Hide file
 
 
Hiding file or folder in Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows offers the capability to hide files and folders. Every file or folder on your hard drive has attributes. You can call it file attributes. You can set attribute of a file or folder to "Hidden", so that your file or folder will not be seen by the Windows Explorer (i.e. invisible).
This is how you can do that :
  • Go to "My Computer" or launch Windows Explorer
  • Find the file or folder you want to make invisible
  • Right-click on the file or folder, and click "Properties"
  • A box will appear. Make sure that you're on the "General" tab
  • Tick the "Hidden" attribute
  • Click "Apply"
  • Click "Ok"
Seeing hidden file or folder
Now, close your Windows Explorer, and launch it again (or go to "My Computer"), and try to browse the folder in which your hidden file resides.
If you cannot find it, don't worry. Here is how you can find it again :
  • In the Windows Explorer menu, select "Tools->Folder Options...". A box will appear.
  • Go to "View" tab.
  • Tick "Show hidden files and folders".
  • Click "Apply"
  • Click "Ok"
Common Windows files which are hidden : paging file, temporary internet files, etc.
 
File hiding utility
Windows capability of hiding file or folder is limited. Hidden folder or hidden file can still be seen easily with Windows Explorer or other application programs.
If you require more powerful hiding file capability, you may need to use 3rd party software with hide file and folder capability. These softwares usually have more powerful hiding file and folder feature. They do not make use of file attribute, but they do it the other way, such as intercepting the operating system I/O requests on a file or folder. This is the way they are able to hide files and folders. This way, the hidden file or folder will not be seen by Windows Explorer. See File Protector for example. File Protector can hide files and folders using this technique. But hide file and folder is not the only feature of File Protector. There are many other features : Protect files and folders, protect registry entries, and more.

Whether you need this kind of software or not depends on your needs. If you have your own computer but you share it with others (your children perhaps), and you want to keep your files private, you may need this software. Well, even if you are the only user of your computer, you might still need this software, in case there is someone, your guest perhaps, who wants to use your computer for a few minutes, for example.

For file protection information, click here.

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