After receiving a few emails about this problem, today I decided to write a solution for this annoying problem.
Many Windows users face a problem in Windows Explorer, when they can't see file or folder names in a specific folder. Only file and folder icons are visible but their names are hidden as shown in following screenshot:
Here is a small step-by-step tutorial to fix this problem:
For Windows XP:
1. Open the folder which has this invisible name problem.
2. Now select "Details" from View menu.
3. Press and hold SHIFT key, right-click in empty area and select "View -> Thumbnails".
4. It'll toggle the file/folder names.
Actually its a feature to show/hide file names while in Thumbnails mode.
For Windows Vista and 7:
1. Open the folder which has this problem.
2. Right-click in empty area and uncheck "View -> Hide File names" option.
3. If this option is not available, press and hold SHIFT key, right-click in empty area and select "View -> Medium Icons" option.
NOTE: If above solution doesn't work, enable "Show hidden files and folders" option in Folder Options and then delete "Desktop.ini" file present in the folder which has this invisible name problem. Thanks to our reader "Adiman" for this tip...
Posted by: Vishal Gupta | Categories: Troubleshooting, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP
Veronica
Thank you, it worked for me, I have no idea how I lost the titles for the files.
vaibhav
thanks its working
martyngs
Worked first time!
Thanks
wendy
I have had this problem for a few months now, gradually every folder I have whether on the main drive or external drives, loses the file names.
I can go through the above procedure and uncheck the "hide file names" box, but the moment I go back or click to another folder the names disappear again.
I am having to uncheck the "hide file names" box for every folder I visit, and every time I do so.
It will not remain unchecked.
It is driving me crazy! I would be grateful for ANY solution to this that works permanently.
wendy
I have had this problem for a few months now, gradually every folder I have whether on the main drive or external drives, loses the file names.
I can go through the above procedure and uncheck the "hide file names" box, but the moment I go back or click to another folder the names disappear again.
I am having to uncheck the "hide file names" box for every folder I visit, and every time I do so (which might be dozens of times for each job I am working on and hundreds of times each day)
It will not remain unchecked. The file names can be viewed once then disappear again.
It is driving me crazy! I would be grateful for ANY solution to this that works permanently.
VG
^^ First try to reset folder view settings:
http://www.askvg.com/how-to-fix-annoying-folder-view-type-problem-in-windows-vista/