About hidden files and folders
First, let's make sure you're familiar with an important concept: hidden files and folders. Take a look at your C drive, as shown in Figure A.

FIGURE A


On the left, everything's hidden. On the right, everything's visible. Roll over picture for a larger image.

In an effort to protect us from ourselves, Microsoft set up Windows so some important system files aren't typically visible. This is great if you want to Dad-proof you computer, but if you really need access to some key files, you won't be able to find them. On the left side of Figure A, all the system files are hidden. On the right side, you can see them.

Notice that some of the icons on the right side appear dim. A file or folder's icon is shown as dim if it's normally hidden. If you see a dim file and you're not sure what to do with it, don't muck with it.

Before we go any further we should warn you: if you're mucking with these special files and you screw up your computer, don't come crying to us. Be very careful and don't just go randomly playing with files when you're not absolutely sure what they do.

Unhiding the hidden folders
Read the following paragraphs at your own risk. We're serious. You could completely screw up your computer if you fool around with this stuff.

To see hidden files, to turn on file extensions and to otherwise set yourself up for potential risk, select the Tools menu from any Explorer window Explorer, not Internet Explorer). Under the tools menu, select Folder options. Then, select the View tab from the folder options window, as shown in Figure B.

FIGURE B


Make sure your settings match the three arrows. Roll over picture for a larger image.

To make your files and folders visible, make sure your settings match the three arrows. Be sure "Show hidden files and folders" is selected and be sure both "Hide extensions for known file types" and "Hide protected operating system files Recommended) are unchecked.

Did I mention that if you do this, you could royally screw up your computer? OK. Good. Consider yourself warned. For the record, I'm not disparaging your intelligence. But I can't tell you how many computers I've been asked to fix were damaged because people went and fiddled with all the fiddly bits. Don't do it.