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Hide Folders In Windows. - video powered by Metacafe


This is a cool trick for hiding a folder in Windows—literally. By giving a folder a blank name and blank icon, unless you're specifically looking for it, the folder's existence isn't immediately apparent. Hit the play button to see how it works.

While this might be good for low security items (embarrassing pics, perhaps?), if you want true privacy (versus security through obscurity), go with something like TrueCrypt.

Just as a summary of the video, and also a hint on how to delete the invisible folder:

1. Right click on your desktop and select New->Folder

2. When entering the name of the folder, hold the ALT key pressed and, using the num keys, type "0160". Release the ALT key and press ENTER. Your folder should not have a name anymore

3. Right click the folder you just created and select Properties->Customize->Change Icon

4. Browse and select and empty icon from the list

5. That's it!

How do you select and enter the folder? Just create a selection area around where the folder "should be"

How do you rename it and make it visible?
On Windows XP, right click and rename to "any_folder_name". Then change the icon back.
On Vista, hold the SHIFT key pressed and right click on the desktop image. Select "Open Command window here" and type:

rename "[ALT+0160]" "any_folder_name" (that means hold ALT and type 0160)


How do you delete the folder? :)

On Windows XP, select the folder (see Q1 above) and press delete.
On Vista, you need to rename it first (see Q2 above) and then you can select and delete it.

Happy hiding!