How to Show Hidden files in Windows 7, Vista, XP using GUI , Command line

 

Where have my Files Gone?  

Have you faced the situation, when you couldn't find your important file in your Pen-drive or hard disk but disk space usage still the same?
- Don't Panic, your files are safe they have just got hidden(by virus or some person)
-All you need is to either  

   a) Show your hidden files
         OR

   b) Un-hide your files

Show your hidden files 

Opening Folder Option is different for XP & Win 7

        For Windows 7/ windows Vista

Open My computer or any folder.

Click Organize button -> select Folder and Search Options

            For Windows XP

Open My computer or any folder.

In Menu Bar Click Tools -> select Folder Options

After Folder Options is opened use following process for both OS 

 

Click  the View tab->select Show hidden files and folders

In Advanced settings:

•  Select Show hidden files and folders
•  Uncheck Hide extensions for known file types
•  Uncheck Hide protected operating system files
•  Select yes in the next window asked
•  Click Apply
•  OK

 

Now all Hidden files in your system is visible to you. Don't delete any unknown files as it may be windows system files.

Un-hide your files

Click the Start button in the lower left corner of your task bar.

Update: some lines are changed as from previous to minimize confusion & make the Readers understand in better way. 

• Win 7/Vista users-> Type cmd in the search box and press Enter. 
• Windows XP users-> click Run and type cmd into the Run box.
• Go to the required Folder(Directory) using cd command,ie, If required files are in f: drive then type f: then Enter

Type attrib -s -h -r *.* /s /d and press Enter.

Else you can provide path of that folder(as shown in address bar) and make it unhide.

For example, 
1) if the required folder name "xyz" and it is  in f: drive. (path: f:\xyz\)
Type attrib -s -h -r f:\xyz\*.* /s /d and press Enter.

2) if folder name contains blank space, then Put the path in double quotes ( "") and provide exact path(also check no. of blank spaces)
if required folder is : flash games in c: drive. (path is- c:\flash games\)

Type attrib -s -h -r "c:\flash games\*.*" /s /d  and press Enter.

Now all the Files in that Folders are visible to you.

Note: here, to show value of no. of 'blank space' , I put an extra blank space in the folder name, so required path became: 

c:\flash  games instead of

c:\flash games 

and running the above command returned me an error as shown in the snapshot. I corrected the name of the folder, then the command run perfectly.

IF you are Unable to find "Show Hidden Files and Folders" or "Folder options" click Restore

Feel free to ask your queries.