Vista - How to view hidden files in windows explorer

Using Vista Home Premium - Optioned so I can see system and hidden files.
Multi-part Q using Windows Explorer:
1) Can't see hidden (I suppose) files in "Program Files" folder
a) In XP I can see the folder under PrintMaster (USER001 and subs) but not
in Vista
2) Same folder, do a properties right click and take away read-only, asks
for permissions and grant them but after that, each time I recheck the folder
it is read-only again!
3) As far as I know I'm the admin... but it seems like not really based on
the above; how do I by-pass these restrictions (I'm a 20 year IT
professional) by either being able to log in as the administrator or give me
(the only user) those rights/permissions?

Thanks very much for your assistance!

"drumz" <drumz@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:813B52EE-9BCE-4547-AF9A-6EEC7DB8DA2D@xxxxxxWhat is PrintMaster? This is not a part of Windows, so I do not know what
you are expecting to see.
This is no different to how it appears in XP. That greyed-out tick means
that the folder contains files and folder that may or not have file that are
read-only. Therefore, it is meaningless, as the contents of the folder are
unchecked - that it what it is telling you. There are people in this
newsgroup (including MVPs) that might tell you that the hidden attribute
does not apply to folders. Ignore them. Check at the command line using
DIR /a:h, to see for sure.
Because lamer users ran as admin all the time in XP, and did not realise you
could live life just as easily using right-click-run as ... or drag
installation files over a Command Prompt that has been RUNAS Administrator,
and run Control Panel and mmc snap-ins, so they actually got malware,
Microsoft invented UAC, to cater for all these idiots. It has made Windows
quite tragic for power-users, in a lot of ways. You need to elevate the CMD
prompt by right-clicking the shortcut, but you will still come across
confusing when running automated scripts and commands across network.

ss.

Applies to Vista also

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=308421

--
Peter

Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.

"drumz" <drumz@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:813B52EE-9BCE-4547-AF9A-6EEC7DB8DA2D@xxxxxx

By default the programs folder in Vista does not grant full permissions to the administrators group, but to the special "Trusted Installer" Group/User ( part of the UAC system) with read access to users group The owner is also set to the "Trusted Installer"

If you wish to remove read only attributes you have to change these permissions to give the Administrators group full control.

You may wish to do this if a particular program insists on storing INI or other config files into it's install folder in the programs folders and not in the user's APPDATA folder or the registry which has been I think best practice since Windows 2000.

I would personally leave this protection in place unless you have a problem with a particular application, and would then only change permissions on the minimum number of files needed to operate the application.

I'm certain that this sort of non standard practice will happen less and less as developers write for Vista specifically

Hope this helps clarify matters