Viking: Just curious: why this: Then find, Folder Options >> View >> Uncheck "Hide protected operating system files (recommended)" What advantage? Thresher

Simple common sense working practice that's all. First thing you do when your working in and on a windows machine is to make sure everything that should be visible is visible. Full accessibility. Annoying to break concentration when your in the middle of doing something and you can't get to a system file because it's hidden and you have to break thought and mentally stop what your doing and have to think for a split second "why doesn't this work, why can't I see or do that" Do it first off and you don't have to think about minor windows details later. A working methodology pays off. Example would be Trev's How to run Windows ME well, version 5.

So you would re-check it and hide those files after you were done maintenancing the situation...? Thresher

That depends on the situation and where you are. If it was a family with children, and the kids were known to "mess" with things, then probably. If it was a house of retards and playful inquisitive idiots with white goo dribbling out of the side of there mouths and just "loved to delete things !", then I'd probably change the settings back and recommend they go on AOL -- if they weren't already. But for the vast majority and normal situations with sane people involved, I'd leave it. All depends. If Mr cream shows back up with a future problem, I'll know where those particular system settings are at. Just eliminates a potential waste of time and redundant questions further down the line. I'm not really one for treating people like idiots unless they absolutely demonstrate they are. So hiding something goes against the grain. Although I can see why M$ does it. Very kind of them to hold your hand and protect you from yourself.