily change system settings immediately after the user tries to turn on or off certain OS parameters. In such cases, programs that can “see” hidden objects come to the rescue. One of these is Total commander. This is a file manager, very similar in functionality to the standard " Windows Explorer».
Using Total Commander
Finding this program online is easy. Although it is paid, it can be used for free for a while - this is more than enough to see all the hidden folders or files in the system.
To get started, download Total commander and install the application. After its launch, you will see a window divided into two panels - they display the folders and files on the disk.
Initially, the program does not allow you to see hidden elements - you must enable this function. To do this, open the menu " Configuration"(At the top of the window), and then click on the item" Setting up ...».
It remains to find the item " Panel Content". We go into it and put a tick on " Show hidden files"And" Show system files", Then click Apply. Now the program will see hidden objects.
In the image below, you may notice that some folders are displayed with a red “ ! ».
These are hidden folders.
Related videos
How to show hidden folders?
All operating systems have a function to hide folders. It allows not only to remove files and directories that are not needed from the user's field of vision, but also to hide important information from prying eyes by the user himself.
Such folders do not have additional protection (password or encryption method), therefore they are not a reliable repository of information. If you need to protect personal data, then it is better to use other tools of your OS or special software.
You can use any file manager, such as the standard "Explorer" from Microsoft or Total Commander.
How to show hidden folders on a Windows computer?
Showing hidden folders may be needed in cases where you need to remove the virus from a flash drive or hard drive computer, correct or delete unnecessary system files, clear various garbage left over from previous OS updates. In addition, in some cases it is also very useful to enable the display of the file extension so that you can immediately see that you downloaded, for example, not a music file, but a virus with * .exe permission.
How to show hidden folders in Windows XP?
To enable the display of hidden files and folders, follow these steps:
- Press the “Start” button, which is located in the lower left corner of the display;
- Go to the "Control Panel" section;
- On the left of the taskbar window, click on the link "Switch to the classic view";
- 2 times click on the “Folder Options” icon;
- In the window that opens, go to the "View" tab;
- In the list at the bottom of the window, find the item “Hidden files and folders”;
- Left-click on the item “Show hidden files ...”;
- Now click “OK” to save the changed settings.
How to show hidden folders in Windows 7?
The process for setting up the display of hidden folders in Windows 7 is slightly different from Windows XP:
How to show hidden folders in Windows 8?
Operating room design windows systems 8 has undergone significant changes compared to previous versions. In order to display hidden folders in it, you must: 
- Move the mouse to the right side of the display and select the “Parameters” section in the panel that appears;
- At the top of the panel, click the "Control Panel" button;
- Next, select “Folder Options” and go to the “View” tab in the window that opens;
- Now you need to check the box next to the option “Show hidden files ...” and click “OK” to save the changes.
