Make Windows show file extensions and hidden files
Problem
Most files on Windows PCs have a File Name followed by a period followed by a "file extension" of three or more characters.
By default, Windows hides the dot + file extension from you.
This was a spectacularly bad decision by Microsoft.
The file extension tells Windows what application to launch when you double-click the file's icon.
Sooner or later, you'll need to view or change a file extension or search for files of a certain extension, but as long as Windows is hiding your files from you, you can't do that.
Worse: If you need to find files of a certain extension, Windows Explorer's File Search feature won't find them if Windows is hiding extensions. That is, if you search for *.TXT, it won't find your .TXT files.
And Worse: Some programs, notably Office ones, won't even show extensions in file save/open dialog boxes. This can really turn round and bite you. Suppose you've learned that saving a file as a .PPS is the same as saving it as a PowerPoint Show. So you choose File, Save As, and add a .PPS extension to the file name in the Save dialog.
You think you've just saved MyShow.PPS
Wrong. PowerPoint has tacked on its usual .PPT extension but since Windows is hiding file extensions from you, you don't see it. You've actually just saved MyShow.PPS.PPT ... which of course behaves like a regular PowerPoint file, not a Show.
And still worse, Windows also hides some files and folders from you altogether.
To avoid confusion, teach Windows to show you your stuff. Here's how:
Solution
- Double-click My Computer (or just Computer if you use Vista).
- If you have Windows XP or earlier or use Vista with classic folder views, Choose Tools, Folder Options from the menu bar of the "My Computer" window. If you have Vista, choose Organize, Folder and Search Options. The Folder Options dialog box appears.
- Click the View tab.
- Scroll down a bit and remove the check mark next to "Hide extensions for known file types" as shown below.
- Under "HIdden files and folders" click "Show hidden files and folders"
- Make sure the other options are set the way you want them for all folders on you computer
- Click OK
