Unhide Hidden System Files in USB caused by VirusPosted by Ahmad Raza On June 9, 2013 In Computer Tricks 136 Comments

Computer viruses are actually programs that copy themselves from one place to another automatically and destroy your data. Apart from infecting your files, there are many viruses that affect the efficiency of person working on PC. In simple words, I will say that these viruses irritate the person working on computer.

For example, some viruses create shortcuts of files present in USB drives. Other computer viruses hide all files and folders on USB drive. Not only they hide files and folders but also disable the option to unhide those files. Actually those viruses are executed by DOS commands that automatically set attributes of all files and folders present on USB drive to “System files and Folders”. And system files are always hidden. For system files, the option to unhide them through properties window will also be disabled.

So, in order to show hidden files and folders you will be required change attributes of those files. Firstly, I will recommend you to install antivirus program on your computer. Since USB viruses are much common these days so you can install USB Disk security get rid of USB viruses.

Read: 8 Best Antivirus Softwares in 2013Read: USB Virus Removal Using USB Disk Security

Antivirus programs cannot unhide those system files. You can see all the hidden system files just by unchecking “Hide protected operating system files” from folder options menu. But the trick I am going to share will allow you to make any file as system file or to revert back any system file to normal file.

There are two methods to show system hidden files and folders. You can do this directly by using single DOS command. Alternatively, you can download a single file and run it. Actually, I have created a file containing the required DOS command. Whenever you run that file, it will automatically show hidden files and folders present in that directory. So, there is no more need to write DOS commands again and again.

How to show Hidden System Files and Folders?

In order to show hidden files and folders in Windows 7, open the folder containing you files and click on Organize tab>Folder and search options. Now click on View tab and uncheck the option named “Hide protected operating System Files”. Also click on “Show hidden files and folders” option. When you apply the new settings, all the files and folders will become visible.

If you want to unhide those system files and folders, follow the steps below.

Click on the start button and type cmd in the search box. Click on cmd and it will open a black DOS window.

Type the following command there and press enter.

attrib -H -S G:\*.* /S /D /L

Hit enter button and it will show hidden files and folders from G drive.

You can replace “G:” in the above command with the path of your required folder or USB drive. Remember that *.* will apply the attribute to all the files and folders present there.

In the above command, -H and –S and the attributes. The first one will show the hidden files and folders whereas the second one will convert system files to normal files.

If you change negative signs to positive in above commands, it will make those files again hidden and system.

show hidden files and folders

Alternatively you can download a file directly by clicking the button below. Paste the file in directory/drive that contain hidden system files and run it.  This will also show hidden files and folders present there.

Make a Super Hidden Folder in Windows Without any Extra Software

Almost anyone knows how to make a “hidden” folder in Windows, but then again almost anyone knows how to make explorer show hidden folders. Let’s take a look at how to make a folder so hidden, only you will know its there.

Anyone that has used Windows for a while knows that they can right-click on a file or folder and edit its properties, more so its attributes to make it a so called “hidden” file or folder. The problem is that just as many people know you can show files and folders that have the “hidden” attribute by simply changing a radio button under the folder view options. The easiest way to make a real hidden file or folder is to mark it as an important operating system file, that way Windows wont display it even if explorer is set to display hidden files and folders.

To do this we need to launch a command prompt, so press the Win + R key combination and type cmd then hit the enter button.

Now we are going to use the attrib command, so go ahead and type:

attrib +s +h “C:\Users\Taylor Gibb\Desktop\Top Secret”

You will need to replace the stuff in the inverted comma’s to an absolute path of a folder or file on your system  that you want to make hidden.

Now if I go look for the Top Secret folder on my Desktop it is gone, even with explorer set to show hidden files and folders.

To unhide the file or folder you can run the same command, except this time use “-“ instead of the “+” signs.

attrib -s -h “C:\Users\Taylor Gibb\Desktop\Top Secret”

Like magic, my folder appeared again.

Warning

While this method will catch 99% of people, if I knew for a fact that there was a hidden folder on a system that I was looking for there are many ways that will expose the folder. The easiest

would be to make explorer show operating system files, which can be done through the same interface as showing hidden files.

Although any ordinary user who unchecks the box will most probably be scared off by the warning message that appears.

Hope this was informative, now go hide all your things