Can I password protect folders.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Charlie
  • Start date Start date
C

Charlie

A friend told me that I can password protect folders on my hard drive,
but he doesn't know how to do it. Is there a way to do this.

I would like it so that no one can open my personal finance folders
without a password. Is this possible?
 
Charlie said:
A friend told me that I can password protect folders on my hard drive,
but he doesn't know how to do it.
Click to expand...

Thats because you can't do it, with a normal XP install. Not in the sense
he's talking about anyway.
Is there a way to do this.
Click to expand...

Not without 3rd party software, no.
I would like it so that no one can open my personal finance folders
without a password. Is this possible?
Click to expand...

Oh yeah, thats possible. Ensure the disk is formatted with NTFS, store the
data somewhere in "My documents" or a folder inside that, set a password for
your account, and your my documents area private.

Only you or people who know your password can log on as you, only you,
people who you give your password to, and computer administrators, can now
see your files.
 
Messy, but you can do it using the inbuilt XP Zip facility
- Select files you want password protected
- Right click then Send To Compressed (Zipped) folder
- Open the .Zip folder just created
- Go File / Add Password
- Delete the original files

John Allen
 
Greetings --

Like Win2K, WinXP's file security paradigm doesn't rely on, or
allow, the cumbersome method of password protection for individual
applications, files, or folders. Instead, it uses the superior method
of explicitly assigning file/folder permissions to individual users
and/or groups.

HOW TO Create and Configure User Accounts in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;279783

HOW TO Set, View, Change, or Remove File and Folder Permissions
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;q308418

HOW TO Set, View, Change, or Remove Special Permissions for Files and
Folders
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;[LN];Q308419

HOW TO Set the My Documents Folder as Private in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;298399

Of course, if you have WinXP Pro, you can encrypt the desired
files/folders.

Best Practices for Encrypting File System
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;223316

As a work-around, you can place the file in a compressed folder,
and set a password to uncompress the folder to view/access its
contents.


Bruce Chambers

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