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Change HIDDEN MP3's to non-hidden.

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10 replies

by tmiller3

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I have several MP3 files which are marked as hidden files, and the box in 'Properties' is greyed so I can't change it. Does anyone know of a way to make this change?

10 replies

by some guy in seattle

If you are not logged in as the owner of the file or the administrator of the machine, you may not be able to change permissions. Try copying them to a directory that you have "full control" over, and then change the properties.

Hope that helps,

by shanghai sam

I'm just running Windows ME, so individual directory security is not an issue. These files came from one of those stand-alone MP3 players (not mine). I think it is a feature of those machines that makes the files hidden to protect from people copying to CD's. So that they can't be associated with providing means to distribute free music or something. I figure there's gotta be a way to change these files.

by spn

Assuming the above answer dose not help you can try changing them from the dos promte

open the promte
type cd\
\
\etc (Dir is the name of the folder ythe files are in)

now type attrib -h *.mp3

this will work If you have the rights
Note : if you are on a NT based system this is most likely sercuiy privladges related

by shanghai sam

When I tried this, I get a line for each MP3 that says: "Not resetting system file c:\
\etc.
I was excited that this would work. Oh well. Any other suggestions??

by tmiller3

These files came from one of those stand-alone MP3 players (not mine). I think it is a feature of those machines that makes the files hidden to protect from people copying to CD's. So that they can't be associated with providing means to distribute free music or something. I figure there's gotta be a way to change these files. Any other suggestions??

by paulette.mutchler

The above answer might still work, for some bizarre reason, they may be read only. You'll have to change the read only attribute as well. Use the same dos commands however change the -h to -r. If that still doesn't work try system -s. This shouldn't affect those files however they shouldn't be hidden either :) Try all three and you should be all set.

by tmiller3

Well, Still no luck. I tried all three switches. In Explorer properties view, the 'Hidden' box is checked and greyed so I can't get to it. Read-only is not marked.
Any other idea's anyone? Somehow the 'Hidden' attribute is made to be unaccessable. I'm thinking maybe there is some software that allows me to get past that.

by sparky4

sometimes, with tricky files, you need to use all of the attrib switches at the same time.

attrib -r -h -s *.*
then to check it:
dir /a:h

to see if the files are still listed as hidden.
if this doesn't work, email me a few of the files to:sparky4@telus.net

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