Help requested for a Win XP hidden file option problem

[JeffK]

I'm wondering if I can get some help with this.

I can't get the "show hidden folders and folders" option in Win XP to stay on. When I apply it and reenter the dialog box it has turned itself off again. Does anyone else have any experience with this and what can I do about it.

Thanks for any help.

Jeff

[Carol Haynes]

A few ideas off the tope of my head:

Are you running in restricted user mode? Never had this problem myself but I run in admin mode to avoid some of these sillinesses *and I have software that doesn't like non-admin)

Have you tried setting it from Ctrol Panel > Folder options ... shouldn't make any difference but it might write the registry entry from there if it won't from Explorer > Tools > Folder Options.

Are you experiencing any other odd problems (no I'm not getting personal) ... like slow shut downs, hanging on Saving User settings during shutdown? If so it could be a corrupted user profile - that can affect writes to the registry for system settings. Try creating a new user, login and see if you have the same problem there.

[mouser]

is it possible you are only setting one folders properties? in xp you have to say "apply this setting to all folders" if you want it to remember the setting across all folders.

[AbteriX]

To sort this out....
...are you using an company pc ? (policies ?)

[Josh]

Unless this PC is on a corporate lan with Mandatory user profiles, you should be able to keep the setting by setting the options you want, then hitting "Apply to all folders"

[JeffK]

None of the above.  Not on a company PC, applying to all folders, I'm in admin mode, doesn't work from control panel either, no other problems evident.  The selection will just not stick.

Does anyone know the applicable registry key?  Is there a key which prevents the change?

Thanks Jeff

[Carol Haynes]

Try this shell extension http://www.eazyshare.com/user_uploads/HiddenFilesToggle_2.0_Setup.zip

I have been scouring registry settings and looking around the usual websites but none seem to mention accessing this function via the registry.

Did you try creating a new user and logging in to see if it works in a new user profile?

[JeffK]

Thanks Carol.  No I didn't creat a new user yet.  I will now.  I did test on a clean user profile already created and the problem is the same.

Jeff

[JeffK]

Problem is still the same with a newly created user.  The shell extension worked, Carol.  It didnt solve the behaviour of the normal method but it did enable me to see my hidden files.

Jeff

[Carol Haynes]

Rules out a user profile issue then ... glad the extension helped. There is another one too from the same author for toggling file extensions which I use a lot. Get it here: http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=52524

[Carol Haynes]

OK if you want the registry settings here they are:

Including all the other settings ...

First set of values are with files hidden, no extensions showing:

Reveal

Code

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"ServerAdminUI"=dword:00000000
"Hidden"=dword:00000002
"ShowCompColor"=dword:00000001
"HideFileExt"=dword:00000001
"DontPrettyPath"=dword:00000000
"ShowInfoTip"=dword:00000001
"HideIcons"=dword:00000000
"MapNetDrvBtn"=dword:00000000
"WebView"=dword:00000001
"Filter"=dword:00000000
"SuperHidden"=dword:00000001
"SeparateProcess"=dword:00000000
"ListviewAlphaSelect"=dword:00000001
"ListviewShadow"=dword:00000001
"ListviewWatermark"=dword:00000001
"TaskbarAnimations"=dword:00000001
"StartMenuInit"=dword:00000002
"StartButtonBalloonTip"=dword:00000002
"NoNetCrawling"=dword:00000000
"FolderContentsInfoTip"=dword:00000001
"FriendlyTree"=dword:00000001
"WebViewBarricade"=dword:00000001
"DisableThumbnailCache"=dword:00000001
"ShowSuperHidden"=dword:00000001
"ClassicViewState"=dword:00000000
"PersistBrowsers"=dword:00000001
"Start_ShowNetPlaces"=dword:00000001
"Start_LargeMFUIcons"=dword:00000000
"Start_MinMFU"=dword:0000000f
"Start_ShowControlPanel"=dword:00000001
"Start_EnableDragDrop"=dword:00000001
"StartMenuFavorites"=dword:00000002
"Start_ShowHelp"=dword:00000001
"Start_ShowMyComputer"=dword:00000001
"Start_ShowMyDocs"=dword:00000001
"Start_ShowMyMusic"=dword:00000001
"Start_ShowMyPics"=dword:00000001
"Start_ShowPrinters"=dword:00000001
"Start_ShowRun"=dword:00000001
"Start_ScrollPrograms"=dword:00000000
"Start_ShowSearch"=dword:00000001
"Start_ShowSetProgramAccessAndDefaults"=dword:00000001
"Start_ShowRecentDocs"=dword:00000002
"Start_AutoCascade"=dword:00000001
"Start_NotifyNewApps"=dword:00000000
"Start_AdminToolsRoot"=dword:00000002
"StartMenuAdminTools"=dword:00000001
"TaskbarSizeMove"=dword:00000001
"TaskbarGlomming"=dword:00000001
"EnableBalloonTips"=dword:00000001
"Start_ShowNetConn_ShouldShow"=dword:00000042

This lot are for unhidden files, extensions showing:

Reveal

Code

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"ServerAdminUI"=dword:00000000
"Hidden"=dword:00000001
"ShowCompColor"=dword:00000001
"HideFileExt"=dword:00000000
"DontPrettyPath"=dword:00000000
"ShowInfoTip"=dword:00000001
"HideIcons"=dword:00000000
"MapNetDrvBtn"=dword:00000000
"WebView"=dword:00000001
"Filter"=dword:00000000
"SuperHidden"=dword:00000001
"SeparateProcess"=dword:00000000
"ListviewAlphaSelect"=dword:00000001
"ListviewShadow"=dword:00000001
"ListviewWatermark"=dword:00000001
"TaskbarAnimations"=dword:00000001
"StartMenuInit"=dword:00000002
"StartButtonBalloonTip"=dword:00000002
"NoNetCrawling"=dword:00000000
"FolderContentsInfoTip"=dword:00000001
"FriendlyTree"=dword:00000001
"WebViewBarricade"=dword:00000001
"DisableThumbnailCache"=dword:00000001
"ShowSuperHidden"=dword:00000001
"ClassicViewState"=dword:00000000
"PersistBrowsers"=dword:00000001
"Start_ShowNetPlaces"=dword:00000001
"Start_LargeMFUIcons"=dword:00000000
"Start_MinMFU"=dword:0000000f
"Start_ShowControlPanel"=dword:00000001
"Start_EnableDragDrop"=dword:00000001
"StartMenuFavorites"=dword:00000002
"Start_ShowHelp"=dword:00000001
"Start_ShowMyComputer"=dword:00000001
"Start_ShowMyDocs"=dword:00000001
"Start_ShowMyMusic"=dword:00000001
"Start_ShowMyPics"=dword:00000001
"Start_ShowPrinters"=dword:00000001
"Start_ShowRun"=dword:00000001
"Start_ScrollPrograms"=dword:00000000
"Start_ShowSearch"=dword:00000001
"Start_ShowSetProgramAccessAndDefaults"=dword:00000001
"Start_ShowRecentDocs"=dword:00000002
"Start_AutoCascade"=dword:00000001
"Start_NotifyNewApps"=dword:00000000
"Start_AdminToolsRoot"=dword:00000002
"StartMenuAdminTools"=dword:00000001
"TaskbarSizeMove"=dword:00000001
"TaskbarGlomming"=dword:00000001
"EnableBalloonTips"=dword:00000001
"Start_ShowNetConn_ShouldShow"=dword:00000042

Note there is also a superhidden setting (this refers to system files that are hidden I think)

[JeffK]

Thanks, Carol.  I'm at work now.  I shall try this here and again when I get home.

Jeff

[kimmchii]

i'm curious why the settings revert by itself, what anti-spyware/anti-virus do you use? anything like winpatrol that monitor and guard the settings?

[JeffK]

I'd like to know why they won't stick too.  I wondered if it was something in my startup but I can't identify anything.  I first became aware of the problem when trying to do something with Genie Backup Pro.  I have deleted it and Directory Opus just in case they were the problem. 

I use BitDefender Standard v9 antivius.  It does have an antispyware component.  I might disable it to see if it makes any difference.

Jeff

[Carol Haynes]

You don't run RegDefend or anything like that?

[JeffK]

No I don't.  Bitdefender does monitor changes to the starting programs though and warns if they change. 

Jeff