Vista - Can someone tell me what I did?

I'm not sure if this is the right place for this post...

I somehow managed to make all of my files hidden. Then I tried to show hidden files and now files I've never seen before are on my computer. A remember pressing a read-only button (I think). My brother said I have to go to each folder one by one and change them to not be hidden, but I don't know which ones are supposed to be showing and which ones aren't. Also, is there a way to make them show without having to go one by one; since I hid them all at once, that to me would seem logical.

Here is a picture to help explain my lack of knowledge better

Oh wow.....

This is an interesting situation. I applaud the originality.

Now. This should not affect your OS or any programs. All it does is make all your previous folders hidden. The hidden feature in Windows is to keep people that aren't IT professionals from deleting vital files, or moving them. This little oops is not gonna break your computer, and all your new folders from here on out will NOT be hidden. Now, it looks like your brother is right, you do need to go back and unhide them, one by one. Thats the only real practical way to do it. The problem with that, like you said, is that you dont know which ones to unhide. If you are willing to spend the time unhiding them, then go back and unhide only the files and folders that YOU created, and things such as My Documents, and music and videos folders. If you want to save a bit of time, and know when your problem started, then try a system restore, from a point before the problem started. Hope this helps a lot, and remember to post your results!

~Lordbob

Hello Ashley, and welcome to Vista Forums.

In addition, it may be easier to do a System Restore using a restore point dated before you mistakenly set the folders to be hidden. This way you do not have to go through them one by one not knowing which one should be hidden or not.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Ditto...Wow

Use Shawn's approach, its better, faster, and a more appropriate fix. It takes the guesswork, and time out

Restore Point - Vista's most valuable program!

I do believe i suggested a system restore, though it may have gotten cluttered up in my massive paragraph...
But i agree with all of them, it is the best solution.

Will a system restore undo any changes I've made on documents, etc.?

@Brink: I went to your tutorial on how to do the system restore.
After I clicked Start, then all programs, there is no Accessories. Is this because of the hidden folder situation?

Edit: Never mind. I did the OR situation.

No.

So did you get it working? If so, did it solve your problem?

Just finished restarting. Thankfully I had a start point on the 7th, so not too far back. Yes, it worked. Thank you all. So far everything seems to be the way it was.

Looks like I have the honor of congratulating you first! Good job!

Glad you got it worked out, and thanks from everyone for letting us know how it worked!
Just remember to keep backing up restore points! They truly can be a life saver!

~Lordbob

EDIT: Make sure to mark this thread as solved!

Hey thanks! Now... how do I backup restore points?