seting a password for files and folders

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Guest

How do I set a password for opening certain files.
I was using a friends computer and noticed he can password encrypt files and
folders. Right click on a file and Encryption option can be selected. Then a
password is put in. Every time that file is accessed the password has to be
typed. How do I get that on my computer? I have Windows XP pro.
 
Open Help and Support and search for Encryption. In Suggested Topics select Encrypt a file or folder.
 
steve said:
How do I set a password for opening certain files.
I was using a friends computer and noticed he can password encrypt
files and
folders. Right click on a file and Encryption option can be selected.
Then a
password is put in. Every time that file is accessed the password has
to be
typed. How do I get that on my computer? I have Windows XP pro.
Click to expand...


Windows XP doesn't bother with password per file/folder. It uses logins
and permissions assigned to them. So define your own account if you
already don't have one and use permissions on the folder or file (if the
path to it isn't under your user profile which already has permissions
to let you see your files but not let others see them unless they are
admins). Although Doug mentioned using EFS, you will still not be
queried for a password. Your login account in the security database
identifies that you have permission to read/write those EFS-protected
files so you will not be queried for a password. Other users not
included in your EFS certificate will not be allowed to read/write your
EFS-protected files. If you use EFS, remember to export the EFS
certificate since you'll need it on rebuilding or reinstalling Windows
XP to read those EFS-protected files.

If you want the per-folder password extension that your friend has then
ask your friend what software they installed to provide that
non-standard feature. Maybe your user is using something like TrueCrypt
which uses encrypt volumes (or containers) in which files are stored and
which will prompt for a password when trying to access that
password-protected container. Only your friend knows what they
installed ... maybe.
 
steve said:
How do I set a password for opening certain files.
Click to expand...

Right click > Send To > ZIP compressed folder. Doubleclick the
..zip file > File > Add Password.
 
steve said:
How do I set a password for opening certain files.
I was using a friends computer and noticed he can password encrypt files and
folders. Right click on a file and Encryption option can be selected. Then a
password is put in. Every time that file is accessed the password has to be
typed. How do I get that on my computer? I have Windows XP pro.
Click to expand...



Like WinNT and Win2K before it, 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

Of course, if you have WinXP Pro, as your friend apparently does,
you can encrypt the desired files/folders. Just make sure that you
properly back up and safeguard your encryption certificates and keys.
If the your encryption certificates and keys were not backed up before
the reinstallation, and the workstation isn't part of a domain (whose
Administrator might act as the designated recovery agent), those files
are gone, for all practical purposes. Encryption works well and there
is no "back door" or hack to access the files. (Wouldn't be much point
to EFS if it were easily by-passed.)

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


--

Bruce Chambers

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