diff --git a/Lib/idlelib/NEWS.txt b/Lib/idlelib/NEWS.txt
index 5c08a92..06e4ad4 100644
--- a/Lib/idlelib/NEWS.txt
+++ b/Lib/idlelib/NEWS.txt
@@ -3,6 +3,9 @@
 
 *Release date: XX-FEB-2008*
 
+- Could not open files in .idlerc directory if latter was hidden on Windows.  
+  Issue 1743, Issue 1862. (backport r60225, r60745)
+
 - format_paragraph_event wasn't returning a 'break' (backport r59453)
 
 - Corrected some bugs in AutoComplete.  Also, Page Up/Down in ACW implemented;                                                                               
diff --git a/Lib/idlelib/configHandler.py b/Lib/idlelib/configHandler.py
index 826fb5d..3ddb4ed 100644
--- a/Lib/idlelib/configHandler.py
+++ b/Lib/idlelib/configHandler.py
@@ -142,7 +142,12 @@
 
         """
         if not self.IsEmpty():
-            cfgFile=open(self.file,'w')
+            fname = self.file
+            try:
+                cfgFile = open(fname, 'w')
+            except IOError:
+                os.unlink(fname)
+                cfgFile = open(fname, 'w')
             self.write(cfgFile)
         else:
             self.RemoveFile()