Libraries - Hidden and Empty Fix

How to Fix Libraries when Hidden and Empty in Windows 7 and Windows 8​

   Information

When you open your Libraries in Windows Explorer and it is empty or the libraries are hidden, then this will show you how to fix them if clicking on the Restore Default Libraries option did not help.

EXAMPLE: Libraries Hidden and Empty
NOTE: If you see faded library folders, then this also means that they are hidden.

OPTION ONE

Fix Hidden Empty Libraries with a BAT File

NOTE: This does the same thing as OPTION TWO below, but automatically.
1. Click on the Download button below to download the the file below.
Unhide_Libraries.bat


Download


2. Unblock the downloaded BAT file, then run it.
NOTE: You may notice a quick flash of the command prompt opening and closing at it runs.

3. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply.

OPTION TWO

Fix Hidden Empty Libraries in a Command Prompt

NOTE: This does the same thing as OPTION ONE above, but manually.
1. Open a command prompt.

2. Copy and past the command below into the command prompt, and press Enter.
attrib -h "%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Libraries\*.library-ms"
3. Close the command prompt.

4. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply.
That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Restore the Default Libraries in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• User Folders in Windows 7 Libraries
• How to Hide or Show a Library in the Windows 7 Navigation Pane
• How to Create a New Library in Windows 7
• How to Include a Folder in a Library in Windows 7
• How to Include a Network Drive or Folder in a Library in Windows 7
• How to Remove a Included Folder from a Library in Windows 7
• How to Set the Default Save Folder for a Library in Windows 7
• How to Change a Library Icon in Windows 7
• How to Create a Windows 7 Downloads Library with the Correct Icon
• How to Create a Windows 7 Games Library with the Correct Icon
• How to Create a Windows 7 Favorites Library with the Correct Icon
• How to Create a Windows 7 "Searches" Library with the Correct Icon
• How to Create a Windows 7 "Links" Library with the Correct Icon
• How to Add or Remove the Windows 7 Libraries Folder from the Navigation Pane
• How to Turn the Library Pane On or Off in Windows 7
• How to Hide or Unhide a File or Folder in Windows 7
• How to Show or Hide All Hidden Files, Folders, and Drives in Windows 7
• How to Fix the "Library-ms is no longer working" Error in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Fix Cannot Rename Library in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Add or Remove Libraries Desktop Icon in Windows 8 and 8.1

 

[Brink]

Thank you very much for this tutorial. I had been dealing with this issue for a while now. Fixed now. Even tried Microsoft tech-no-support. I had this issue happen to me on all the profiles in computer. I use Mcafee do you think that is the issue ?

@Tamara
I'm happy to hear that you got it sorted.
@Ronster
You're welcome, and welcome to Seven Forums. It would be hard to say if McAfee was or not since it could have been anything that may have hidden them by mistake.

After running your fix my libraries were visible again so I thought it was fixed. However I noticed that they were dimm or a light gray. Also everytime I edit a file for example rotate a picture with windows photo viewer that picture would dissapear. I found out that mcafee is the culprit. There is a bug with mcafee that changes the attribute from the file thats being edited, and it changes the attribute to hidden. So if anyone else is having these issues you should contact their tech support so they can run a batch file they created to take care of the light gray library issue and the hidden attribute issue or you can visit their tech support forum their is a 45 page thread on this issue. Thought Id share this with you guys.

Ronster,

Thank you for posting back with your findings and results.

 

[FRUHD]

yessssSsSss

Yay! I managed to get them to show up, but they were still hidden... wasn't until I ran the file that they showed up solid. Thanks

 

[MrsHDixon]

Ahhhhhhhhhhh...I have things hidden in my Library! I never knew about the faded etc thingies before. Brink I can't tell you how much I thank you for all these new knowledge! TYTYTY! Going to play in the library now. *Shhhhh...tiptoes in to fix it*

 

[Gras]

Missing Parts

I have been looking around for a solution to a problem that I have had for about 2 days. The Windows Library is missing and incomplete at times. I can restore the defaults, but it will eventually revert back to the way it was before, and I can't see disk drives etc. The other problem is that pictures load, but the icon is blank, and for videos it shows an empty white page.

I've tried the registry fixes I have seen, but it doesn't work for long. I cannot tell if this is a hardware issue or software related? I have Windows 7 Ultimate, 64 bit and I was wondering if anyone could help? Could this be a sign of a hard drive going bad, or ram problems? Maybe a virus?
Thanks!

 

[Brink]

Hello Todd, and welcome to Seven Forums.

This appears to be some sort of issue with your navigation pane instead of Libraries.

As a test, use Option One or Option Two in the tutorial below to uncheck Show all folders to see how it displays in the navigation pane afterwards.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/853-navigation-pane-show-all-folders.html

Hope this helps for now,
Shawn

 

[Gras]

Thank you Shawn for your response, and attempting to help with this.

I followed your link, and checked the show all folders box. I am not 100% sure it will fix it, because I don't mess around with those settings and it randomly displays everything all screwed up. As I mentioned, when the navigation pane goes funky it displays blank documents for videos instead of icons or thumbnails and nothing at all for pictures. I didn't post screenshots of that happening, but i will if it happens again.

BTW, It became apparent to me after I installed some Windows updates, and although I doubt it; could there be any sort of issue with that?

 

[Brink]

Could be. You might see if doing a system restore using a restore point dated before the issues may help if it happens again.

 

[Gras]

I did do a system restore to before the updates, and I had the same problem. As it is right now, there's no issues and I will keep you updated if it happens again.
Thank You,
Todd

 

[Brink]

That's good news so far Todd.

 

[Gras]

Do you think the issue might be due to either my cpu or ram, because it happened again while I could tell the computer was under heavy cpu usage? I have 8GB of ram and an AMD A6-3620 processor that's 2.2 Ghz. Also, I have been running 7 Ultimate since around December of last year, so its fairly new. I am guessing 7 Ultimate has different RAM requirements than 7 Home Premium. If that's the case, it's no big deal because I have been wanting to upgrade anyway.

 

[Brink]

I wouldn't think your CPU or RAM would cause this.

If it keeps up, then you might consider reinstalling Windows to start fresh.

 

[Gras]

Ok.

 

[Gras]

Brink, I am confident that I now know what the problem is. As you can see from the screenshot that it's a COM Surrogate memory issue, and I am currently reading up on another sevenforum as to what to do. I'm not familiar with this issue, and I read where it might be due to a corrupt media file. Any ideas?

 

[Brink]

I'm afraid that I'm not sure about the COM Surrogate issue, but there's definitely an issue with it.

It would be worth creating a new thread for this issue.

 

[Gras]

Well I uninstalled the update that was said to be the issue and deleted the file that I believe was the problem, and I believe the issue is resolved. So Thank You for all the help. I don't think I need to create a new thread for it.

 

[Brink]

Great news Gras. Which update caused it?

 

[Gras]

KB2670838

Here's the link to the forum:
http://www.sevenforums.com/performa...xe-com-surrogate-consumes-all-cpu-memory.html

 

[Brink]

Thank you.

 

[Gras]

My apologies about this issue, As you know I thought the issue revolved around Libraries as your tutorial explains; so I am sorry I did not post a new thread or a response in the other forum. But thank you for your support.

 

[Brink]

No worries.