Just wondering if there is any way to create a desktop icon to view/hide hidden files

Does anyone know if this is at all possible? Im running vista btw

ty

 

I tired it and I don't think it's possible.

 

Yes it would be possible. All it is, is a registry change for the HKCU (HKEY_CURRENT_USER), changing a value from 0 (hidden files remain hidden) or 1 (hidden files are shown). Then all you do is refresh the window you're in by pressing F5 and it'll show/hide files based on the setting.

It would have to most likely be a script, and due to some of the things required in the logic to determine whether it should turn it off/on based on current settings, it'd probably need to be VB (CSCRIPT is already built-in to Vista and will work), PowerShell (needs powershell installed), etc...

If you want something like that, I can write it. I just haven't yet.

 

If anyone is really interested, I could write a VB app that runs in the Systray at startup and allows a simple click to enable/disable the showing of hidden files/folders and also showing/hiding the Protected system files.

 

To dangerous such an easy manipulation of the vital hiden files, there is reason for it, you may erase them by mistake, or make part of a shereable folder and expose it to intruders.

 

I'm not going to disagree with you, but I will add one comment to the generalization you made. If someone is flat-out asking if there is a way, its becuase that person wants to be able to switch it on/off quickly and therefore must be tired of the extra clicks required to do it the normal way. I am going to assume that the person asking the question is already very well aware of why files are hidden and has a reason for it.

[not_directed_at_anyone]
I don't know why someone would want to turn it off/on easily unless they're constantly hiding and unhiding their "night-time naughty" collection. haha (I heard someone call it that once... never forgot it)
[/not_directed_at_anyone]

That being said, you are correct and I do not believe something like this should be done by anyone but a techie that fully understands what they are doing by un-hiding the system files.

 

I would love if you could script it, and yes of course, I do realise the dangers of exposing hidden files but I know what im doing..

Edit: Im not interested in viewing system files. I hide hidden files/folders everywhere to de-clutter, I have so much stuff it's highly irratating to look at especially on the desktop so anything not immediately important is hidden - Makes everything look roomier, but I always end up needing to find one of these folders every 10 minutes or so

 

Chevynovaln are you experienced with creating .reg files via notepad? I am fine with editing the registry via regedit and a creating a few *very* basic .reg files. Could u post a guide if u have enough time on how to edit the registry via .reg files? thanks

 

Sure. I can do that, or just post the .reg file on my website (it'd be even easier). BTW, i'm writing this disclaimer here and in my next post. If anyone chooses to use my info regarding the registry, read microsofts warnings about modifying the registry, and substitute my name for Microsoft in that I am not liable should you hork up your machine by either not fully understanding what I wrote, or if I wrote something that turns out to be wrong (rarely the case - Who's ****y and has two thumbs.... THIS guy [see me pointing at myself with both thumbs])

There... now that thats out of the way and i'm slowly waking up, I'll start writing my instructions and post them next.

 

Here's my quick guide on how to do specifically what you are wanting to do.

[DISCLAIMER]
If anyone chooses to use my info regarding the registry, read microsofts warnings about modifying the registry, and substitute my name for Microsoft in that I am not liable should you hork up your machine by either not fully understanding what I wrote, or if I wrote something that turns out to be wrong
[/DISCLAIMER]

1. Open REGEDIT by clickin the Start Button, and typing "regedit" without the quotes in the search box, or the RUN line if you have that available.

2. Navigate to the following registry Key:

a. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced​

3. Right-Click on the "Advanced" key in the left pane, and choose Export. You will need to save the selected brach (the "Advanced" key) to a .REG file. Find a place for the file, give it a name and click "Save"



4. You now have a .REG file. Right click on the .REG file and choose EDIT. This should open the file in NOTEPAD.



5. The line(s) we are interested in are the top 3 lines that make up the beginning of the file. (1st and 3rd lines actually have text, the 2nd line is blank), and then the specific item we want which on mine is on the 5th line.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]

and then the actual KEY itself

"Hidden"=dword:00000001

6. Select all the other "stuff" and clear it out. You should have 4 lines and your .REG file should look like the screenshot below, or if the image won't display, it should only contain the red text above on #5. Save the .REG file.



7. Now, mine currently has a value of "1" noted by the "00000001" as the value for "Hidden". Because you'll need 2 .REG files, one for showing and one for hiding, Copy your .REG file to another filename and edit the new file so you can change the 1 to a 0 (or 0 to 1 if yours is already 0). (eight zero's means files will be hidden, 7 zero's and a 1 will show hidden files)

In the end, you should have two registry files, one that sets the value to 1 and one that sets the value to 0. Any windows you already have open will not magically show hidden files when you run these, but if you press F5 or refresh the screen they will see the new setting.

EDIT: I forgot to say, now that you have your 2 registry files, merely double-click on the one you want to run, press OK to the warning, and then press OK to the box that should say it changed it successfully. Keep in mind that you do have to have admin privelages for this to work. I believe User Account Control also freaks out with these changes, but I figure anyone making these changes already has that turned off AND is an Admin.

Questions/Comments let me know,

 

thanks +1 rep,
hmmm... im thinking of creating a .reg file that u just click and it completely tweaks out ur computer, by e.g. lowering wait to kill apps..

 

Thanks for the guide, I'll try it out later when I have time

 

Can you explain this? I'm not quite sure what you mean. Maybe your terminology is different than mine.

 

for example to eliminate start menu lag :
Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop, double-click MenuShowDelay in the right-hand pane, and change the value from 400 to 5

what i am going to do is create a reg file with all registry tweaks, which should speed up your computer

 

Ok, thats kinda what I figured you were meaning. Just make sure if you are making that to possibly distribute, that you make VERY sure you mention what specific OS the registry file is for. MOST settings are the same between Vista/XP, but you know what happens when you make a one-sized-fits-all config setting, something always breaks.

Food for thought.

 

What I think would be REALLY cool, is an app that listed all the known tweaks that can be done via registry settings. Each tweak would be described briefly and beside it would be a check box. The user could check off the ones they wanted and push a button and a custom registry update file would be created.

This would eliminate the "one size fits all" issue and at the same time eliminate my complaint about 99.999% of the "tweak" apps out there. They all blindly update your registry giving the user zero insight into what is being done. You have to blindly trust that the programs author knows what the hell they are doing. Some of these tweak apps are written by first time programmers. [shivers]

With this approach you would have 100% transparency into what is being changed, an audit trail as to what was done, and a glimmer of hope that things could be undone, if something goes awry.

If you want to take on such a project, I would offer myself to help with wording of the descriptions etc. I don't have the time to take on the assembly of all the registry info and the coding of the app, but certainly could help out.

Gary

 

I haven't looked yet, but maybe that would be a good thread to start. Common tweaks in the registery, etc.. that users make to improve performance so we can get a good list so the project would be worthwhile. I haven't really tweaked anything in Vista so far, as my system is fairly overpowered for my every-day use and it runs awesome anyway. I have NO issue writing a utility that would give a description of the change being made, including what the current setting is (if even defined), and a method of resetting back to the default value (whatever the value was when the app was installed). I have enough experience with VB (mostly Visual Basic 6.0, but I read somewhere that it works ok) I have only dabbled in Visual Basic .NET, but i do have it available to me.

Thoughts?

 

i just want to update this thread and lead you to the following link that contains a reg file as we discussed that will tweak your computer instantly:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=251154

i am currently in the process of compiling more tweaks and may update the file in a week or so. comments/suggestions please!

 

I can see already from the feedback on the other thread your "all or nothing" approach is meeting quite a bit of resistance. I really think you are wasting your time with this. No one is going to want the exact same set of tweaks that you do.

Gary

 

i know im late but if you have rocket dock this may help
http://rocketdock.com/addons/docklets/2058