Detect hidden files on USB drives quickly and easily with this portable tool
Detect hidden files on USB drives quickly and easily with this portable tool
Vote (552 votes)
Program license Free
Developer Red Mx
Version 1.0.0
Works under Windows
Vote
(552 votes)
Developer
Red Mx
Works under
Windows
Program license
Free
Version
1.0.0
Pros
- Portable
- Simple to use
Cons
- Lacks options
USB Show is a lightweight, portable app that reveals hidden files and folders on USB flash drives.
USB Show is freeware. Use it as often and as much as you like without cost or restriction. It’s also portable, which means it doesn’t require installation and be carried on a USB stick drive. The program is also quite simple to use. There’s not even any options. Simply point to an appropriate flash drive, and run it. The program is in English by default, but Spanish is also an option.
USB Show is reasonably fast. Most flash drives are relatively small in capacity, so you won’t even notice. There is, however, a progress bar that indicates time remaining. This can be useful for large flash drives or if running the app on an external USB hard drive or similar device.
When the process is done, the app displays a registry of all found hidden items. This works with all directories as well as files, and those items will be automatically revealed. In other words, they’ll be no longer hidden. Now, it’s easier to manipulate them and see what dangers may lurk on your drive.
A primary reason for using an app like this is to get rid of hidden folder viruses—if a straight-up reformat isn’t an option anyway. In addition, a lot of antivirus tools then can recognize such shortcut viruses also provide tools to repair affected storage. It’s also worth mentioning that not all files that USB Show reveals needed to be deleted. System files are often hidden too, so take care.
USB lacks any options at all, which is unfortunate. It does what it does well enough but is perhaps a little to streamlined. If your usage doesn’t align with the default configuration, you’re out of luck. It’d be nice to have the option to hide and re-hide files as needed and on a per-file basis.
Pros
- Portable
- Simple to use
Cons
- Lacks options
Pros
- Helps you scan and identify hidden files on your external and internal drives
- Gives you a full list of all files found
- Performs basic scans in minutes
- Reveals hidden files that might attach malware to your computer
- Great way to search for viruses and bloatware
Cons
- Lack of overall features
- Does not have any settings you can change
- Scanning larger folders or bigger areas can take a long time
- Free version only works for a short period
- Will ask you to upgrade after the free trial expires
USB Show lets you view and access all the files saved on a USB flash drive, including those you saved yourself and any hidden files on the drive.
Even if you have a computer with a lot of memory, you probably use at least one flash drive or USB stick. These small devices let you store everything from photos and videos to music and documents offline that you can share with other computers. You can do work projects at home, share school assignments with your classmates, and give your family and friends copies of images and videos that you shot. With USB Show, you'll have instant access to all the files saved on one of these devices.
One of the best reasons to use USB Show is because it lets you look for viruses that might hide in folders on your computer or flash drive. It will actually search through all hidden folders and files to show you a list of apps and programs using your computer. This can help you find other computers that hacked your system or find viruses that others accidentally downloaded on your computer. It takes just a few minutes to run most searches, though other searches can take longer.
When you run USB Show, it will ask you which drive or disk you want to scan. You can choose folders and files from your own computer or those stored on a flash drive. The program then searches through that folder and gives you a complete list of all files inside. Viewing those visible files will help you see if there are unauthorized programs running on your computer or if other apps took over files on your system.
Though you can use USB Show as part of your anti-virus suite, it is not a suitable alternative to a true anti-virus program. This one doesn't come with a lot of features and doesn't have any settings that you can change. It's available in both English and Spanish, but as the developers translated the language from English, you may find that some phrases don't make sense. The program is free for a trial period and will then ask you to upgrade to a full version. USB Show can reveal hidden folders on your computer or external drives, but it won't replace your anti-virus software.
Pros
- Helps you scan and identify hidden files on your external and internal drives
- Gives you a full list of all files found
- Performs basic scans in minutes
- Reveals hidden files that might attach malware to your computer
- Great way to search for viruses and bloatware
Cons
- Lack of overall features
- Does not have any settings you can change
- Scanning larger folders or bigger areas can take a long time
- Free version only works for a short period
- Will ask you to upgrade after the free trial expires
