For some reason, most of the files that are stored here on my office computer are kept in hidden subfolders. I don’t know if this is inherent to the Windows operating system or if it’s how my employer structured their system. If I copy the entire folder to somewhere else, I can access all the hidden files in the copied folder.
What I can’t figure out is 1) is there a way to unhide these subfolders? and 2) what determines whether a given file is stored in a hidden subfolder versus being visible in the main folder?
In windows explorer go to folder and search options (under organize in windows 7) and click on the view tab - scroll down and you’ll see an option to show hidden files and folders. The default is for them not to be shown. Hit apply to all folders if that’s what you want.
Also, if you are looking for the Temporary Internet Files folder and are using Vista, Microsoft hid it very well. It is not only hidden, but protected so you cannot delete or copy files from it (at least in default mode). All the “shortcuts” pointing to it are red herrings. The “real” folder is located at
C:\Users[yourname]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files.
It’s been a long time since I changed it’s properties, so I forget how to access it, but when I first got my computer it wouldn’t let me even click on the folder, even in Admin mode.
In my system (Windows XP Pro) it’s in C:\Documents and Settings\Username\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files.
There are no search options, although it’s possible that my company’s system blocks out this option.
Regardless, it’s still puzzling why some files get saved to hidden folders, while other identical-seeming files accessed on the same day are visible.