Show hidden files and folder option missing in vista

When you want to show hidden files in windows vista, just go to any folder, click on the organize drop down menu and select folder and search options.


After that, go to view tab, click on show hidden files and folders to unhide all hidden files and folders.


However, sometimes you may encounter missing show hidden files and folder option as shown below.

To solve this problem, go to start --> search (or run), type in regedit and press enter

Then find the following key:

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

Then, Change the value of Type to group as shown below (if the key Type is not existed, just create a new string with Type as name and group as value)


After that, when you go back to organize drop down menu and select folder and search options, you will see that now you can select show hidden files and folders.