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Hidden File

By Tim Fisher, About.com

Definition: A hidden file is any file with the hidden attribute turned on. Most Windows powered computers are configured by default not to display hidden files in normal file searches.

The most popular hidden files you might encounter in a Windows system include msdos.sys, io.sys and boot.ini.

Examples: "I created a boot disk for Windows XP but did not find the necessary files on it when I looked at the contents of the disk. I finally realized that the essential boot files were hidden and not normally viewable."

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