Viewing Hidden Files in XP, Vista and 7
In an effort to protect you from yourself, Microsoft put a feature in Windows that will hide files from you. This is to keep you from deleting something you shouldn't, and on the surface, sounds like a good idea. However, in this day of increased security awareness, having hidden files can cause some ugly problems. One of these problems is that Windows will hide file extensions.
File extensions are the three letters after a period in a file name; for example: Windows.exe. The EXE in that example is the file extension. That is what tells windows what to do with that file. EXE is an executable, like a program. JPG is an extension for an image, etc.
The problem comes when you do something like open a picture attached to an email.
NEVER open an attachment to an email unless you ABSOLUTELY know that it's coming from the person who sent it to you!!!
...Sorry about that. Anyway, if you receive and try to open an attachment that is named prettygirl.jpg, and your extensions are hidden, that file name could actually be prettygirl.jpg.exe. That means that instead of a picture, the file is actually a program, and if you click it to open it, you will have a program run instead of looking at a picture. If you get a virus or a trojan, it's your fault, because you invited it in.
...I get $30.00 an hour to fix your machine...
So we want to see our hidden files and unhide known file extensions.
1. Click Start > My Computer.
2. Go to Tools (in the very top row of the window) > Folder Options. You will have a window with tabs across the top.
In Windows 7: Click Start > My Computer, then in the Explorer window Command Bar, click Organize, then Folder and Search Options.
3. Select the View tab.
4. Find the folder labeled Hidden Files and Folders. Check the option to Show hidden files and folders. Then uncheck the box next to Hide extensions for known file types and Hide protected operating system files(Recommended)
5. You will get a warning message from Windows. Go ahead and click Yes in that message.
6. Click Apply, and then OK.