Search for hidden files and folders in Windows 7

Anonymous
2010-01-26T18:40:43+00:00

How for an individual search do I tell the search process to examine hidden files and folders.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Files, folders, and storage

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous
2010-01-27T17:56:36+00:00

Hi,

There is only one way to do it, Select the option Show hidden files from folder options and then search for the files using the start search box.

  1. Click Start.
  2. Type "search" in start search box.
  3. click "Change search options for files and folders".
  4. Now, Click on View tab .
  5. Under View,

       a)Select the radio button labeled Show hidden files, folders, and drives 

       b)Remove the checkmark from the checkbox labeled Hide extensions for known file types.

       c)Remove the checkmark from the checkbox labeled Hide protected operating system files.

  1. Click on Apply and Ok.

For more information on search, click on the following link:

 http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Advanced-tips-for-searching-in-Windows

 http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Searching-in-Windows-frequently-asked-questions

 http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Find-a-file-or-folder

Thanks and Regards:

Swati K- Microsoft Support Engineer

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-07-31T14:49:01+00:00

    thank u dude 

    to give way of opening the option

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-01-28T01:48:42+00:00

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-01-28T01:25:52+00:00

    hi i'm on a school computer an our school admin blocked that option is there anyway to recover the folder i hid!?

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-01-20T15:05:05+00:00

    Thank you so much !! Personally I don't feel like i should have to jump through hoops just to do one little thing but apparently MS thinks we should. Just like they messed with my Hotmail interface with Outlook Express and I had to spend alot of time chasing down how to get my old interface back.......... ridonkulous!! Again thank you for the easy instructions :)

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