[wanderafar]

I recently transfered a non-hidden file containing hidden files from my xp desktop to my new laptop with vista, I transfered the files on a memory stick not a transfer cable.

Now I cannot find the hidden files on my vista laptop, I have gone to the control panel to show all hidden files and still nothing...are they gone?

How do I recover them? They are quite large files that are important to me.

[DaveA]

How does a file contain other files?
Do you mean that you have a non-hidden FOLDER that has hidden files in it?
If so the files MUST be made to be seen in order to be copied.

How are these files made hidden on the XP machine?

[wanderafar]

oops. Yes, a visible folder that contains hidden folders.

If the folder has been transfferred then where are the files?

They were made hidden on xp by going to the properties of the folder and changing the folder to be "hidden".

[DaveA]

If they are hidden on the XP machine, all you may have copied to the memory stick is the empty folder.
If the files are hidden how do you know that they are in the folder?
On the XP machine unhide the files and then copy to the memory stick?