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W7 "super hidden" folders ... are there more?

M

Maverick2002

Diamond Member
I recently discovered the C: \Users\All Users\ folder (formerly the Documents and Settings folder). This is where a lot of critical information is stored related to programs (depending on the program), but it's a "super hidden" folder. In other words it doesn't normally show up and even when you allow hidden files and folders to be displayed it's still not there. The only way to access it is if you know the exact path. Is there a reason for this and are there more folders like this? WHY!?
 
Maverick2002 said:
Is there a reason for this and are there more folders like this? WHY!?
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We all have a psychological tendency to think that the whole world is turning around our self is the way we do something is the only way that make sense.

Huge, number of Windows installation is used by more the one person, or and, in business environment.

The experience accumulated during the last decade indicates which part of the installation should be protected from casual use.

So keep a copy of the path (as well as other unique info) in a text file, and then copy and paste the path in the rare occasions when it is needed.
icon14.gif


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Maverick2002 said:
Which version of 7?

I only get Public, whatever the users are, and Default (hidden).
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32-bit Ultimate.

JackMDS said:
The experience accumulated during the last decade indicates which part of the installation should be protected from casual use.
Click to expand...

And while that works ok in some circumstances, hiding things like that from the user generally only causes more problems in the long run because you limit the advanced users as well.
 
Nothinman said:
32-bit Ultimate.



And while that works ok in some circumstances, hiding things like that from the user generally only causes more problems in the long run because you limit the advanced users as well.
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While in general you are right.

In the case of Enthusiasts and the like, they find it any way.

Thus the need to generate and keep a personal file with special paths and similar info. is a small sacrifice as compare to the Common Good.


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JackMDS said:
While in general you are right.

In the case of Enthusiasts and the like, they find it any way.

Thus the need to generate and keep a personal file with special paths and similar info. is a small sacrifice as compare to the Common Good.


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There's no common good being served here. Not letting people browse to the All Users directory serves no purpose.
 
Nothinman said:
There's no common good being served here. Not letting people browse to the All Users directory serves no purpose.
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Yeah it does not serve the purpose of a self centered user. ^_^

But those do not care about Common Good to begin with. 🙄
 
JackMDS said:
Yeah it does not serve the purpose of a self centered user. ^_^

But those do not care about Common Good to begin with. 🙄
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English doesn't seem to be your first language so maybe something got lost in the translation but I have absolutely no idea how that gives an example of any purposes being served by hiding that directory.
 
Does it show up if you uncheck "Hide Protected Operating System (Recommended)" setting under the View Tab in Folder Options? (Can't test as I don't have Win 7 here at work).
 
DnetMHZ said:
Yes it does.
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Thanks DnetMHZ! 🙂

I suspected that would be the case. I had an issue with a new Internet Explorer cache folder not showing up even though I knew that I had created it. Once I set it from the options menu of IE, it disappeared. I had to uncheck the above box to get it to show. Seems Windows 7 (Vista too?) hides certain folders as part of the hidden OS stuff (not just regular hidden files).
 
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Nothinman said:
English doesn't seem to be your first language so maybe something got lost in the translation but I have absolutely no idea how that gives an example of any purposes being served by hiding that directory.
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It keeps the general non-enthusiast public from breaking their software installs.
 
There is a couple type of files that you cannot view , not with hidden files enabled and not with any normal utility. It will not even show when the program changes its registry settings. Those are Ring0 files or rootkit, often used by virus to hide in the system. They are fairly uncommon with windows 7 but I know of 2 in the past month.

The other type is files hiding in the ADS of NTFS. I can take a 200MB program exe and hide it as a 10KB jpeg. It will show as a jpeg and the size will read 10KB.
 
you have to add the system attribute to it which you can only do in command prompt so hold down the start button on your key board (the one with windows logo) and push r then type cmd and hit enter then navigate to the file ( if you dont no how to use command prompt type in ?
 
Maverick2002 said:
I recently discovered the C: \Users\All Users\ folder (formerly the Documents and Settings folder). This is where a lot of critical information is stored related to programs (depending on the program), but it's a "super hidden" folder. In other words it doesn't normally show up and even when you allow hidden files and folders to be displayed it's still not there. The only way to access it is if you know the exact path. Is there a reason for this and are there more folders like this? WHY!?
Click to expand...

under the "show hidden system files" you have a checkbox that says "hide operating system files". uncheck it.
personally I love it, it is a huge improvement from previous windows versions. I want to see hidden files but I don't want to see system files (unless I am specifically looking for one). This allows me to do so
 
Nothinman said:
Really? What's in the All User's profile directory that's so sensitive?
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Well for one, items can be placed there that will affect all users that log into the PC. Therefore restricting novice users from accessing it prevents them from breaking software installs that are for ALL USERS.
 
Thanks for the tip about showing that directory. Looks like you have to uncheck both "hide hidden files/folders" and "hide protected/system files" ... and it still looks like a "hidden" icon with a lock on it.

Nothinman said:
Really? What's in the All User's profile directory that's so sensitive?
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A lot of things. Many programs store updates, licenses, preferences, etc in the All Users directory. When you reseal a system certain pieces of software require relicensing which can only be done by modifying files in the All Users directory.

Again for most users this isn't an issue, but I just wanted to point out that it is a hidden directory.
 
Maverick2002 said:
Thanks for the tip about showing that directory. Looks like you have to uncheck both "hide hidden files/folders" and "hide protected/system files" ... and it still looks like a "hidden" icon with a lock on it.



A lot of things. Many programs store updates, licenses, preferences, etc in the All Users directory. When you reseal a system certain pieces of software require relicensing which can only be done by modifying files in the All Users directory.

Again for most users this isn't an issue, but I just wanted to point out that it is a hidden directory.
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Well I can't remember the last time I've had to look in All Users to fix a problem with some piece of software. The solution is almost always in the program's installation directory or the registry.

Can you see C:\ProgramData? All User's is just a link to that directory in Win7 anyway.
 
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