How To: Make an Folder or Icon that looks like it isn't there(NOT A HIDDEN FILE)

This Instructable shows you how to make an folder or icon that you can't see.
This is not just taking a section from your background.

If You Have Any Questions, Comments & Suggestions Please Post Them!

Step 1 Create the Folder

Create a new folder (See Pictures)
Rename it Alt + 0160 but make sure to hold down the Alt key when typing 0160 on the number pad,
This is the computer code for space, just typing in space will not work.

Comments

[nutsandbolts_64]

 there's such a thing as digital camouflage 

[jmicz3d]

Yep, and I'd like to offer one* digital trip-wire to detect the camouflaged:

click in empty space in a corner and slide it all the way across the screen and the blank name-space be highlighted revealing the folder.



*also I tried CD-ing to the desktop folder using DOS, I could see a folder with no name, and without a name I could not access it that way, only detect it.

[nutsandbolts_64]

You must realize that when posts are over a year old, the guy would have figured it out by then. Actually, it kinda depends on the guy you're talking to. In this case, 1 1/2 years is enough for me to understand that using True Crypt is way better by 512 bits, as well as a load of other tricks up my drive.

[DeanGPotts]

i dont know if everyone else is the same but when i click change icon, there are some blank spaces on the icon list, but if you actually use a blank one its totally transparent,
and for some reason i cant put an empty caption on folders but i can on shortcut files.

[alex-sharetskiy]

interesting...

[wenpherd]

cooooooooooooooooooooool!!!!!!!!!!!1

[Mr.NHRA]

Hey if you lose the file you can click any where you think it might be and drag creating a field that selects all files in it! And no i didn't lose mine.

[dariel24]

Nice instructibles. i always want to make a shortcut, so when i double click it it looks like i double click a picture in the background. but the only problem is i cant use space alone as the name, so i use comma instead. now i know how to make space as recognizeable filename. thanks

[pestan]

Hey this may sound stupid but how can i get a screen shot of my desktop?

[wenpherd]

the butten next to f12

[computergeek]

Also if you want just a picture of the window in the foreground then go Alt + Print Screen.

[Muscelz]

whats this alt thing? u just press Print Screen on ur key board and paste it in paint silly

[computergeek]

Pressing Alt makes the computer just take a picture of the active window. At least in Windows XP.

[Muscelz]

OH!!!! sorry i didnt realize that :S

[computergeek]

That's OK

[imshanedulong]

Press print screen (print scr) near the top right corner of your keybourd. Then go on paint. Go to edit, paste on ther menu bar. there's your screen shot.

[pestan]

Thanks this will so be useful!

[crazyboy246]

you guys should check out my instrucable unclickablefolder

[mrmoneybagss]

...
what instructable?
when i click on your name it says that you have not
published any instructables
=P

[computergeek]

The same thing is happening to me.

[21GeeOff21]

there should already be a transparent icon option built into xp i learned about this in a video somewhere

[riko13]

nice trick!

[NotAMember]

(removed by author or community request)

[computergeek]

There isn't really any tricks on how to do it. Except for the fact that it has to be done on the number pad.

[garrettmikesmith]

a shortcut gives you that stupid little arrow on the bottom of the icon though. otherwise nice idea with the computer code space idea.

[computergeek]

To get rid of that arrow you can use the power toy TweakIU available for XP from Microsoft HERE
I'm not aware of any for Vista yet.

[Scammah]

This is a terrible idea because it makes it difficult to delete the folder if you ever want to. If you want to still do this just make sure you know how to delete it later. I went to this website to delete a folder I changed the name of
How to delete a folder with no name

[nf119]

That method did work for me. Here's what I did:
Open command prompt (All Programs -> Accessories -> Command Prompt or just type cmd in Run or in the start menu in Vista and hit enter)
Get to the directory you made the folder in. type cd .. to go up one directory and cd name to go into a folder. If you save it in desktop just type cd Desktop
Then type rd "Alt+0160" (R + D + double quote + the alt+0160 character + double quote) and press enter
If there is no error then the folder got deleted

[boilermaker]

Great instructable. This is probably a really dumb question, but how do I download the icon.ico file?

[computergeek]

You right click and go save as. When you go to make it as your icon go file of types and select all files. I didn't realize that it didn't automatically download it. good question.

[lucinity]

I noticed that it appears that your using windows, but Alt + 0160 wouldn't work for the folder name. any suggestions? everything else works awesome, thanks!

[computergeek]

Did you hold down the alt key while typing 0160 on the number pad?

[mrmath]

Note that this throws a file in the folder called Desktop.ini. You can copy this file to other folders to make them transparent as well. Nice idea.