BleepingComputer.com: How to re-hide system folders after using unhide.exe?

Hi Guys

I used unhide.exe after a virus I had... it done the trick.
However, is there an easy way to re-hide all the system files that were hidden before?

Thanks for any help.

Hello, depending on your Operating System you should just need to reverse the change that was made.
Look at your system in this guide and put the checkmark back in the box.

How to see hidden files in Windows

Hi

Thanks for the reply, the checlboxes are ticked, ie the protected operating system files. However other files that were hidden are not now and I can't remember which files they were ie c:/users appdata etc.

Thanks.

sorry for the bump... i'd like to know the answer to this too, please!!

wow... guess nobody knows... or cares > : ( (me, personally, i don't like having normally, not only hidden, but ESPECIALLY hidden system folders (that won't show up when you show hidden folders in windows explorer folder options) showing (and accessible)!

This post has been edited by f0xh0und: 13 December 2011 - 08:30 PM

Unhide.exe will unhide (attrib -H) all files on any fixed disks that are present after an infection and cleaning has left them hidden and invisible. Unhide is indiscriminate and it will make all files visible with attrib -H. This includes all files hidden by the malware as well as those which are normally hidden by the operating system or hidden by the user.

Only files that are +S (system) will not have their hidden attribute removed by unhide.exe. This is because the majority of legitimate Windows files that are hidden are also +S. For example, Desktop.ini is a system file and the tool is designed not to remove hidden attribute for system files.

There is no way to effectively whitelist the files that need to be hidden normally as they are different for every computer. The attrib -H change which makes file visible is reversible for normally hidden files. To hide the files in Windows, you can reverse the steps provided in How to see hidden files in Windows. For other files not governed by Windows Folder Options you will have to manually rehide them. To do that, right-click on the file, choose properties and check the Attributes box next to Hidden.

thank you for your reply quietman7. i guess i can live with SOME non hidden files (the only ones i know that were normally hidden were the ones i listed (and those are only on the root c: drive -- god only knows what else that should've stayed hidden that are now 'unhidden' (like in my program files folders :S ). oh well... :\

what about the fact that if i hide, say, $recycle.bin it appears when i 'show hidden files and folders' in windows explorer (whereas, before, it remained hidden)??? :|