Windows 2000
To enable the viewing of Hidden files follow these steps:
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Close all programs so that you are at your desktop.
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Double-click on the My Computer icon.
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Select the Tools menu and click Folder Options.
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After the new window appears select the View tab.
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Under the Hidden files and folders section select the radio button labeled Show hidden files and folders.
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Remove the checkmark from the checkbox labeled Hide file extensions for known file types.
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Remove the checkmark from the checkbox labeled Hide protected operating system files.
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Press the Apply button and then the OK button and shutdown My Computer.
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Now your computer is configured to show all hidden files.
Windows XP and Windows 2003
To enable the viewing of Hidden files follow these steps:
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Close all programs so that you are at your desktop.
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Double-click on the My Computer icon.
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Select the Tools menu and click Folder Options.
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After the new window appears select the View tab.
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Put a checkmark in the checkbox labeled Display the contents of system folders.
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Under the Hidden files and folders section select the radio button labeled Show hidden files and folders.
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Remove the checkmark from the checkbox labeled Hide file extensions for known file types.
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Remove the checkmark from the checkbox labeled Hide protected operating system files.
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Press the Apply button and then the OK button and shutdown My Computer.
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Now your computer is configured to show all hidden files.
Windows Vista
To enable the viewing of Hidden files follow these steps:
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Close all programs so that you are at your desktop.
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Click on the Start button. This is the small round button with the Windows flag in the lower left corner.
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Click on the Control Panel menu option.
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When the control panel opens you can either be in Classic View or Control Panel Home view:
If you are in the Classic View do the following:
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Double-click on the Folder Options icon.
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Click on the View tab.
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Go to step 5.
If you are in the Control Panel Home view do the following:
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Click on the Appearance and Personalization link .
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Click on Show Hidden Files or Folders.
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Go to step 5.
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Under the Hidden files and folders section select the radio button labeled Show hidden files and folders.
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Remove the checkmark from the checkbox labeled Hide extensions for known file types.
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Remove the checkmark from the checkbox labeled Hide protected operating system files.
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Press the Apply button and then the OK button.
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Now Windows Vista is configured to show all hidden files.
Windows 7
To enable the viewing of Hidden files follow these steps. Please note a guide with images that shows the same steps can be found here:
How to show hidden files in Windows 7
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Close all programs so that you are at your desktop.
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Click on the Start button. This is the small round button with the Windows flag in the lower left corner.
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Click on the Control Panel menu option.
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When the control panel opens click on the Appearance and Personalization link.
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Under the Folder Options category, click on Show Hidden Files or Folders.
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Under the Hidden files and folders section select the radio button labeled Show hidden files, folders, or drives.
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Remove the checkmark from the checkbox labeled Hide extensions for known file types.
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Remove the checkmark from the checkbox labeled Hide protected operating system files (Recommended).
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Press the Apply button and then the OK button..
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Now Windows 7 is configured to show all hidden files.