Share via

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.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
  1. 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

    20+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments

55 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2010-05-07T20:43:20+00:00

    I have to say, it was stupid of microsoft to remove the ability to change the search on the fly.

    WHY did it get removed? If I want to specify hidden and systems folders *IN* the search I should be able to, without turning on "View hidden and system files".

    Are you guys REALLY that damn stupid?

    8 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2010-12-23T13:35:15+00:00

    I wholeheartedly agree with DM, petersquare, and EtherKnight.  In their never-ending quest to dumb things down, MS, in it's infintessimal wisdom, makes things more DIFFICULT for the "real" users - those of us who have to set-up and troubleshoot workstations.  Thanks, MS, for breaking something that didn't need fixing, or fixing something that wasn't broken, or... ??? ... Once more, I need to spend unnecessary time trying to figure out something that I shouldn't have to!

    3 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2010-11-30T10:50:05+00:00

    at least they could have given some kind of admin-only search interface. Even it had to be run from the command line.

    But they have!

    Try HELP DIR from the command prompt.

    2 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2010-09-01T05:11:19+00:00

    God I am so in agreement with you guys! Regardless of the need for "web friendliness" it seems like a giant stepbackwards to be required to make a global change to search for asingle hidden file; and then have to change it back afterward? Come on! What is this? Windows 98? Wait, even 98 could do this.... For the love of all things good in the world, at least they could have given some kind of admin-only search interface. Even it had to be run from the command line. Whatever. Just throw us admins a bone here Microsoft!

    I like Windows 7 and all, but MS has dumbed-down the UI with every new version. I get that Windows is a broad-based OS, targeted to a broad base of people, but I really don't want to lose a basic function just because you think it's 'too complicated' for the lowly user. You break my Microsoft. You break my heart.

    2 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments