The Problem
My girlfriend was panicked when she found out her Final Year Project files were missing from her thumb drive. She thought the files were already gone by a virus attack or were accidentally deleted by her friends.
After I did some analysis, I found out the files are still there but a virus had modified the file properties to ‘Hidden’ and hide all files in the thumb drive.
Although she tried to “Show Hidden Files” but the virus does not allow her to view them. Luckily, she has a very intelligent and clever boyfriend who guides her on how to overcome this problem.
The Solution
1. Insert the thumb drive to an empty USB slot. Take note the drive letter. For an example, F:.
2. Press Windows + R, and type “cmd“. Ok.
3. Enter this command,
4. Press Enter and wait for the command to execute.
5. Open the thumb drive and you should see the files that were hidden by the virus.
Conclusion
Hopefully with this guide she can help her friends to solve the same problem. And yes, I also hope this guide will solve your files hidden by virus problem too. BTW believe me, university is the best place for virus to spread!
PS: All folders in your thumb drive become shorcut? I got the solution here… 
Hi, I followed your instructions to unhide the folders on my memory stick and it worked on the first memory stick, brilliant and thank you for that. However, it did not work on the second stick, what happened was, after entering the attribute instructions (D:\>attrib.exe -r -s -h /s /d D:\*.*) in command prompt and then pressing enter, the following ‘D:\’ appears and the command prompt states it is not recognised as an internal or external command?? I cannot understand why after fixing the first memory stick without any issue. Can you identify what the problem might be. Thank you once again.
Best Regards
Paul Debbage
How long does the command take to execute?
It depends on the capacity of the thumb drive. If the size is large, it will take a few minutes to complete.
If I right this path (E:\>attrib.exe -r -s -h /s /d D:\*.*), It will shows all the files or Hidden files only?.
superb !!!!
its really working
Thanks man…it works really great.. but l would love to learn more about this programming..
You are the man !!!!. I have been taken on a merry-go-trip by many web solutions. i was almost mastering the IT diction from all sorts of trial. Your solution has the magic, was really fed up. Ye are right your girlfriend is lucky !!!
how to press windows ? + ? and R ? i got confused
you just have to press the windows key, hold it and then press R…the “+” means pressing the two keys together.
thanks a lot for you useful help!
Hey it keeps telling me access denied….what can I do about this?
nm it worked…
thanks for the command it really works
I see a number of people have asked about why it does not seem to work for the C: drive. I have the same issue, with many folders currently hidden on my C: drive, under a particular user. I cannot uncheck the HIDDEN checkbox, and when I try run this command, I get a list of access denied messages. Much appreciated if some bright spark could assist…
It works!!! Thank you so very much!!!!
You can also create a batch file and copy the code in the batch file. This way you can use it again.
‘yea’ that was it!
thanks, it really worked.
all my files and pics are in my flash drive r hidden by virus.iv tried the solution above but it doesn’t work…
Still file not found..
Great tip! wored like a charm!
really that is amazing command… thnx
bro a big thanks! your post a big help to all of us!!!
thanks man u saved my life! the stupid virus erased all the files i had on my usb and i was using the usb as a storage for EVERYTHING since i was moving all my data to a new computer! God love u.
What happens when the virus will not leave the black box up to type in the code?
Thanks buddy! This works like charm. It worked straight away. Some virus from a cafe had hid all my files on an 8GB flash disk, but the code you gave showed everything after I had used Kaspersky to arrest the bad virus
Great job Thank you
nice one, thanks for tip,, it worked for me very nicely..hahaha
it worked! thank you~
any clue of how to get rid of that recycler virus tho? :/ anti virus wont delete it and i’ve tried many things.
please and thank you
This is a great sugestion. It really worked for me! Thanks a lot, you’re a wonderful boyfriend indeed
it says that “access denied”
How come it didn’t work for me… I’m using Vista… I’m desperate… My important files are all in my external hard drive but i can’t view them in my computer… Please help… Thanks..
thanks alot man,keep it coming
if it doest work then use cmd command
1. type cmd in rum dialogue box
then go to your flash drive for eg.ur flash drive is f then type f:
2. now type dir/ah
it will show all your hidden files
3. now use attrib -s -h -r (name of file you want to unhide)
for eg. “attrib -s -h -r viks” and press enter
4. follow step 3 with all the file names
If I right this path (E:\>attrib.exe -r -s -h /s /d D:\*.*), It will shows all the files or Hidden files only?.
Dude if u come to Uganda,find me i have to slaughter a goat for you n dont forget da girlfriend too,thx for ur help bro
Thank you so much, it really works!!!
OMG! YES! THIS IS WHAT I’VE BEEN LOOKING FOR FOR WEEKS NOW! THANK YOU!
Good ….
Your girl frnd shud get more IT problems….
It works
HOLY SHIT!!!!!!!! it works!!!!!! OMG DUDE u the bomb!!!!! thanx a zillion times
I COULD KISS U RITE NOOW DUDE… NO HOMO… THANX A LOT…
here is onother solution on http://www.pctechtips.blogspot.com
use attribute changer it is freeware and easy to use
you a star,thanks
The command givin workd on my C drive, just took a little time for it to kick in, thx 4 the help
your tips help really works! i owe u zillion thanks! hug! ^^
from trinidad, west indies. was having the same issue with my cousin’s memory key. tried the solution and voila! thanks a lot homie.
haha terima kasih bro ! ak bengang giler kene virus tu… thesis masters tgh tulis, tetiba hilang… mmg cuak nak mampus la…nasib baik muncul balik…
Thanks man!!!!
Thanks.
That was truely awesome..:)
Thanks a lot.
GOD BLESS YOU.
Thank you!
Hi can u make a bat from it pls because i couldnt write it well and thx
Awesome, thanks man.
Thanks so much! it worked out!! :* you are my herO!!!
How can unhide some mp3 songs on the memory stick and be able to copy them to another memory stick