A file dialog in notepad:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGKvpIwoNiY2NwtObGzE7LuWHdWCfAMTpdXFpqxK1IuSg2BRRC7E7c3VtUvkhTspEMdeuLpvJnJqQkNNiaJUJ8yRpKo9_uCLcitt7shHHgeemuOpsmyp_1hA0c_HQEahfp9ZkxUx4gcsk/s320/file_dialog_1.png)
A file dialog in Notepad++, with three more files:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU2LhwRfv30lMssxgb4NJx40DN4wkvD1ku743e3YI-jN2JKqkYcgAZgXTffuAnpVDSY8hmdAreegzp26PiOnbGdXiehjA0JMQvwjQcUeXlnyrp5ZqxFeb_jrtDC6qq5nnttRjd5aWppPI/s320/file_dialog_2.png)
This is what I've noted:
- I'm looking at the same directory
- Doing a 'dir' at the command prompt doesn't show the hidden files
- Doing a 'dir' at the command prompt run as admin doesn't show the hidden files
- Both processes are run as the same user
- From the file dialog in Notepad++ I can copy a hidden file, then paste it. It will show up in Notepad and other files.
- The files are visible to apache/php, as well, andwill be served.
- If I:
- click on an invisible file in notepad++
- select properties
- select security
- Click 'edit' to change security
- I'm told I don't have permission
- If I try to take ownership, it says the file does not exist:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaylZwbFwRFNI48WL4j3aPHPEJbmA1gD7tLTDlaINH9D-Qkcgfjhj7KsskC11WyB_wW9hPJBwPW1jjj5F-Me1Fj8wF4hyPkZ7NKPMBELTLVOC8uTSNIZ3e33NCneu2NkhnK-eAI2DMP04/s320/file_dialog_3.png)
The owner for the hidden files is the same as the person I'm logged in as. If I create a new file, it is created with that new owner and visible.
I can't see the invisible files running as admin either. Just Notepad++ and Apache can see them for some reason. I've got no idea how those processes are accessing the file system differently.