permanently display hidden files or folders

In terminal paste this line at the prompt

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles True; killall Finder

Press return.

To hide them again

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles False; killall Finder

Those will unhide all, for individual files paste

sudo chflags nohidden

Then drag the file or folder you want unhidden to your Terminal window.

It will now show the path to the item.

Press Return.

sudo chflags nohidden /private

should unhide /private regardless of the current working directory, but if you want to unhide a symbolic link such as /etc (which points to /private/etc) , then I believe you need the -h option (new in Lion):

sudo chflags -h nohidden /etc

Otherwise /etc gets followed to /private/etc, and that etc subfolder is already unhidden.

The /var/db/sudo directory is a special folder that contains directories with a "timestamp" used by sudo users. Sudo will not work if the directory doesn't have the permissions set to 0700. Repair permissions should correct the issue. The /private/etc/ directory is not hidden. The parent directory /private is. To reveal the /etc directory then set the nohidden bit on the symbolic link /etc ->

sudo chflags nohidden /etc

Sorry, you were in your ~ directory

Paste this

cd /

Press return

Then paste

sudo chflags nohidden /private

You will need to unhide private to see it on the top level of finder MacHD/private.

Thanks Mark, I tested on mine and couldn't figure out why he was getting the permissions error.

I was going to ask if he was in an admin account.

You're welcome. I just noticed kh4l did not type the command correctly (No space between nohidden and the absolute path).

Macs-MacBook-Pro:~ mac$ sudo chflags nohidden/private/etc

You need a space between nohidden and the path:

Macs-MacBook-Pro:~ mac$ sudo chflags nohidden /private/etc