Not allowed to see hidden folders, files etc

When I got to Control Panel, Apperance and Themes and then click on Folder Options, I would click on view to change whether I see hidden files or not. But it is no longer there. The check-box isn't there any more. Anyone got any help?

 

Ok, I've found a way to get passed this, but it still doesn't solve the problem fully. If you open 'regedit' and then go to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Hidden

... And set the 'REG_DWORD' to '1', this will show all hidden files, folders etc. But The problem is I still can't do it through Control Panel > Apperance and Themes > Folder Options > View, like I used to.

 

I am the admin, I'm the only person who uses the PC.

 

Yeah, tried the other approach and it's just the same. However, when I did the 'sfc /scannow' thing, it came up with a dialog box sayin:

'Please wait while Windows verifies that all protected Windows files are intact and in their original versions.'

Shortly after, this came up:

'Files that are required for Windows to run properly must be copied to the DLL cache.

Inser your Windows XP Home Edition CD-ROM now.'

But when I bought the PC from Time Computers, there was no CD's in any of the boxes. What can I do? Does this mean that I'll have to stick with it and keep it like that?

 

I had a good look at that site, and followed the instructions, but when I got to this part, I got a little stuck. Because it's the registry, I don't really wanna get this wrong. It says:

'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\
CurrentVersion\Setup

You will see various entries here on the right hand side. The one we want is called:

SourcePath'

After looking on the right hand side, there isn't a 'source path'. There is 'ServeicePackSourcePath' and 'Installation Sources'. Which one is it that I need to change?

Also, there is several i386 folders, there's one at C:\WINDOWS\i386 which is 335Mb, C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles\i386 which is 442Mb and C:\WINDOWS\Driver Cache\i386 which is 94.8Mb. Which do I need?

 

http://www.petri.co.il/change_default_location_of_the_i386_folder.htm

Also

http://answers.tveasy.co.uk/m.p.w.basics/Rus-scannow-asp1.htm

Normally, baring any problems with file corruptions in the SP file store on the hard drive, that's not true. If you do a repair

install you need to reinstall the service pack but running sfc /scannow in and of itself does not require reinstallation of a

service pack.

From MVP Alex Nichol:

SP1 generates a folder windows\ServicePackFiles to contain copies it has installed, and a registry entry at

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup for ServicePackSourcePath to point to it. SFC will look in that

folder, if the value is there, before looking in the regular sourcepath.

You can move the folder to somewhere more convenient (even burn to its own CD) and adjust the pointer accordingly.

Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\) replied to Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\) on 21 Mar

2004
W2k had this problem up to service pack 4, I believe. I was not using W2k but I did see a knowledge base article with

information that the issue was corrected with SP4.

XP does not have the issue you describe. If it replaces files, it is Service Pack aware and will go to the service pack

installation folder on the hard drive unless either the user misdirects it, assuming the user is asked or if there are

corruptions within those install files. Under ordinary circumstances, you should not need to reinstall the Service Pack
even if files are replaced by sfc /scannow as the appropriate files from the service pack folder are used when it is such

files that need to be replaced.



Jetro replied to Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\) on 23 Mar 2004
'sfc /scannow' works as described when the minor inconsistency only exists. If the system was really damaged, you may

be prompted for the Windows XP or Windows XP Service Pack 1 installation media at any time. Moreover, you may
be prompted for Windows XP Service Pack 2 CD... Thereafter you never know what was damaged and changed.
To be on the safe side you should visit Windows Update Web site immediately after major system changes and keep the

scheduled Update service.

 

Thanks for replying Barbara-Ann, but unfortunately I didn't really understand your post. And the links you gave me didn't answer my questions. Which 'i386' folder do I need and what should I do for my source path?

 

I backed it up, and then noticed that 'ServicePackSourcePath' already said 'C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles'?

 

This is how mine looks as to the path Key for installing.

That may or may not help you. As has been often said, YMMV.

 

Nope, it never worked. I guess that's that then?

My screen looks pretty much the same as yours surferdude2:

 

I would try adding C:\i386 to the string value listed in "Installation Sources. "

Here's what I think is happening. When you run sfc /scannow, it first looks in the "Service Pack Source" path for the file it needs, if any. If it doesn't find it there, that means it hasn't been changed, so it then looks for it by checking the original "Installation Source." If you have that defined properly, it will find and copy it from there.

Looking at how your Installation Source is defined, it doesn't list C:\i386, which is fairly standard for the OEM install files location. Check that you have files located there and if so, try editing the "Installation Sources" string value to include C:\i386. Please note that it is necessary to have a space between each different source path in that string.

If that C:\i386 folder doesn't exist, you should contact the person you bought the box from and see what he had in mind for you to use.

EDIT: Just in case it matters, put it at the beginning of the value string.

 

Thanks for replying surferdude2, I didn't quite get what you mean though. Do you mean change this:

'InstallationSources'

... So that it says this:

'C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles\i386
C:\UNZIPPED\W2KTEST
D:
C:\i386'

?

 

Yes, make it say:

C:\i386 C:\windows\servicepackfiles\i386 C:\unzipped\w2ktest D:

In that order and with all the spaces included. I doubt the unzipped reference is even valid but leave it until we find out more.

 

Tried it and it says the same thing, it needs the XP CD. This is really confusing.

 

Do you actually have the C:\i386 folder and does it contain a large volume of files?