Windows 7: Removing Hidden Files from Search or Reseting Search

Brazuca · 05 Aug 2009

I have some files in my PC that have passwords and such in them. I put them in hidden, but I noticed that after you click the file once. That file begins to appear on the search bar if you type the file name.

For example I have a file called "abc.txt" (It's hidden)
Before I ever click to see it. It does not show up on the search.
After I click to see it. It shows up if I even put "a" on search.

I am talking about the search bar right under program files. When you click on the windows start button.

*So my question is. Is there anyway for me to reset this everytime I finish vieweing these files?*

Kari · 05 Aug 2009

Hello Brazuca, welcome to The SevenForums.

It is really simple: hidden files are always shown if you have chosen "Show hidden files, folders and drives" in Folder Options. Hidden files are never shown if you choose "Don't show hidden files, folders and drives" in Folder Options.

Removing Hidden Files from Search or Reseting Search-do-not-show.png

You find Folder Options by clicking the Orb (start menu) and tyoing "Folder Options" in search field. Choose then "View" and then one of the above mentioned options.

Kari

Brazuca · 05 Aug 2009

Thank you for the welcome. I already know how to do that though.

What I mean is that after I access a hidden file it begins to show up on the search.

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/836/leek.jpg
The leeme file is hidden and did not show up on the search however after I accessed it once it began to show up in the search.

I take it the reason these hidden files begin to show up on search is for easier access to them. But I want hidden files to not appear on the search.

Is there anyway to do something like...
a) reset the search list so it doesn't show recently accessed items.
or
b) not show hidden items.

Kari · 06 Aug 2009

Quote: Originally Posted by Brazuca

Thank you for the welcome. I already know how to do that though.

What I mean is that after I access a hidden file it begins to show up on the search.
...

...

Is there anyway to do something like...
a) reset the search list so it doesn't show recently accessed items.
or
b) not show hidden items.

Sorry to say, Brazuca, but at least my system doesn't react like that. RC build 7100. What build do you have? (EDIT: I do not believe this to be a build issue. Search works just as I'm telling)

Here:

Two files here, aaaaa.ccc (not hidden) and aaaaa.bbb (hidden). I have opened the hidden file to edit or read or whatever reason:

Removing Hidden Files from Search or Reseting Search-both-showing.png

I go to Folder options and choose "Show hidden Files", then I search for files containing "aaaaa". Search displays 2 files:

Removing Hidden Files from Search or Reseting Search-search-both-showing.png

I go back to Folder Options and choose "Don't show hidden Files". When I click APPLY, the hidden file aaa.bbb disappears instantly from search results and won't come up in later searches:

Removing Hidden Files from Search or Reseting Search-hidden-not-showing.png

My first answer was and still is correct to the question you asked. Hidden files are never shown in search results. After working with your hidden files you have to remember to go back to Folder Options and choose "Don't show hidden Files".

Kari · 06 Aug 2009

Reading you question one more time I realized we were talking about two different search possibilities. You are talking search in Start Orb > Search, I was talking and giving an example about search function in Folder Window:

What I told you is still valid: Hidden files are never shown in search results!

Here's one more example, this time searching from Start Orb > Search.

Same files, file aaaaa.ccc is not hidden and file aaaaa.bbb is hidden. I choose "Show hidden Files" from folder options, here's the result:

Removing Hidden Files from Search or Reseting Search-show.png

Then I change my Folder Options by choosing "Don't show hidden files" and make a new search. My hidden file aaaaa.bbb is nowhere to see:

Removing Hidden Files from Search or Reseting Search-dontshow.png

A file does not change it's visibility status even if you edit or read it. None of your hidden files are shown in search results as long as you have chosen not to show hidden files.

This is a fact.

Kari

EDIT: As Brazuca in the next post tells, this issue was not so simple. It seems that if you use "Recent Items" feature, also your hidden files are showing in the search results.

To completely hide hidden files from your search results you have to disable "Recent Items", as well as choose "Don't show hidden files" in Folder Options.

Brazuca · 06 Aug 2009

I figured out what I had to do.

The "Recent Items" panel wans't appearing. So I made it appear.
After that I "cleared recent items list" and the hidden items no longer appeared when I used the search.

Whether they are hidden or not after you access them. Even if it is a folder it begins to show up on the search.

For the item to not show up on the search it has to be hidden & it can't be on the recent items list.

So now all I have to do is keep the files hidden and clear the recent items list when I am done looking at the files.

johngalt · 06 Aug 2009

But if you turn off recent items then they appear? Weird. Sounds like a bug report is in order....

Kari · 07 Aug 2009

Quote: Originally Posted by johngalt

But if you turn off recent items then they appear? Weird. Sounds like a bug report is in order....

Yeah, have to agree. Never used recent items, never noticed.

Nice you could fix the issue, Brazuca.

Kari

Brazuca · 07 Aug 2009

It's like this in Vista too. They show up on the task bar search if they are in the "recent items" list even if they are hidden they still show up on the taskbar search. Whether "Show hidden files" are on or off.

Also thanks Kari for showing me that folder search feature. I thought it was the same thing as the taskbar search so I always kept "show hidden items".

I didn't know 7 had a recent items list. Appearently the list still exists even if it is not showing on the taskbar. So after making the recent item list appear I was able to fix my problem by clearing it every time I finish viewing a hidden file. I also put "Do not show hidden files" encase someone uses the folder search.

TGSoldier · 07 Aug 2009

I think it's just a simple matter of after he accesses the hidden file, he forgets to tick the "Don't show hidden files" options.. Which is basically what Kari has been drilling from the start because like he said, hidden files don't show up in searches.

Just a little emphasis

Windows 7: Removing Hidden Files from Search or Reseting Search

Removing Hidden Files from Search or Reseting Search problems?