Can't Show Hidden Files due to Virus

A common virus disables the Show hidden files and folders function in Windows XP. Here is how to enable it again.

The symptom of this problem is every time you select the Show hidden files and folders options under Folder Options, the screen just flashes when you click OK and the hidden files and folders are not unhidden. You can fix this problem with a registry hack:

WARNING: This steps involve editing the registry which is very dangerous if you do not know what you are doing. Before you proceed, make sure you back up the registry and follow these steps precisely how they are described

1. Click Start > Run and type REGEDIT

2. Click the plus sign next to HKEY_CURRENT_USER
then SOFTWARE
then Microsoft
then Windows
then CurrentVersion
then Explorer
then Advanced


On the right side, double click the hidden value and give it a value of 1.

You should now be able to enable hidden files and folders.

I got this tip from the following Hobby Sandwich.

If you still have virus problems, I suggest you try Anti-vir which is free or Nod-32