[eyestotheskies]

Hey everyone.
I had a program on my computer that kept a folder hidden/private and it worked fine for a while (AKAS Hide Folder, the company site is no longer available either). I would launch the program by pressing ctrl+window key+H, the program window would come up, I would enter my password and select to unhide the folder. I just installed SP2 the other day and noticed that the shortcut no longer worked. I could not have access to my data and it is not possible to open the program any other way (I know, bad idea). I've searched for the program, the files etc. on my computer with no luck. I know the data is still on the drive because of the amount of free space. I have tried uninstalling sp2, restoring to a previous date, switching ide cables, renaming the drive and a few other things. I have tried launching the install file and it gives me two options:Install or Repair. If I click install, it says I must uninstall the previous version. If I click repair, it gives me a few options that do not help and the option to change the shortcut, which I have tried with no luck.
Please let me know if there is anything that can be done to fix this/launch this program/retrieve my data.
Very much thanks in advance.
Dave
Here is what the program does in case anyone was curious.
"This program makes any folder completely invisible to others. Your invisible folders is always hidden, including Safe mode, MS-DOS and even when AKAS Hide Folders is not running.

AKAS Hide Folders is the most safe way to hide your private folders.
Your hidden folders and files can't be deleted, viewed, modified or run.
You may leave your computer unattended without worrying if someone will access your private data."

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The program probably use a kernal hook to hide files and folders from the API. the easisest way I can think of to see the data is to run from outside the OS. You could try a Live Linux CD or Bart's PE so that the drive, files and folders are viewable and you can copy them to a different media that can disable the hook that hides them. Bart's PE I find better for NTFS drives because it can use NTFS natively and you may just need to rename the hidden items to make them visable.

[silverbeard]

The program probably use a kernal hook to hide files and folders from the API. the easisest way I can think of to see the data is to run from outside the OS. You could try a Live Linux CD or Bart's PE so that the drive, files and folders are viewable and you can copy them to a different media that can disable the hook that hides them. Bart's PE I find better for NTFS drives because it can use NTFS natively and you may just need to rename the hidden items to make them visable.

[eyestotheskies]

Thanks for the fast reply. I will try BartPE and let you know how it goes.

[b1caez01]

I had a program that "hid" my files...boy, did it hide them. Beware of any program that cannot be accessed via safe mode to uninstall or provide you the needed info to get back into it and unlock your system of folders.

One of the most noteworthy programs, a leader in its class, whose name will remain unmentioned, caused me to have to un-necessarily reformat my hard drive just so I could regain control over it. In my opinion, these are not programs for the unwary, and inexperienced computer user.

And yes I had all the tools...but a nasty install had set it awry and it bit back with a vengence.