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Pastimes : Computer Learning -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: thecow who wrote (16435)	2/18/2001 11:03:33 AM
From: dpl	Respond to of 110653

I see. Again..thanks. David

To: thecow who wrote (16435)	2/18/2001 12:31:47 PM
From: PMS Witch	Respond to of 110653

Explorer … Explorer handles hidden files in a manner I find odd. One can choose how hidden files are displayed by clicking View, Folder options…, View tab, and selecting which circle under Hidden in the Advanced options box to put the dot. The choices are Show all, Don’t show hidden, and Don’t show hidden and system. These choices seem clear enough: Pick your preference. Deleting files can get messy. Explorer will delete files, we all know this. Explorer will also delete files that are not being displayed, something some of us may have forgotten. Imagine the surprise when we check a folder, find it’s empty, delete it, and discover that our system no longer works the same. If the folder we are about to delete contains hidden files, and we have disabled the display of hidden files, we will be given no warning. Explorer will cheerfully erase files we may wish to keep, had we known of their existence. Explorer will ask for confirmation before deleting some executable files, hidden or not. Explore also asks for confirmation before deleting files with System attribute set, hidden or not. But since so few files that are crucial for the smooth operation of Windows are indeed flagged as system files, this safeguard offers scant protection. <Rant> I’m convinced that the System attribute is a design feature propagated from one incarnation of DOS to the next, and repeatedly inherited by all versions of Windows too, without ever being exploited for any useful purpose whatever by any of the systems supporting it. And it could be put to such good use too. It could’ve been an ideal method of flagging files as belonging to the system and therefore out of bounds to arbitrary overwriting, deletion, alteration, and relocation.</Rant> Given the dangers and awkwardness of dealing with hidden files using Explorer, I have instructed Explorer to display all files, Normal, Hidden, and System. When I drag files or folders to my Recycle Bin, I want to see the complete picture of what I’m doing. I have no desire to erase something inappropriately by accident. My system is already filled to capacity with traps for the unwary, and I have no desire to introduce more. Recent posts on this thread have drawn my attention to this area and encouraged me to examine the matter closer. I decided to share my observations. Cheers, PW.