Windows 7: Show Super Hidden File Extensions?

Zirro · 25 Feb 2012

I saw this tip recently and wondered if it is correct.

Would this tweak be safe to use on a home instance of Windows 7?

Even when you have configured Windows to display all file extensions, some still remain hidden. This allows potentially dangerous files to be masked as safe files, fooling the user into executing them. This tweak helps expose those file extensions.

For example, a file could be displayed as "readme.txt" in Windows Explorer, when it fact it is really named "readme.txt.shs" but since the ".shs" portion of the filename is hidden it is impossible to tell it apart from a simple text file. Then once a user double-clicks to open this file, instead of seeing a text page as expected, the file will be executed by Windows as a scrap object and potentially harm the system.

To remove the potential to hide files, open your registry and using the search function find each occurrence of a value named "NeverShowExt". Delete each "NeverShowExt" value for the extensions you want to display.

Britton30 · 25 Feb 2012

I have my Folder options set as below and the extensions always show. It will let you see the extension after the last dot, i.e. ***.txt.jpg.exe

Show Super Hidden File Extensions?-folder-opts.png

I do leave Hide Protected OS files checked though.

rraod · 25 Feb 2012

You don't have to go to registry to check this for all the hidden file extensions. What Britton30 has done is good enough.

Even I did the same, though sometimes I remove the check mark for Hide Protected OS files for some troubleshooting and leave the check mark back to Hide the Protected OS files.

UsernameIssues · 26 Feb 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by Britton30

I have my Folder options set as below and the extensions always show. It will let you see the extension after the last dot.....

except for files that end in .url or .lnk or ......
Do you have a way to make those extensions show?

Britton30 · 26 Feb 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by UsernameIssues

except for files that end in .url or .lnk or ......
Do you have a way to make those extensions show?

No, I never needed to have those two show.

UsernameIssues · 26 Feb 2012

It is helpful when scripting the creation of shortcut files to see that the extension was properly created. What I do as a work around is right click on the file and use "send to" from the context menu to open the file in an editor that shows the entire file name in the title bar. I sure wish that I could just see them by looking.

pincushion · 26 Feb 2012

Although the need might not arise very often it would be better if a method was available to show those files that are totally hidden - see recent thread in Security and how apparently the desktop.ini file in a folder stops the folder and files from being displayed. Only by using forensic like software can we see these. Perhaps an Explorer replacement can see these? Anyone know if this is correct?

Windows 7: Show Super Hidden File Extensions?

Show Super Hidden File Extensions? problems?