how can i find files hidden on a laptop?

Question

a few weeks ago i was distraught while on my bfs laptop to find a vwhole load of pics and videos of his exs naked and having sex,i was obviously outraged and confronted him,he apolagised said he had forgotton they were there and promiced to remove them,they were in his hidden files,now im curious to know if he did actually get rid of them just to be able to put it behind us and trust him,ive searched various words in his hidden files but so far i havnt found them,is there a way he could hav still stored them somewhere and how can i find them if there still there.step by step instructions would b good.thank you

Answer 1

Instructions for vista http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial130.html









Use the operating systems search facility to search for names.



For Windows XP



1. Go into your Control Panel by first clicking on the Start Button.

2. Then click on the Control Panel icon located in the right column of the Start Menu.

3. If your Start Menu is set to the Classic View, then begin by clicking on the Start Button.

4. Then click on Settings, then click on the Control Panel icon to open up the Control Panel.

5. Now, Double click on the Folder Options icon until it opens for you.

6. Then click on the View tab located at the top of the screen.

7. Locate the Advanced settings: window located in the center area of the screen.

8. Then change the Do not show hidden files and folders option to Show hidden files and folders.

9. You can also uncheck the Hide protected operating system files [Recommended] option as well.

10. If you uncheck this, Windows will ask you if you are sure you want to display these files.

11. Simply click on the Yes button to allow Windows to display these protected files.

12. For Windows XP, you can also uncheck the Display the contents of system folders as well.

13. Then click on the OK button to save your changes and exit the Folder Options window.

14. Then close the Control Panel to return back to your Windows session.

15. Windows will now Display all Hidden and System Files on your computer.



Windows 7

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial151.html

Answer 2

Have you thought of the possibility that he may have transferred them to another medium like CDs or DVDs and then deleted the originals so you can't find them?



If he has done that, then you'll never know unless you find the discs.



As Greywolf says this is not about technology, but about you convincing yourself

to trust him because you caught him out. Which then raises the next question,

what were you doing nosing into his laptop in the first place?



The assumption being, that if this is a shared laptop that you both use, do you think

in your wildest dreams that he would really be that stupid to have them on there in

the first place with the possibility that you could access them? I think not!



I've got the distinct feeling that you were suspicious about something and you went

looking for the evidence. Now that you have found it, you will always have that nagging

doubt in your mind is he still up to his old tricks.



Not a sound basis in any relationship if I may say so.

Answer 3

A good link where you can get winrar is: http://bit.ly/1t6dcCg



You can use winrar to unzip zip file and loads of other formats. A few more programs you can use are 7zip or winzip but I still beleive winrar is the best choice. They work pretty much in the same way: you can compress or decompress files easily with a right-click.



The big advantages of Winrar are: it's free (it's available under a trial version that never expires) and can open all the formats: .zip, .rar, .7z / 7zip, .iso, .tar, .jar etc.



That's why I strongly recommend winrar.

Answer 4

if he is using the standard windows its going to be easy but if he is using a software i doubt you can find it.

1. in windows xp just click my computer

2. select the tools tab on the upper left section

3. click the folder option

4. click the hidden files option.

5. and you are done.



he may have deleted it so just forgive n never forget the whole episode.

Answer 5

Hi there,

Maybe try the latest version of Winrar? --> http://j.mp/1p3PwZX

If you are looking for a good program to open zipped files (compressed files) the best solution is WinRar.

Bye Bye

Answer 6

This is not about the technology, this is about whether you trust him. If you do, don't look. If you don't, get out of his life.