Show Hidden Files and Folders settings

Retrieving and Changing File Attributes
Show and even change the attributes of a super-hidden file
http://www.theeldergeek.com/show_hidden_operating_system_files.htm
Show Hidden Operating System Files
Controls whether Operating System Files are shown in Windows ExplorerNote: This is not the same as showing Hidden Files and Folders. 
Hidden Files and Folders are not the same as Hidden Operating System Files. 
Hidden Files and Folders uses the Value Name of "Hidden" 
where Hidden Operating System Files uses the Value Name of "ShowSuperHidden" in the registry.
---
[Start] [Run] [Regedit]
Registry Key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
Data Type: REG_DWORD [Dword Value] // Value Name: ShowSuperHidden
Modify/Create the Value Name [ShowSuperHidden] according to the Value Data listed below.
Value Data: [0 = ShowSuperHidden Disabled / 1 = ShowSuperHidden Enabled]
Exit Registry and Reboot 
================================ 
1.Start -- Run, then type Regedit
2. Navigate to the registry folder HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\
CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Folder\Hidden\SHOWALL
3. key called CheckedValue.
4. Double Click CheckedValue key and modify it to 1
=================================
Tux& Cía Solution (compiled of other ones, corrected)
Use following registry values in a registry file "folderunhide.reg":
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00


[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Folder\Hidden]
"Text"="@shell32.dll,-30499"
"Type"="group"
"Bitmap"=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,74,\
00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,53,00,\
48,00,45,00,4c,00,4c,00,33,00,32,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,34,00,00,\
00
"HelpID"="shell.hlp#51131"


[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Folder\Hidden\NOHIDDEN]
"RegPath"="Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Explorer\\Advanced"
"Text"="@shell32.dll,-30501"
"Type"="radio"
"CheckedValue"=dword:00000002
"ValueName"="Hidden"
"DefaultValue"=dword:00000002
"HKeyRoot"=dword:80000001
"HelpID"="shell.hlp#51104"


[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Folder\Hidden\SHOWALL]
"RegPath"="Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Explorer\\Advanced"
"Text"="@shell32.dll,-30500"
"Type"="radio"
"CheckedValue"=dword:00000001
"ValueName"="Hidden"
"DefaultValue"=dword:00000002
"HKeyRoot"=dword:80000001
"HelpID"="shell.hlp#51105" 
1 Open notepad
2 Copy the registry entries above
3. Go to File -- Save As
4. Save it in your Desktop with file name: folderunhide.reg
5. Close Notepad
6. Go to your Desktop
7. Double-click the folderunhide.reg
8. If it prompts if you want to add the information on the registry, click YES
9. It will confirm that information was successfully entered into registry, click OK
10. You should now be able to modify Show Hidden Files and Folders settings.

Restore "Show Hidden Files and Folders" Option in Vista
I’ve received a number of emails from readers telling me that their computer has no option for “Show Hidden Files and Folders” in the Folder Options dialog. The question even showed up on the forum, where Scott promptly found a registry tweak which I’m sharing with everybody.
Note that if you don’t have this option there’s a very good chance of spyware infection somewhere, so you should scan your computer thoroughly. The scanner applications won’t restore this setting, however.
To understand what I’m talking about, open Folder and Search Options from the Organize menu, and then choose the View tab, and you’ll see that the entire “Hidden Files and Folders” radio button is completely gone!

Manual Registry Tweak
Open regedit.exe through the start menu search or run box, and then navigate down to the following key.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer
\Advanced\Folder\Hidden

Look for a key named Type on the right-hand side and change the value to group as shown above. If the key does not exist, create a new String value.
You should be able to immediately re-open the folder properties, and the option should have returned, as you can see here:

Many thanks to Scott
--------------------------------
Source Windows general

Step 6: Now under the Hidden Section Go to SHOWALL. See in the right hand side. You can again see two registry values CheckedValue and DefaultValue. Make sure that CheckedValue has the value 1 and DefaultValue has the value 2.

Now go to folder options and set the option as Show hidden files and folders.
You can see the hidden files and folders.
If you are not able to see the hidden files, you have to repeat the entire process after ending the explorer.exe process from task manager.
After completing the whole process go to run, type explorer and press enter.
Now you will have access to your hidden folders and files.

• Show Hidden Files and Folders in Windows 7 or Vista
• Display Hidden Folders in XP