Microsoft KB Archive/302347

= HOW TO: Search For Hidden Or System Files In Windows XP =

Article ID: 302347

Article Last Modified on 10/27/2002

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
 * Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition

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This article was previously published under Q302347



IN THIS TASK
SUMMARY
 * Search for Hidden or System Files



SUMMARY
The Search companion in Windows XP searches for hidden and system files differently than in earlier versions of Windows. This article describes how to search for hidden or system files in Windows XP.

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Search for Hidden or System Files
By default, the Search companion does not search for hidden or system files. Because of this, you may be unable to find files, even though they exist on the drive.

To search for hidden or system files in Windows XP:
 * 1) Click Start, click Search, click All files and folders, and then click More advanced options.
 * 2) Click to select the Search system folders and Search hidden files and folders check boxes.

NOTE: You do not 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. 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.

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Keywords: kbhowto kbhowtomaster KB302347

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