Viewing Files and Folders Hidden by Virus

Nowadays computer users are getting trouble with viruses and Malwares which are hiding files and folders in the drives like Flash and Memory cards. The problem occur when a person move flash drive from on PC to another having viruses, these viruses different with are others are not collapsing files and folders but make it hidden. Through my experience as Computer consultant at St. John's University of Tanzania-Dar es Salaam from 2012 up to date many students and lectures as well get this problem and always thoughts that they lost data in their drives. 

Brethren data are not lost but hidden as operating system files

Here's simple method how to display hidden files and folders. 

1. Open Folder Options by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking Appearance and Personalization, and then clicking Folder Options. 

2. Click the View tab.

3.Under Advanced settings, click Show hidden files, folders, and drives, and then click OK 

4. Open your drives

Also its normal that Windows 7 hides certain files so that they are not able to be seen when you exploring the files on your computer. The files it hides are typically Windows 7 System files that if tampered with could cause problems with the proper operation of the computer. It is possible, though, for a user or piece of software to set make a file hidden by enabling the hidden attribute in a particular file or folder's properties. Due to this it can be beneficial at times to be able to see any hidden files that may be on your computer. This tutorial will explain how to show all hidden files in Windows 7.

To enable the viewing of hidden and protected system files in Windows 7 please follow these steps:

1. Close all programs so that you are at your desktop.
    
2. Click on the Start button is in the lower left corner of your screen that has a Windows flag on it.
    
   
   Figure 1: Start Menu
3. Click on the Control Panel menu option.
    
4. When the control panel opens you will see a screen similar to Figure 1 below.
   
   
   
   Figure 2. Windows 7 Control Panel
   
   
    
5. Click on the Appearance and Personalization link.
    
6. You will now be in the Appearance and Personalization control panel as shown in Figure 2 below.
   
   
   
   Figure 3. Windows 7 Appearance and Personalization screen
   
   
   Now click on the Show hidden files and folders option as shown by the red arrow in Figure 2 above.
    
7. Under the Hidden files and folders section select the radio button labeled Show hidden files, folders, and drives.
    
8. Remove the checkmark from the checkbox labeled Hide extensions for known file types.
    
9. Remove the checkmark from the checkbox labeled Hide protected operating system files (Recommended).
   
   Once this is done, your Folder Options screen should look similar to the following image.
   
   
   
   Figure 3. Folder Options screen
   
   
   
     Figure 3. Folder Options screen showing areas to remove check mark
   
   
     Figure 3. Folder Options screen View tab after check-mark removed
10. Press the Apply button and then the OK button.

You will now be at your desktop and Windows 7 will be configured to show all hidden files.

11. Open your Disk like Flash or memory card to view hidden file and folders.
NOTE: Sometime you can find file and folders hidden in a single folder with no name which can be in Yellow Folder or greyish folder like this appearence , open it to find inside data.

If you have any questions about this tutorial please feel free to post them in our blog and facebook page https://www.facebook.com/kapagi