Search Command in File Manager Finds Hidden Files

Last reviewed: November 23, 1994
Article ID: Q74591

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows operating system versions 3.0, 3.0a, 3.1, 3.11

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Windows versions 3.0 and 3.0a File Manager, searching for a file will find hidden files in addition to unhidden files, regardless of the File Manager settings. This also occurs in Windows version 3.1, although file icons indicate that they are read only. Files are not indicated as hidden.

MORE INFORMATION

To view hidden files within individual directories, from the File Manager View menu, choose Include and select Show Hidden/System Files.

Whether this setting is chosen or not, choosing Search from the File Manager File menu, selecting Search, and then typing the hidden filename will return the hidden file.

Example

Choose Search from the File Manager File menu (without selecting Show Hidden/System Files).
Search for "*.SYS" (without the quotation marks).

At a portion of the search, the hidden system files IO.SYS and MSDOS.SYS will be found within the root directory of drive C.

KBCategory: kbtool
KBSubcategory: win30 win31
Additional reference words: 3.0 3.00 3.0a 3.00a 3.1 3.10 3.11

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Last reviewed: November 23, 1994
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