How To Show Hidden Files in Finder OS X Lion, Snow Leopard

Recently we got problem on my colleague USB Disk, because some viruses on their Windows Operating System made all data on the USB become invisibles, so I try to solve the problem. Now we will share it how to show hidden files in Finder OSX Lion and Snow Leopard easily.

Finder default configuration is Hidden all Invisibles files in Finder, we need to tweak it to enable to show all invisibles files on it. So, let’s move on. To do this step we need little bit to know using Terminal. Let’s move on, open Terminal App on your OS X Lion or Snow Leopard and write down this code
[sourcecode language=”html”]defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles TRUE[/sourcecode]

After you did this step, you need to relaunch the Finder by killing the app using this command
[sourcecode language=”html”]killall Finder[/sourcecode]

To hidden invisibles files again on your Finder you need to write this code
[sourcecode language=”html”]defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles FALSE[/sourcecode]

And dont’ forget to relaunch the Finder again using command
[sourcecode language=”html”]killall Finder[/sourcecode]

Now, to fix my friends problem by visible all invisibles files on the USB Disk we need to another command to handle it. First you need to go USB Disk Volumes using this command. Example the USB Disk Name is Ganteng

[sourcecode language=”html”]cd /Volumes/Ganteng[/sourcecode]

Then to visibles all invicibles files and folder on Mac OS X Lion or Snow Leopard use this command.
[sourcecode language=”html”]chflags nohidden *[/sourcecode]

On the example above we will disables invisibles files and folder on USB Disk Ganteng. To spesifik File or Folder you can use this command, example the files name is Anak-Ponjong.jpg
[sourcecode language=”html”]chflags nohidden Anak-Ponjong.jpg[/sourcecode]

To hide again, use this command
[sourcecode language=”html”]chflags hidden Anak-Ponjong.jpg[/sourcecode]

More details about chflags command you can use this man chflags, that’s it, now show hidden files in Finder on OS X Lion or Snow Leopard much easier right? You try using applications such as Secret to do this jobs.