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While this can be done in a blink of eyes for all geeks out there, but there is some portion of normal human being that doesn’t know how to do this. Here is the complete reference how to show hidden files on windows for ALL versions of Microsoft Windows ever created. This list is not all my work, I refer to some other website out there for Windows version that I don’t have or I never use.

Show hidden files on Windows Vista

1. Click on the start button ( the rounded Windows logo)
2. Click on Control Panel, then click on Appearance and Personalization, finally click on Folder Options
3. In Folder Options window, click on view tab.
4. Under Advanced Settings click on Show hidden files and folders radio button to select.
5. Uncheck Hide protected operating system files.
6. Click OK to accept and apply those changes

Show hidden files on Windows XP

1. Launch My Computer or Windows Explorer.
2. Under Tools menu bar, click on Folder Options.
3. In Folder Options window, click on view tab.
4. Check Display the content of system folder checkbox.
5. Click on Show hidden files and folders radio button.
6. Uncheck Hide protected operating system files.
7. Click OK to accept and apply changes

Show hidden files on Windows Server 2003

1. Launch My Computer or Windows Explorer.
2. Under Tools menu bar, click on Folder Options.
3. In Folder Options window, click on view tab.
4. Check Display the content of system folder checkbox.
5. Click on Show hidden files and folders radio button.
6. Uncheck Hide protected operating system files.
7. Click OK to accept and apply changes.

Show hidden files on Windows 2000

1. Launch My Computer or Windows Explorer.
2. Under Tools menu bar, click on Folder Options.
3. In Folder Options window, click on view tab.
4. Click on Show hidden files and folders radio button.
5. Uncheck Hide protected operating system files.
6. Click OK to accept and apply changes.

Show hidden files on Windows ME

1. Launch My Computer or Windows Explorer.
2. Under Tools menu bar, click on Folder Options.
3. In Folder Options window, click on view tab.
4. Click on Show hidden files and folders radio button.
5. Uncheck Hide protected operating system files.
6. Click OK to accept and apply changes.

Show hidden files on Windows NT

1. Launch My Computer or Windows Explorer.
2. Under View menu click on Options.
3. In Options window, click on View tab.
4. Scroll down a bit, look for Show all files radio button.
5. Click OK to accept and apply changes.

Show hidden files on Windows 98

1. Launch My Computer or Windows Explorer.
2. Under View menu click on Folder Options.
3. In Options window, click on View tab.
4. Scroll down a bit, look for Show all files radio button.
5. Click OK to accept and apply changes.

Show hidden files on Windows 95

1. Launch My Computer or Windows Explorer.
2. Under View menu click on Options.
3. In Options window, click on View tab.
4. Scroll down a bit, look for Show all files radio button.
5. Click OK to accept and apply changes.

Reminder

Under Windows XP and above, showing protected operating system files can be very dangerous since it show you all the files critically needed by the operating system. Any single wrong move can bring you disaster and nightmare, and potentially you have to re-format your hard disk drive.

On the other hand, malicious software always using this technique to hide itself from you since this kind of files + hidden flag can’t be found by normal search and delete command. System file status can be achieved by applying flag s to the file.

I hope someone can find this list useful.