Windows 7 Extremely hidden folder

A

AshleyK

New Member
Joined
Dec 20, 2009
Messages
38
I have a very bizarre problem with a hidden folder. I'm running Windows 7 Ultimate x64. Here's what happened: In my web browser, I saved a jpg, and in the save file dialog box I created a new folder C:\windows\Backgrounds and saved the jpg there. When I went to look for the folder in explorer it was nowhere to be found, but if I go back to the save file dialog box in my web browser I can see the folder there (with a lock icon on it) and the jpg is inside.

I'm running with all files being shown: hidden files, system files, etc, etc. I cannot view this folder C:\windows\backgrounds in explorer, command prompt, or PS. Only the web browser can see it! I'm running all this as a user in the administrators group. Running PS as Administrator does not allow me to see the folder either. Even stranger, if I run my web browser as Administrator then I CANNOT see the folder, I can only see it running as my normal user account (which is in the admin group)!

It gets even stranger: When I look up permissions on the folder in the browser's save file dialog box, it shows my user account as the owner. When I go to permissions, it shows full permissions for my account, Administrators, and SYSTEM. When I go to Edit the permissions, it says "Unable to display current owner." and when I try to take ownership it says "The system cannot find the file specified". (Keep in mind, in the other tab it clearly says I'm the owner already). As icing on the cake, I tried disabling UAC and then I could not see the folder under any circumstances, even through the web browser running default permissions (which is the only way I can currently see it).


I know that's a lot to digest. I'm completely stumped. To recap: The folder C:\windows\Backgrounds is ONLY visible through my web browser running as non-admin with UAC running. The folder has a lock icon on it and permissions look OK. I cannot view the folder any other way.
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
This is just so strange.
There's no reason for those files to be invisible anymore, there really wasn't in the first place.
If you copy a file to the folder, is it visible? If so then looks like a browser problem.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I agree, it's incredibly strange. Just copied a file to the folder. It warns me that I have to be Admin to do so, but when I click OK it goes fine and is perfectly visible.

I can't call this a "browser problem" because: 1st any 32bit program can see it (unless run as Admin or without UAC, wtf?) and 2nd if the browser saves files with some strange permissions that makes it nearly invisible to everything else, I still consider that to be a fault of the OS or filesystem

Just saved your sigpic to the folder and it also defaulted to locked, invisible. So it does seem to be something about how the browser saves files (and perhaps all 32bit programs, only tried reading the files with others). But let's recap some of the craziest points:

* It shows me as the owner in the owner tab, but not in the Edit Permissions tab. In the Edit Permissions tab, I cannot even see who the owner is or take ownership!
* Even though myself and the Administrators group have full permissions, any program run as Administrator cannot view them under any circumstances!
* When UAC is disabled, the files are invisible under any circumstances!
* 64bit programs appear unable to view the files under any circumstances!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
So only browsers (and other apps?) make the files invisible?
Try executing the browser as an admin (not sure if you already tried, sorry if you have).
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Well, saving the file in the 32bit browser makes it invisible. Then the file can be read in any other 32bit program.
Running the same exact browser as admin makes the files invisible.
Running the same exact browser regularly but with UAC disabled makes the files invisible.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
It acts like any other 64bit program and cannot see the files. 32bit IE works like any other 32bit program and can see them. This is so strange, I'm honestly leaning towards thinking this is a real bug in the OS. By the way, thanks Mitchell and Trouble for looking at all this with me. I'm new to this site, let me know if I can send you some Reps.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I don't think this sounds exactly like my problem. I've never gotten the error message mentioned and this is about Offline Files, which I don't even run as a service.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
OK.
So let's just make sure we're still on the same page..
You can't copy files to %windir%/backgrounds and keep them visible, regardless of whether you run programs as admin compatiblity mode etc. But the files are visible when you copy them to the folder using explorer?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Pretty much. I can't save files to %windir%/backgrounds from within a 32bit program and keep them visible. If I copy files to that folder from a 64bit program (like explorer) they are visible.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Ashley, I am having EXACTLY the same problem and this was the only post I could find that was addressing the issue. I was using a firefox plugin (downThemAll) to download a list of links to a directory. Upon browsing to the directory in windows explorer the files were gone. I went back to firefox, clicked the "show in directory" option and it popped up (with the little lock icon). I've done all sorts of permissions changes, sharing changes, registry "cleans" and nothing seems to help.

Please post if you find a solution and Ill do the same.

btw, I have not been able to see them with any 32bit apps.... Not sure why.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Have you tried disabling UAC or running firefox as administrator? In my case, the files were invisible even to the browser when I did that.. I still haven't figured out exactly what's happening.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I know you don't want to her this, but there are no super hidden files in Windows 7 if you use a special set of tools.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I know this was on the first page,,, but anyone reading this thread let it be known that the following is Very BAD Advice.

Use this registry script to enable the right click option then open your root drive, right click on "windows" and select take ownership.
Click to expand...
It doesn't matter if anyone has done this a 1000 times over,, at some point it is going to cause a problem.
.......

And yes, follow Drew's Instructions.

*******
After having read the thread, I am not convinced this is a windows specific issue.
This sounds like a Firefox issue with setting proper permissions on files in certain locations (ie. Windows Folder or C: drive or other Special Permissions folder). IE8 will not open a folder location, it will launch Explorer with that location.

There are other tests I would need to run if I get time, but for now, I am calling this an FF issue.

What version of FF are you using?
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

  • Article Article
God Mode on Windows 11: Master All Tasks in One Hidden Folder
Replies
0
Views
291
ChatGPT
  • Article Article
Customize File Explorer: Show Extensions, Hidden Files & Quick Access Toolbar
Replies
0
Views
72
ChatGPT
D
  • Solved
NTFS - Applying permissions to extremely large folder
Replies
2
Views
1K
EdwardJeny
  • Article Article
Boost Windows 11 Productivity with God Mode and Hidden Tools
Replies
0
Views
18
ChatGPT
  • Article Article
Four LNK Tricks Expose Windows Shortcut UI Spoofing and Hidden Execution
Replies
0
Views
5
ChatGPT