Help! I Can’t See My Files and Folders

Without our knowledge sometimes we turn on our computer system and everything looks different. Our toolbar is moved, our files are hidden, we can’t figure out where we saved a certain document. It is like we moved in the middle of the night and when we woke up everything changed. As we have said before the nice thing about computers is that they are smart but sometimes too smart and have a mind all their own.

How can I view my hidden files and folders? This is a question that most of us have asked ourselves in the past. It would be nice if the computer would just answer us, but unfortunately technology has not yet advanced to that level. It is an easy and quick fix to get back into your vision the files and folders that have seemed to hide themselves from you.

While this is a very basic problem but sometimes it’s the simple issues that cause us to spend more time figuring out than the more complex issues. Determine your operating system and follow the necessary steps to get to your hidden files and folders.

Windows XP and 2000, ME, NT, 98 and 95 Users

• Double click on My Computer
• Click Tools
• Click Folder Options
• Click View
• Under Hidden files and folders select Show hidden files and folders

Windows Vista Users

• Click on Start
• Click on Control Panel
• Click Appearance and Personalization
• Click Folder Options
• Click View
• Under Hidden files and folders select Show hidden files and folders

Windows 7 Users

• Click start
• Type Search in start search box
• Click Change to change your search options for files and folders
• Click on the View Tab
• Select the radio button labeled show hidden files folders and drives
• Remove the checkmark from the boxes labeled hide extensions for known file types and hide protected operation system files. These boxes should be unchecked.
• Click on Apply and then OK.