Creat a Real Hidden file in winXP

Hello all,
I have been using this little trick for quite a while now; I found it while messing around with different folder settings........

------ To create a hidden folder without the hidden attributes-----

1. Right click on your desktop > go to the "New" menu > click "folder"
2. Right click on the folder that you just created and go to "Properties"
3. Click the customize tab, then click the "Change Icon" button
4. A window should then pop up with a whole bunch of icons to choose from...
"Look for Icons in this file:" should be set to >"%SystemRoot%\system32\SHELL32.dll"
5. Down below I have attached an image of what you should select while scrolling through the list
6. Click ok
7. Click "Apply" then Click "Ok"

You should notice that the Icon has disappeared..... All that you should see is the text... now for the best part....

8. Right click the text then click "rename" then press ALT 255 and then press Enter.....

THE FOLDER IS GONE!!!!!

Try to remember where you put it. but if you forget just right click your desktop and go to the menu "arrange icons by" click "name" and the invisible space will be your file.... (Usually at the bottom of your icon list)

Very nice, this is the method i always recomend when somebody asks how to hide a folder.

well i did thid trick when i used to work in Dos promt and also in win 98 , (actually i used to make a fime in win go to dos prompt rename the file with some special charecter and whola no one couuld open it in windows) stopped usin it after i got my own computer but still a nice post.

If you loose your folder you can click in an empty space of the desktop and drag a box around the desktop you will then see a small square light up and that will be where you hidden file is located. The other method that is quick and easy to relocate your file is to drop into dos and go the the desktop. From their you can do dir you will then see a list of files and the one that is .lnk is sthe hidden like or the .bat or whatever file extision you hid.

Quote:

---

Originally posted here by devildell

8. Right click the text then click "rename" then press ALT 255 and then press Enter.....

---

Having issues with this part working for me. Alt 255 doesnt do anything but give me the same name that was there before I started the rename.

Ghost i should have stated that this will not work on laptops that do not have a keypad......

when i say key pad i mean not the numbers above your a, b, c's keys but the one located to the very right of your keyboard....





7 8 9 -
4 5 6 +
1 2 3 enter
0 del

Ahh that would explain everything. Yeap got a laptop, Shoot and I really wanted to see this little trick. Well I will remember this when I get my computers out of storage.

There is another method to hide a file or folder. I use DOS for this.

1. 'cd' over to the directory in which the target directory or file is located.
2. type 'attrib +r +s +h +a <filename.ext>or<directory name>

That's it the file is hidden. The file will not be shown even if you search for it because it is treated as a system file. Mind you, if you want to access the file, the only way is through DOS. You can 'cd' into the directory (even if it is hidden, you can still 'cd' into it). Then type the <filename.ext> and it will open it with the default program.

For example, if you've got a video file say "naughty.avi" hidden in "c:\videos" then:-

1. click start>run>cmd
2. type 'c:'
3. type 'cd\videos'
4. type 'naughty.avi'

This will play the file in the default movie player (mine happens to be mplayer).

To unhide the file or directory, use 'attrib -a -r -s -h <filename.ext> or <directory>'

The only drawback with this method is that the file or folder will be displayed in nero's file browser.

Hi,

alamuru420123

Emmmm and this method will only Work on ME/ Windows 2000 or higher :) .............Windows 98 will show these files.

They are hidden becaue they are treated as Protected Files

You can also see the File hidden by this method By Tools-> Folder Properties --> uncheck Hide protected operating system files



I also use this method to hide Files on windows 2000 Box.............not a fool proof method but reasonabely Good.

A few programs like Nero Show these Files .


--Good luck--

hmmm.... yea, your right swordfish. But this method is safer for me than the other one. Not many people know that you can give a system file attribute to any darned file or folder. btw, is there any method that will hide better than these two? I guess combining both of them will be more secure. ;)

??? I'm sorry, I don't understand the need to hide a file or folder. If I don't want anyone to have access to a folder on my PC, I simply encrypt it.

edit> or not allow them access to the PC in the first place.

Yea, but when you're using a computer at home, it is always better to hide them instead of encrypting them. My kid brother uses the computer all the time when i'm not and, better that he not know they exist ;)

well, the trick is not that good, i don't believe you recommend it!!!very childish
first if something is wrong with the pc, than u will be able to see the folder cuz of the slowdown
or just press F5, and your super hidden folder on ur desktop will appear

second
if you are saving a file, everyone can notice the not normal space between 2 folders,if he clicks in the space boom u are busted, a normal mind will guess the presence of a folder

3rd

if by mistake, the user makes an auto arrange...
.
.
.
if winxp tells there are some unused icons on ur desktop


the
things that could get u busted are infinite

that is why i don't recommend this trick

Well then don't put it on the desktop, put it in D:\WINDOWS\system32\spool\prtprocs\w32x86

aint that many people refreshing or arranging icons in that folder now are they ?

Very nice little trick... very useful in many ways.... :P keep it up

Quote:

---

Originally posted by alamuru420123
btw, is there any method that will hide better than these two? I guess combining both of them will be more secure. ;)

---

See here.

Mind it's only good for NTFS! ;)

Simple Simon,


ADS is a much better way to hide stuff. Better than both these methods. Of course accessing is a bit more difficult but it's worth it if the data is that important. There still seem to be some bugs in it for deleting the streamed data, but it's good. Thanx for letting me know.