FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
G:\projects>java -version
java version "1.5.0_05"
Java(TM) 2 Runtime Environment, Standard Edition (build 1.5.0_05-b05)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 1.5.0_05-b05, mixed mode)

ADDITIONAL OS VERSION INFORMATION :
Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
When opening a hidden file for write access the FileNotFoundException exception is thrown. If you remove the hidden attribute (via attrib) the exception is not thrown and application works correctly.

I did find bug ID 4624413. But problem still seem to exists.

STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
Run attached java code. It will create a c:\temp\file1.txt file.

Hide the file: on command prompt type: "attrib +h c:\temp\file1.txt"

Run attached code again, error will occur.

  To revert: On command prompt type: "attrib -h c:\temp\file1.txt"

Running code again will write the same content with no error message


EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
EXPECTED -
Hidden file to be updated with new content.
ACTUAL -
G:\projects>java -cp . HiddenFileTest
java.io.FileNotFoundException: C:\temp\file1.txt (Access is denied)
        at java.io.FileOutputStream.open(Native Method)
        at java.io.FileOutputStream.<init>(Unknown Source)
        at java.io.FileOutputStream.<init>(Unknown Source)
        at java.io.FileWriter.<init>(Unknown Source)
        at HiddenFileTest.main(HiddenFileTest.java:7)

ERROR MESSAGES/STACK TRACES THAT OCCUR :
G:\projects>java -cp . HiddenFileTest
java.io.FileNotFoundException: C:\temp\file1.txt (Access is denied)
        at java.io.FileOutputStream.open(Native Method)
        at java.io.FileOutputStream.<init>(Unknown Source)
        at java.io.FileOutputStream.<init>(Unknown Source)
        at java.io.FileWriter.<init>(Unknown Source)
        at HiddenFileTest.main(HiddenFileTest.java:7)

REPRODUCIBILITY :
This bug can be reproduced always.

---------- BEGIN SOURCE ----------
import java.io.*;

public class HiddenFileTest {
    // Main function, launches JFileChooser to select a directory
    public static void main( String[] args ) {
        try {
            FileWriter fw = new FileWriter( "C:\\temp\\file1.txt" );
            PrintWriter out = new PrintWriter( fw );
            out.println( "This is a test 2" );
            out.close();
        } catch( IOException e ) {
            e.printStackTrace( System.out );
        }
    }

}
---------- END SOURCE ----------

CUSTOMER SUBMITTED WORKAROUND :
Did not find one. Something along the lines of

File f = new File( ... )
f.setHidden( false )
... update content of file via FileOutputStream ...
f.setHidden( true )

would be a workaround

Release Regression From : 1.4.1
The above release value was the last known release where this
bug was known to work. Since then there has been a regression.