HIDDEN FILE ATTRIBUTE

Do you have some top-secret files you'd like to keep out of sight? Mark them hidden, and they'll magically disappear, along with the rest of your system's hidden files. (That is, assuming you keep your hidden files hidden.)

Right-click a file you'd like to hide and select Properties. On the General tab of the resulting Properties dialog box, select Hidden, then click OK. Now be sure that your hidden files are actually hidden: In any Explorer window, select View, Options, click the View tab, select Hide Files Of These Types, and click OK. (If you have the IE 4.0 Desktop Update installed, select View, Folder Options, click the View tab, select Do Not Show Hidden Files, and click OK.) Now, any files marked hidden will disappear from Explorer windows, your desktop, and so on.

If and when you need to access a hidden file, you have two choices. One, opt to display hidden files using the options described above. Or two, type the file's exact name (and navigate your way to its exact location) in the Open dialog box of its native application.

(Note: Marking a file hidden isn't a true security measure since anyone who knows the name and location of a file can open it. It's really just a deterrent--out of sight, out of mind.)