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Why Are Hidden Files Being Shown?

Featured Replies

I went over my registry tweaks, but honestly I don't see what's causing hidden files to be shown. Can anyone here verify the registry settings that I have?


Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

;Disable Automatic Restart in the event of a BSOD
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\CrashControl]
"AutoReboot"=dword:00000000

;Speed up shutdown
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control]
"WaitToKillServiceTimeout"="3000"

;Disable the Desktop Cleanup Wizard
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\CleanupWiz]
"NoRun"=dword:00000001

;Disables Error Reporting, but notifies when errors occur
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PCHealth\ErrorReporting]
"DoReport"=dword:00000000

;Disable Windows Picture and Fax Viewer
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\image\ShellEx\ContextMenuHandlers\ShellImagePreview]

;Speed up Network Browsing by removing Network Scheduled Tasks
[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RemoteComputer\NameSpace\{D6277990-4C6A-11CF-8D87-00AA0060F5BF}]

;Disables Windows Tour bubble popup
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Applets\Tour]
"RunCount"=dword:00000000

;Disable Messenger Service (to stop spam. Does not affect MSN or Windows Messenger)
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Messenger]
"Start"=dword:00000004

;Disable Remote Registry Service
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\RemoteRegistry]
"Start"=dword:00000004

;Disable SSDP Discovery Service (Universal Plug'n'Play)
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SSDPSRV]
"Start"=dword:00000004

;Disable Universal Plug'n'Play Service
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\upnphost]
"Start"=dword:00000004

;This will add "Services" to the right-click menu of "My Computer"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\shell\services]
@=hex(2):53,00,65,00,72,00,76,00,69,00,63,00,65,00,73,00,00,00
"SuppressionPolicy"=dword:4000003c
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\shell\services\command]
@=hex(2):25,00,77,00,69,00,6e,00,64,00,69,00,72,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73, 00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,6d,00,6d,00,63,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00, 65,00,20,00,2f,00,73,00,20,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52, 00,6f,00,6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00, 32,00,5c,00,73,00,65,00,72,00,76,00,69,00,63,00,65,00,73,00,2e,00,6d,00,73, 00,63,00,20,00,2f,00,73,00,00,00

;This adds the "Open Command Window Here" on the right click menu for folders
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\cmd]
@="Open Command Window Here"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\cmd\command]
@="cmd.exe /k \"cd %L\""
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell\cmd]
@="Open Command Window Here"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell\cmd\command]
@="cmd.exe /k \"cd %L\""

;Remove Shared Documents from My Computer
[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace\DelegateFolders\{59031a47-3f72-44a7-89c5-5595fe6b30ee}]

;NoRecentDocsmenu removes the recent documents from the start menu.
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoRecentDocsMenu"=dword:00000001

;Classic search, full path in title bar and address bar.
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CabinetState]
"FullPath"=dword:00000001
"FullPathAddress"=dword:00000001
"Use Search Asst"="no"
"Settings"=hex:0c,00,02,00,1b,01,e7,77,60,00,00,00

;NoLowDiskSpaceChecks won't check if you are low on diskspace and pop up a balloon telling you.
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoLowDiskSpaceChecks"=dword:00000001

;Change MenuShowDelay (Start Menu load speed)
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
"MenuShowDelay"="2"

;Prevents Internet Explorer windows from being reused
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main]
"AllowWindowReuse"=dword:00000000

;Max your Internet Explorer's simultaneous downloads to 10 (default was 2)
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings]
"MaxConnectionsPer1_0Server"=dword:0000000a
"MaxConnectionsPerServer"=dword:0000000a

;Disables Preview of Movie file formats (allowing you to move/rename/delete without errors)
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.avi\ShellEx]
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.mpg\ShellEx]
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.mpe\ShellEx]
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.mpeg\ShellEx]

;Remove Links folder in Internet Explorer
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar]
"LinksFolderName"=""
"Locked"=dword:00000001

;RAM usage tweaks
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management]
"DisablePagingExecutive"=dword:00000001
"IOPageLockLimit"=dword:d800000
"SecondLevelDataCache"=dword:200

;Prefetcher tweak(faster booting)
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management\PrefetchParameters]
"EnablePrefetcher"=dword:00000005

;Speed up NTFS
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem]
"Win31FileSystem"=dword:00000000
"Win95TruncatedExtensions"=dword:00000001
"NtfsDisableLastAccessUpdate"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer]
"ShellState"=hex:24,00,00,00,37,88,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
01,00,00,00,0d,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,01,00,00,00

;This allows boot files to be placed optimally on the hard-drive for faster boots.
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Dfrg\BootOptimizeFunction]
"Enable"="Y"

;Disable persistent internet caching, among other things
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache]
"FreshnessInterval"=hex:80,f4,03,00
"CleanupFactor"=hex:19,00,00,00
"CleanupTime"=hex:00,00,00,00
"Persistent"=hex:00,00,00,00
"CleanupInterval"=hex:80,51,01,00
"DebugFlag"=hex:ff,ff,00,00

;Stores more DNS entries so that your computer doesn't have to look them up as much
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Dnscache\Parameters]
"CacheHashTableBucketSize"=dword:00000001
"CacheHashTableSize"=dword:00000180
"MaxCacheEntryTtlLimit"=dword:0000fa00
"MaxSOACacheEntryTtlLimit"=dword:0000012d

;Deactivate Language Bar
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\CTF\LangBar]
"ShowStatus"=dword:00000003

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects]
"VisualFXSetting"=dword:00000001

;Removes Briefcase, Document, and Rich-Text-Document from New Menu.
[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\.bfc\ShellNew]
[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\.doc\ShellNew]
[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\.rtf\ShellNew]
[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\.bmp\ShellNew]
[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\.wav\ShellNew]
[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\.zip\CompressedFolder\ShellNew]

;Opens 16-bit apps in a seperate memory space, this increases stability when dealing with 16-bit apps.
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\WOW]
"DefaultSeparateVDM"="Yes"

;Enable word wrap and status bar in notepad
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Notepad]
"fWrap"=dword:00000001
"StatusBar"=dword:00000001

;Enable Quick Launch
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Streams\Desktop]
"TaskbarWinXP"=hex:0c,00,00,00,08,00,00,00,02,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,b0,e2,2b,\
d8,64,57,d0,11,a9,6e,00,c0,4f,d7,05,a2,22,00,1c,00,0a,01,00,00,1a,00,00,00,\
01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,4c,00,00,00,01,14,02,00,00,\
00,00,00,c0,00,00,00,00,00,00,46,83,00,00,00,10,00,00,00,a0,b0,48,5e,89,8d,\
bd,01,00,d8,9e,e4,2a,8d,bd,01,00,45,fe,5e,89,8d,bd,01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
00,01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,13,01,14,00,1f,0f,e0,4f,\
d0,20,ea,3a,69,10,a2,d8,08,00,2b,30,30,9d,19,00,23,44,3a,5c,00,00,00,00,00,\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,cd,97,15,00,31,00,00,00,00,00,af,24,5c,\
b9,10,80,57,69,6e,6e,74,00,00,20,00,31,00,00,00,00,00,af,24,a3,b9,10,00,50,\
72,6f,66,69,6c,65,73,00,50,52,4f,46,49,4c,45,53,00,19,00,31,00,00,00,00,00,\
c1,24,08,92,10,00,69,65,35,30,30,2e,30,30,30,00,00,28,00,31,00,00,00,00,00,\
c1,24,08,92,10,00,41,70,70,6c,69,63,61,74,69,6f,6e,20,44,61,74,61,00,41,50,\
50,4c,49,43,7e,31,00,21,00,31,00,00,00,00,00,c5,22,9d,91,10,00,4d,69,63,72,\
6f,73,6f,66,74,00,4d,49,43,52,4f,53,7e,31,00,29,00,31,00,00,00,00,00,d3,22,\
32,a6,10,00,49,6e,74,65,72,6e,65,74,20,45,78,70,6c,6f,72,65,72,00,49,4e,54,\
45,52,4e,7e,31,00,24,00,31,00,00,00,00,00,db,22,76,ba,10,00,51,75,69,63,6b,\
20,4c,61,75,6e,63,68,00,51,55,49,43,4b,4c,7e,31,00,00,00,8d,00,00,00,1c,00,\
00,00,01,00,00,00,1c,00,00,00,36,00,00,00,0d,f0,ad,ba,8c,00,00,00,1a,00,00,\
00,03,00,00,00,e7,18,2d,23,10,00,00,00,49,45,35,30,30,5f,58,31,43,00,43,3a,\
5c,57,49,4e,4e,54,5c,50,72,6f,66,69,6c,65,73,5c,49,45,35,30,30,2e,30,30,30,\
5c,41,70,70,6c,69,63,61,74,69,6f,6e,20,44,61,74,61,5c,4d,69,63,72,6f,73,6f,\
66,74,5c,49,6e,74,65,72,6e,65,74,20,45,78,70,6c,6f,72,65,72,5c,51,75,69,63,\
6b,20,4c,61,75,6e,63,68,00,00,10,00,00,00,05,00,00,a0,1a,00,00,00,a3,00,00,\
00,00,00,00,00,08,00,00,00,02,00,00,00,cc,00,00,00,01,00,00,00,03,00,00,00,\
4a,00,00,00,01,00,00,00,40,00,32,00,e6,01,00,00,c4,24,15,9f,20,00,4c,61,75,\
6e,63,68,20,49,6e,74,65,72,6e,65,74,20,45,78,70,6c,6f,72,65,72,20,42,72,6f,\
77,73,65,72,2e,6c,6e,6b,00,4c,41,55,4e,43,48,7e,32,2e,4c,4e,4b,00,00,00,40,\
00,00,00,02,00,00,00,36,00,32,00,48,02,00,00,c4,24,15,9f,20,00,4c,61,75,6e,\
63,68,20,4f,75,74,6c,6f,6f,6b,20,45,78,70,72,65,73,73,2e,6c,6e,6b,00,4c,41,\
55,4e,43,48,7e,31,2e,4c,4e,4b,00,00,00,36,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,2c,00,32,00,\
51,00,00,00,ec,22,46,39,20,00,53,68,6f,77,20,44,65,73,6b,74,6f,70,2e,73,63,\
66,00,53,48,4f,57,44,45,7e,31,2e,53,43,46,00,00,00,52,00,00,00,e0,00,00,00,\
00,00,00,00,16,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,16,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,01,\
00,00,00,01,00,00,00,aa,4f,28,68,48,6a,d0,11,8c,78,00,c0,4f,d9,18,b4,37,02,\
00,00,e0,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,16,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,16,00,00,\
00,00,00,00,00,01,00,00,00

;Show extensions for known file types
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"HideFileExt"=dword:00000000

;Disable Indexing service
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\cisvc]
"Start"=dword:00000004

;Alphabetically sort Start Menu
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MenuOrder\Start Menu]
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MenuOrder\Start Menu2]

;Classic view in Control Panel
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"ForceClassicControlPanel"=dword:00000001

;Remove "set programs default" from startmenu
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoSMConfigurePrograms"=dword:00000001

;Turn on numlock
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Keyboard]
"InitialKeyboardIndicators"="2"
[HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Keyboard]
"InitialKeyboardIndicators"="2"

;Classic Start Menu
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoSimpleStartMenu"=dword:00000001

;Remove Alexa Spyware
[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Extensions\{c95fe080-8f5d-11d2-a20b-00aa003c157a}]

;Force Windows to Unload DLLs from Memory
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\AlwaysUnloadDLL]
"Default"="1"

;Disable Routing and Remote Access
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\RemoteAccess]
"Start"=dword:00000004

;Disable Secondary Log-on
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\seclogon]
"Start"=dword:00000004

;Disable Performance Logs & Alerts
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SysmonLog]
"Start"=dword:00000004

;Disable Telephony
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\TapiSrv]
"Start"=dword:00000004

;Disable Wireless Zero Configuration
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WZCSVC]
"Start"=dword:00000004

;Disable Automatic Updates
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\wuauserv]
"Start"=dword:00000004

;Disable UPS
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\UPS]
"Start"=dword:00000004

;Disable Indexing Service
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\CiSvc]
"Start"=dword:00000004

;Disable Task Scheduler
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Schedule]
"Start"=dword:00000004

;Enlarge folder view size to 8000
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\BagMRU]
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\Bags]
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell]
"BagMRU Size"=dword:00001f40
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam]
"BagMRU Size"=dword:00001f40
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoSaveSettings"=dword:00000000

;Turn on numlock
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Keyboard]
"InitialKeyboardIndicators"="2"
[HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Keyboard]
"InitialKeyboardIndicators"="2"

;Enable ClearType for ALL Users
[HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop]
"FontSmoothing"="2"
"FontSmoothingType"="2"

;GDI+ Detection Tool
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\GdiDetectionTool]
"GDITool"=dword:00000001

;Mydoom Removal Tool
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\RemovalTools]
"MydoomTool"="OK"
[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell]

;Malware Removal Tool
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\RemovalTools\MRT]
"Version"="805647C6-E5ED-4F07-9E21-327592D40E83"

Also the Links folder is shown in the favourites tab of IE. One of the registry settings that I have put in is suppose to remove it, yet it doesn't. What's going on? Thanks.

Edit: Also, how do I remove that pesky warning from Windows Security control panel that tells me to enable windows update and A/V. It always pops up after the computer boots up and it's very annoying.

Perhaps try adding the reg tweak to disable showing hidden items:

; ---- 00000001 = Shows  |  00000000 = Hides
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"Hidden"=dword:00000000

  • Author

Thanks for the tweak, but has anyone here able to figure out why the hidden files is enabled in the first place?

Edit: Also despite having the remove links folder tweak, why do the "links" folder still appear under favourites in IE?

Just a thought... Have you copied NTUSER.DAT to your Default User profile? Only asking because this will most likely override most of the reg tweaks associated with explorer or the desktop.

As I said, just a thought!

~SIMON~

  • Author
Just a thought... Have you copied NTUSER.DAT to your Default User profile? Only asking because this will most likely override most of the reg tweaks associated with explorer or the desktop.

As I said, just a thought!

~SIMON~

I'm not sure...I don't recall using a file called NTUSER.DAT. How do I know if that is the root cause of the issue?

You mean you can see hidden files like C:\Pagefile.sys after a fresh install?

I cant see anything in your regfile that would enable hidden files. Is this the only regfile you use?

Possibly related, in some lines in your regfile quotes are displayed as " (ShellState and TaskbarWinXP for example)

Try retyping the start of each of these lines (up to the = ) just in case any invalid characters have crept in.

Also if you're using Notepad, try turning Line Wrapping on and off to make sure lines are ending in the right place. Copy/pasting from these forums sometimes causes line breaks in the wrong place, like this:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer]
"ShellState& quot;=hex:24,00,00,00,37,88,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\ 01,00,00,00,0d,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,01,00,00,00

  • Author
You mean you can see hidden files like C:\Pagefile.sys after a fresh install?

I cant see anything in your regfile that would enable hidden files. Is this the only regfile you use?

Possibly related, in some lines in your regfile quotes are displayed as " (ShellState  and TaskbarWinXP for example)

Try retyping the start of each of these lines (up to the = ) just in case any invalid characters have crept in.

Also if you're using Notepad, try turning Line Wrapping on and off to make sure lines are ending in the right place. Copy/pasting from these forums sometimes causes line breaks in the wrong place, like this:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer]
"ShellState& quot;=hex:24,00,00,00,37,88,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\ 01,00,00,00,0d,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,01,00,00,00

Maybe I should recreate the registry setting from scratch...

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