Finding fidden files/folders using PowerShell
To display hidden files or folders, use the Force parameter with the get-childitem cmdlet.
Please see below recorded session in PowerShell:
PS C:\> Get-ChildItem
Directory: Microsoft.PowerShell.Core\FileSystem::C:\
Mode LastWriteTime Length Name
---- ------------- ------ ----
d---- 5/13/2005 11:29 PM DELL
d---- 5/9/2005 8:23 PM Documents and Settings
d---- 8/3/2006 10:45 PM i386
d---- 8/25/2007 6:06 PM My Downloads
d---- 8/25/2007 10:33 PM mytest
d---- 3/1/2007 1:55 PM Office 2007
d---- 7/22/2007 1:09 PM Opsware
d---- 8/27/2007 7:22 PM Program Files
d---- 9/5/2007 10:13 PM PS
d---- 8/28/2007 9:36 PM Temp
d---- 9/15/2007 8:09 PM WINDOWS
d---- 5/10/2005 12:39 AM winnt
-a--- 5/9/2005 7:58 PM 0 AUTOEXEC.BAT
-a--- 12/28/2005 10:12 PM 8717 caavsetup.log
-a--- 12/14/2006 7:19 PM 35041 caavsetupLog.txt
-a--- 8/28/2007 2:57 PM 68896 caisslog.txt
-a--- 2/2/2007 8:36 PM 219 cmd.txt
-a--- 1/4/2007 7:55 PM 0 COMLOG.txt
-a--- 5/9/2005 7:58 PM 0 CONFIG.SYS
-a--- 4/3/2007 10:10 PM 81 DVDPATH.TXT
-a--- 7/22/2007 3:34 PM 1346 nonav.log
Now add -force switch
PS C:\> Get-ChildItem -force
Directory: Microsoft.PowerShell.Core\FileSystem::C:\
Mode LastWriteTime Length Name
---- ------------- ------ ----
d--h- 9/11/2007 8:57 PM Config.Msi
d---- 5/13/2005 11:29 PM DELL
d---- 5/9/2005 8:23 PM Documents and Settings
d---- 8/3/2006 10:45 PM i386
d-rh- 3/1/2007 2:37 PM MSOCache
d---- 8/25/2007 6:06 PM My Downloads
d---- 8/25/2007 10:33 PM mytest
d---- 3/1/2007 1:55 PM Office 2007
d---- 7/22/2007 1:09 PM Opsware
d---- 8/27/2007 7:22 PM Program Files
d---- 9/5/2007 10:13 PM PS
d--hs 5/10/2005 12:38 AM RECYCLER
d--hs 5/9/2005 8:16 PM System Volume Information
d---- 8/28/2007 9:36 PM Temp
d---- 9/15/2007 8:09 PM WINDOWS
d---- 5/10/2005 12:39 AM winnt
-a--- 5/9/2005 7:58 PM 0 AUTOEXEC.BAT
-arhs 3/19/2007 4:58 PM 211 boot.ini
-a--- 12/28/2005 10:12 PM 8717 caavsetup.log
-a--- 12/14/2006 7:19 PM 35041 caavsetupLog.txt
-a--- 8/28/2007 2:57 PM 68896 caisslog.txt
-a--- 2/2/2007 8:36 PM 219 cmd.txt
-a--- 1/4/2007 7:55 PM 0 COMLOG.txt
-a--- 5/9/2005 7:58 PM 0 CONFIG.SYS
-a--- 4/3/2007 10:10 PM 81 DVDPATH.TXT
-arhs 5/9/2005 7:58 PM 0 IO.SYS
-a-h- 3/16/2006 7:02 PM 437 IPH.PH
-arhs 5/9/2005 7:58 PM 0 MSDOS.SYS
-a--- 7/22/2007 3:34 PM 1346 nonav.log
-arhs 8/12/2004 9:25 AM 47564 NTDETECT.COM
-arhs 8/12/2004 9:25 AM 250032 ntldr
-a-hs 9/15/2007 7:58 PM 804089856 pagefile.sys
What a difference –force make! The hidden folders RECYCLER, System Volume Information or files pagefile.sys, NTDETECT.com, etc. all show up…