Find Hidden is a portable software for Windows that has been specifically designed for that purpose. The software can detect hidden files or directories, but not both at the same time. Users just need to point it to a starting folder or drive which is then crawled by the application.

Searches can make use of available filters to narrow down the result listings. For file searches it is possible to specify a set of file extensions, or a specific name and file extension combination.

Size and date filters are provided as well to only find files of a specific size range or date range. The date filter offers to find files based on the date they have been created, modified or last accessed.

All hidden files or directories that have been found in the selected location are then displayed in a table. The listing displays file and directory names, paths, file sizes, creation, modification and last access dates and file attributes.

A right-click displays a properties menu that includes options to execute the file, change the file’s attributes, open the containing folder in Windows Explorer, delete, copy or unhide, view the binary data, search Google for the selected file, or copy the file path or full file name to the Windows Clipboard. Most options are accessible with hotkeys as well.

Find Hidden is a small portable application for Windows that does an excellent job at finding hidden files and folders in the operating system. Downloads are offered at the developer website.

How To Show Hidden Files In Windows 7

All settings related to hidden files and folders are configurable in the Folder Option dialog. The easiest way to get there is to click on the Control Panel in the Start menu. A click on the Appearance and Personalization category will display a link to the Folder Options where the hidden file and folder settings can be configured. Another option is to open a Windows Explorer window, click the Organize link in the toolbar, and from there click on Folder and Search options. The Hidden files and folders options are to be found on the View tab under Advanced Settings.

The four entries of relevance in this menu are:

• Hidden files and folders
• Hide empty drives in the Computer folder
• Hide extensions for known file types
• Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)

Hidden files and folders

The NTFS file system used by Windows supports several attributes that can be assigned to files, such as Read Only, Encrypted, Compressed and Hidden. Hidden files and folders are simply normal files with the Hidden attribute. Windows Explorer will not display files with the Hidden attribute to the user if the Folder Options setting is configured as such, however the operating system and applications have normal access to such files. Changing the Windows Explorer setting to “Show hidden files, folders and drives” will enable the user to see all hidden files and folders, with the exception of protected operating system files.

Hide protected operating system files

Operating system files are files that get installed with Windows 7. These files are necessary for the operation of the system. Windows users come usually into contact with these files only when they follow a tweaking guide that asks them to manipulate such a file.

Removing the checkmark from the selection box displays all protected operating system files in Windows Explorer. This is not recommended as it increases the chance that these files may be edited or deleted accidentally by the user.

Hide extensions for known file types

Windows 7 hides the file extensions of known file types by default. This mean that file.txt will be displayed simply as “file”, and application.exe will be displayed simply as “application”. This setting is often problematic as it sometimes becomes difficulty to identify a file type by its icon alone. It is generally recommended to display file extensions all the time to avoid this problems and make file identification easier.

Hide empty drives in the computer folder

Empty drives such as empty DVD drives are hidden by default in the Windows 7 operating system. This is an interesting feature that might cause some confusion, especially on new PCs. Users who do not see their DVD drive in My Computer might think that it is not properly installed. Users who wish to display all drives all the time can uncheck the associated option to hide empty drives.

In this Linux Tips article I will show you how to view hidden files with ls, Thunar, Nautilus, and Dolphin.

LS

If you need to see hidden files using the ls command you need to add the -a switch. But if you just add the -a switch most likely your files will fly by you and you will miss what you are looking for. To avoid this pipe the command through the less command like so:

ls -a | less

The above command will allow you to page through the contents so you can actually see what is there. You can scroll either up or down using the arrow keys or you can scroll down one page at a time with the space bar.

Thunar

Figure 1

If you don’t know, Thunar is the file manager for the Enlightenment desktop. In order to see hidden files in Thunar click the View menu and check the Show Hidden Files box (as shown in Figure 1.) Or you can hit the key combination Ctrl-H.

If you use the key combination you must make sure you are focused on the Thunar window. When you set Thunar to view hidden files it will always do so until you unset this option.

Nautlius

Figure 2

Nautilus is the file manager for the GNOME desktop. With the Nautilus file manager viewing hidden files is done in the same way. From the View menu select the Show Hidden Files option (see Figure 2) or hit the key combination Ctrl-H. Like Thunar, if you use the key combination you must be focused on the Nautilus window.

And like Thunar, the hidden file option will stick until it is unset.

Dolphin

Figure 3

Dolphin is the KDE file manager that replaced Konqueror. In order to view hidden files in this file manager you select the View Hidden Files option from the View menu. You can also enable this action by hitting the Ctrl-. key combination. And like both Thunar and Nautilus, in order to use the key combination Dolphin must be in focus or the combination will not work.

Again, like the other graphical file managers, this option will remain until unset.

Final Thoughts

Hidden files are an important part of the Linux operating system. Although you can go your entire Linux lifetime without ever having to view a single hidden file, on that one occasion that you will need to do so, it’s good to know how.