Tips on Searching Hidden Files (XP)

The Search tool in Windows XP searches for hidden and system files differently than in earlier versions of Windows. This guide will give a brief description on how to search for hidden or system files in Windows XP.

Search for Hidden or System Files By default, the Search tool doesn’t search for hidden or system files. Because of this, you may have difficulty in finding files, even though they exist on the drive.

To search for hidden or system files in Windows XP:
Click Start then click Search, click all files and folders, and then click more advanced options.

Click the check box to select the Search system folders and Search hidden files and folders check boxes.

NOTE: You don’t need to configure your computer to show hidden files in the Folder Options dialog box in Windows Explorer to find files with either the hidden or system attributes, but you need to configure your computer not to hide protected operating system files to find files with both the hidden and system attributes. The Search Companion shares the Hide protected operating system files option (which hides files with both the system and hidden attributes) with the Folder Options dialog box Windows Explorer.