Tushman Posted February 19, 2004 Posted February 19, 2004 Hi all, first time poster here. Seems like a nice friendly site you've got.I'm somewhat of a learning apprentice if you will. Been around PCs for many years but only in the past 4 years have i gotten into the working innards and helping people troubleshoot, etc.I've got a real stinker that I haven't been able to solve for a long time. I think I need a registry expert. In Windows 2000, using Windows Explorer, whenever i open up the WINNT directory, all my system files are hidden. So everytime I reboot the PC, I have to go under the 'Tools' menu, and select the setting that allows system files to be shown. It simply refuses to show, regardless of how many times I try to display the contents of this directory. I highly doubt its mal-ware/spyware/virus - although I cannot rule it out. I run NAV 2003, Ad-Aware, and Spybot S&D; and i regularly update all of them.If anyone knows of a registry edit, or an alternate method to fix this, I'd love to try it. Thanks! Quote
Neil P Posted February 19, 2004 Posted February 19, 2004 I think I might have found a site that explains your problem: http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/win2k_nag.asp I just did a Google Search and that was the first result. That sounds exactly like what you're explaining though!Hope that helps, and Welcome to the forums!Neil Quote
Tushman Posted February 19, 2004 Author Posted February 19, 2004 Neil, thanks for the welcome.That link you provided me doesn't help me out at all. If you read my original post, I have already tried the methods/instructions posted in step #4 at the bottom of that website. Since that method is ineffective, I think what i need is a regsitry edit. Know what I mean jellybean? Quote
Neil P Posted February 20, 2004 Posted February 20, 2004 Are you using TweakUI? Its been awhile since I've used Windows, so I don't remember all of the things you can change with it. Sorry I can't help you in the registry department, that sounds like a very strange problem.Someone will come along and help you though, I'm sure.Or you could switch to Linux Quote
Ed_P Posted February 20, 2004 Posted February 20, 2004 Just to be clear, you go to Folder Options>View and move the selected Hidden files option from Do not show to Show plus you remove the check mark from Hide protected operating system files and you don't see the $ folders? Is that correct? Quote
epp_b Posted February 20, 2004 Posted February 20, 2004 Hmmmm...Windows explorer constantly losing settings. No problem here, that's just Windoze You might try selecting Remember Each Folder's View Settings in the View tab of the Folder Options.Also, if you would like all of the folders to show hidden files, click Like Current Folder in that same dialogue(note: the actual wording might be different, I'm still on Win98). Quote
Neil P Posted February 20, 2004 Posted February 20, 2004 Just to be clear, you go to Folder Options>View and move the selected Hidden files option from Do not show to Show plus you remove the check mark from Hide protected operating system files and you don't see the $ folders? Is that correct?I think that he sees the files, he just has to go to the options to change the settings so he can see them.I do not think it is an issue with being able to view the files, its just the hassle of it. Quote
Tushman Posted February 21, 2004 Author Posted February 21, 2004 Just to be clear, you go to Folder Options>View and move the selected Hidden files option from Do not show to Show plus you remove the check mark from Hide protected operating system files and you don't see the $ folders? Is that correct?Yes Ed, that is correct. I'm going to start over because there seems to be some confusion and I probably didn't explain myself clearly enough in my original post.All my files in the /WINNT folder remain hidden until i go under the 'View' tab settings and click on the radio button that forces those system files to be shown. Once I do that, the files are displayed but if i close out of Windows Explorer and get back into it, the same problem happens and and I have to change those settings again.Even the option of "Make all other folders like this one" is INEFFECTIVE.This is the method I have been using for the past 8 months or so and it is quite maddening because (Windows Explorer) simply refuses to remember that particular setting.This is a clean format and come to think of it, i believe i had the same problem with the last installation as well. I dont'have internet access at home and I am using the library computer. Otherwise, i could download Tweak UI and see if it has such an option. As it is, we are not allowed to D/L files onto this pc.I need a registry expert that knows the exact key/subkey that i can edit to fix this problem. Thanks. Quote
Ed_P Posted February 21, 2004 Posted February 21, 2004 Are you using an id with administrative priviledges? Although if you aren't I would think you couldn't change the options at all. Quote
zlim Posted February 21, 2004 Posted February 21, 2004 If you are using a public computer (at the library or an internet cafe) they probably have software installed that will wipe the slate clean at the end of the day so no matter what you do, your settings will be lost. Quote
Ed_P Posted February 22, 2004 Posted February 22, 2004 And if it is a public computer, what are you doing in the Windows folder? Quote
Guest LilBambi Posted February 22, 2004 Posted February 22, 2004 Tushman,Welcome to the SFNL Forums!OK, I think something got lost in the translation here.If I am undestanding Tushman correctly, he is talking about his home computer (which does not have internet access).He is posting from a public computer that has access but doesn't allow downloading so he can't get TweakUI to copy to a floppy or CD to take home and try out.So, he needs someone who has registry knowledge in this area who can help. (so he can maybe print the the registry changes and take them home and try them out)Am I undestanding this correctly Tushman? Quote
Guest LilBambi Posted February 22, 2004 Posted February 22, 2004 If I was understanding it correctly, then you have tried the following unsuccessfully:http://www.tweakxp.com/tweak70.aspxIf that is the case, then these registry changes might help:http://www.tweakxp.com/tweak334.aspx Quote
Tushman Posted February 23, 2004 Author Posted February 23, 2004 If I am undestanding Tushman correctly, he is talking about his home computer (which does not have internet access).He is posting from a public computer that has access but doesn't allow downloading so he can't get TweakUI to copy to a floppy or CD to take home and try out.Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Yank you very much Lil Bambi. Thank GOD i got through somebody here! LOL. Boy i go away for the weekend and it's like 'Hey who's on first' around here.Yeah Lil Babmi got it right on the nose. And yes I am logged on my HOME PC as Admin when i try to make these changes and yes i am going a little bonkers trying to figure out this problem as well as explainginginging myself to all the members who got lost in my posting. Lil Babmi, i'm gonna go try the method you posted - it's for XP but it might work on my PC. I'll let you know how it turns out. Quote
Guest LilBambi Posted February 23, 2004 Posted February 23, 2004 Good luck Tushman ... since you had tried all the Win2K type things, plus the fact that Win2K and WinXP are in many ways quite similar (and in other ways quite dissimilar!) I was hopeful there might be something similar on that tweak site to help.I hope that in this case, the XP changes will work for you, or that you can figure out how to adapt them for your registry in Win2K.What ever you do! Please back up your registry before making any changes so you can get back to the original registry if necessary.Good luck!! Quote
Guest LilBambi Posted February 23, 2004 Posted February 23, 2004 BTW: I don't know if this was one of the tweaks that you've already tried but the following site gave two separate ways to prevent this from happening, the 2nd solution you've already tried, but I don't know if you've tried the first of these two solutions: Show files in "Program Files" and "WinNT" automaticallyShow files in "Program Files" and "WinNT" automatically, insteadof having to click "Show Files" every single time.Solution #1 -- You can disable web content, but then you'll alsolose the thumbnail section where it shows file names, sizes,dates, and/or image thumbnails.Solution #2 -- Rename the file "folder.htt" in both the "Program Files"and "WinNT" directory to something like "folder.htt.old".This came from this site:http://myweb.accessus.net/~090/win2ktip.html#shofilesIt's a long shot since you've tried so many other things, but I thought I'd throw it out there. Quote
Tushman Posted February 23, 2004 Author Posted February 23, 2004 Lil Bambi thank you. I was pulling my hair trying to make some of these guys understand what i was trying to say. Arrrrrrrrrrrrrgh.I saw yet another method on the MSKB site that will try out (along w/ the ones you've posted here). I'll come back here tomorrow to post and let you know how it turns out. Quote
Guest LilBambi Posted February 24, 2004 Posted February 24, 2004 Yeah, I hear ya ... but at least you got some feedback .. the Highlanders are great folks! :)Hope one of the solutions works for ya! :thumbsup:Good luck!I look forward to hearing if any of them work for you since Win2K is being such a pain about it for you. Quote
Tushman Posted February 24, 2004 Author Posted February 24, 2004 OK, here's an update.Lil Bambi, the registry edit as listed in the Tweak XP site was ineffective. In fact, when i navigated to that key, there was no such subkey "Shell no roam" or anything similar.I found the desktop.ini file located in my \WINNT directory and renamed it per the directions I got from the MSKB site. I also did the same for the Programs directory. And voila ~ problem was solved. Since the desktop.ini file referenced the folders.htt file, I decided to rename the former. But it works either way, regardless of which file you choose.Just for sh*ts n' giggles, I reproduced the problem and decided to create the 2 subkeys for the registry hack. Gave it a DWORD value of 5000, and upon reboot, the files in both directories were once again - hidden. So either i'm thinking that registry method does not work for W2K or I must have a botched copy of Windows 2000.Whatever the case, renaming the desktop.ini was a very simple solution for a very vexing problem that's been puzzling me for quite some time.BTW, Lil Bambi, how goes the googling down under? Love that title! Quote
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