I have tried in vain to show a hidden directory (local settings) in my documents and settings folder (under compaq_administrator) with no success. I have done all the things in folder options...checking show all system folder contents, display all hidden folders and so on, but nothing is doing the trick. I do a search to find the folder and then change the properties from read only and hidden and then I can see it in explorer, but when I reboot the computer I am back to the same problem. I have searched for an answer and can't discover any....HP says just to leave it that way and use search to view the contents of this folder if I can't get it to work by doing the folder options menu. So much for tech support....there answer is always do a system recovery....easy to say when you have 200 gb of data on your computer and 100's of programs to reinstall. If anyone has an answer to this I would appreciate it. I run Norton 360 and it has not detected any viruses or worms so I don't believe it is a virus causing this. Once again thanks for any help.

Did you uncheck the option in the Folder Options > View tab:

Hide protected operating system files (recommended)?

I have done all the Microsoft solutions in folder options. I can do a search for the folder and click properties and uncheck the hide button and then I can view it, but when I restart the computer it reverts back to hidden once again. Yes I hit apply and ok before I close the properties dialog box. Any suggestions on what is going on here. I don't believe I have a virus as everything else is working fine.