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
    2012-01-20T16:23:42+00:00

    I agree that Microsoft messed this up.  It worked in XP.  Could it have been improved?  Sure, but to basically break it?  Bad call. FIX IT.

    To do a search on hidden files you have to search on a value, then when it completes there is a link at the bottom of the results to open advanced search, then you have to search again.  This now takes 4 times as long.  Thanks MS!

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  2. Anonymous
    2012-01-03T14:53:29+00:00

    I think I understood the original question because I had the same one in mind when I came accross this thread looking for a solution.

    In any case I completely agree with you.  It's a bit rediculous that there are no GUI elements for doing this...  Anyway here are some other attribute codes - I haven't tried them yet but I imagine they work:

    attributes:16    is D

    attributes:32    is A

    attributes:33    is RA

    attributes:34    is HA

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-12-31T03:07:53+00:00

    I found the "Answer" most helpful

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  4. Anonymous
    2011-12-21T17:42:14+00:00

    You were the only one who understood the question was how to search "for" hidden files not "in" them.. -

    Otherwise, let me echo the other complaints here.  Sometimes what we're looking for is a way to filter files with a number of diff criteria - and want a gui utility that facilitates this not makes it harder.  I guess I'm supposed to drop everything and learn the 'new' ways to do things,  but I'm sorry, having to 'know' that I need to put "attributes:34" in the search box to find hidden files is ridiculous.   Why they don't have a comprehensive/guided dialog box to do complex searching puzzles me.   They have so much money, but seem to be focused more on making computers pretty rather than practical.  There are literally 100's of extended attributes on Windows Files - I can't imagine what attributes "1-33" are/nor what "35-999" are.  But thank you for letting me know what attribute 34 is.

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