Hidden 'Application Data' folder on XP

[Mark E. Powell]

Using the altsplash auto-load architecture, I have one user for whom the loader hangs.  His specialFolderPath(35) returns as

C:/Documents and Settings/All Users/Application Data

but he says he has no such folder, which leads me guess is that it is hidden and that its invisibility is preventing the write to or the read from the directory.

Is there something special I must do to make this directory usable if hidden?

Mark