Solved Wherefore Art Thou, Address Bar? (Found It)

Setting up the Dell XPS850 that I have tried for some four years to have my wife first get rid of the huge accumulation of useless email and other objects, which she finally did recently, I needed the Windows Address Bar to help me find the hidden C{\ Program Data folder sp that I could see what was there related to a downloaded SDK program that I have had a grand total of no such action despite the many `help' files I read.

Given that I only rarely use the Windows File Manager, I was amazed at my total failure to locate the bar. I did eventually find a rather simple way of opening the file which to no surprise was of no help. Having found the file, I then found that when I closed it it was not in the list of files on the C:\ drive.

Once someone or more here gets the program data folder to be dded to the file list for me, then I shall ask how to remove an unwarranted pair of SDKs, the instructions for which are in a language which may not have even been created as yet.

C:\Program Data is a Hidden folder.
Go to Windows File Manager and click on View just under the address bar,
Click on Show
Put a check in the Box for Hidden Files to make them viewable.

File Explorer address bar

glasskuter said:

File Explorer address bar
View attachment 140571

Click to expand...

Don't ask, I will not tell as i don't know, other than this: A few minutes ago, I sat at PJ's computer and clicked on the mouse, waited a short while, tried again, turned computer off and back on, still nothing on the monitor i turned the computer off again, disconnected the power cable for thirty seconds, plugged back in, pressed the power button, which instantly offered two options.

I chose the first, which was Windows or something of that nature, and almost instantly I was at the log-on page, so I logged on, and as soon as that was finished, I opened the File Manager, which for the first time showed the Address Bar!

Spunk said:

C:\Program Data is a Hidden folder.
Go to Windows File Manager and click on View just under the address bar,
Click on Show
Put a check in the Box for Hidden Files to make them viewable.

How to Show Hidden Files on Windows 11: A Step-by-Step Guide

Unlock hidden files on Windows 11 easily! Follow our step-by-step guide to reveal hidden system and personal files in just a few clicks.

www.solveyourtech.com

Click to expand...

Thanks, and please note that this reply is NOT meant to be argumentative, only to say that as far as I know, I have always had C:\Program Dataaccessible in the four Dell XPS desktop tower computers I have had, including the one that Dell, finally admitting that the computer I was using. The replacement, a rebuilt XPS 8950, the machine I set up for my wife recently, and is the one where C:\Program Data is not visible. Given that setting up the 8950 involved the use of LapLink, even if Program Data did work when I was using that machine, it is certainly within reason that the setting did not transfer.

I have from time to time been instructed to see something in the Program Data folder; what those requests were about I also do not recall, only that they existed.

The /XPS 8960 I now use does have the file visible, and if I did have to make it visible,I not only have no memory of doing that, I have no memory of ever looking up how to unhide Program Data. That does not mean that I did not do so, it only means that if I did, I don't recall any such action.

There, I have created more than enough verbiage, so i shall end by stating that I have copied your instructions and shall apply them.

A lot of people show Hidden Files and Folders to view certain files and folders Sometimes an OEM manufacturer, or computer repair person could have enabled it and you may have forgotten that it was done.
It is very easy to see if there is a check box for Hidden Files, to know for sure. once you enable View in the Toolbar.

Spunk said:

A lot of people show Hidden Files and Folders to view certain files and folders Sometimes an OEM manufacturer, or computer repair person could have enabled it and you may have forgotten that it was done.
It is very easy to see if there is a check box for Hidden Files, to know for sure. once you enable View in the Toolbar.

Click to expand...

Spunk said:

A lot of people show Hidden Files and Folders to view certain files and folders Sometimes an OEM manufacturer, or computer repair person could have enabled it and you may have forgotten that it was done.
It is very easy to see if there is a check box for Hidden Files, to know for sure. once you enable View in the Toolbar.

Click to expand...

I clicked on View, which had a few unexpected results, such as finding Program Data on D:\ rather than on C:\. and my file manager, Q-Dir, has its C:\ list shown improperly and not entirely alphabetic, some things I shall have to figure out. Given that PJ is unlikely to use Q-Dir, it is not urgent to fix it: She mainly uses the desktop to enter grades and to use Word Perfect to create documents for her use in teaching. Otherwise, she is happy to sit on the couch and use her faculty-member laptop to read news, etc.

I have found other items in D:\ which LapLink must have put there, as the Inspiron computer only had a single hard drive..

As stated, we don't like to use LapLink which has varied results. But I am glad that you were able to find most of your data.
I prefer backing up a users personal files to an external drive.
On the new computer, once Windows is installed, restoring the users files to their directories. And then install any 3rd party software they use.

But you do you.