Guest HankL Posted August 7, 2008 Posted August 7, 2008 One question for Windows XP folders Single computer not networked 1) Is there a way that I can password protect a specific folder so that no one can see its contents and have a password necessary to get into the folder?
Guest Malke Posted August 7, 2008 Posted August 7, 2008 Re: Windows XP Folders HankL wrote: > One question for Windows XP folders Single computer not networked > > 1) Is there a way that I can password protect a specific folder so that no > one can see its contents and have a password necessary to get into the > folder? Only by zipping (compressing) it or by using third-party software (Google for something like "password protect folders"). Multi-user operating systems like XP and Vista don't use passwords to protect resources. They use permissions instead. Here is information to help you with that: How to disable Simple Sharing and set permissions on a shared folder in Windows XP (Pro only) http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307874 HOW TO: Set, View, Change, or Remove File and Folder Permissions in Windows XP http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=308418 By default in XP Home, you can only make files and folders under My Documents "private". Otherwise, to see the security tab in WinXP Home, restart in Safe mode and log on with an account that has administrator privileges. To get into Safe Mode, repeatedly tap the F8 key as the computer is starting up. This will get you to the menu where you can choose Safe Mode. Note that the file system must be NTFS, not FAT32. Malke -- MS-MVP Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic! FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ
Guest HeyBub Posted August 7, 2008 Posted August 7, 2008 Re: Windows XP Folders HankL wrote: > One question for Windows XP folders Single computer not networked > > 1) Is there a way that I can password protect a specific folder so > that no one can see its contents and have a password necessary to get > into the folder? No. XP does not use passwords. Check "permissions."
Guest John Wunderlich Posted August 7, 2008 Posted August 7, 2008 Re: Windows XP Folders "HankL" <hlaskin@bendbroadband.com> wrote in news:uLsqrlM#IHA.5040@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl: > One question for Windows XP folders Single computer not networked > > 1) Is there a way that I can password protect a specific folder so > that no one can see its contents and have a password necessary to > get into the folder? > > Not natively under Windows. However an excellent freeware 3rd party program to try is "Truecrypt" It will password protect a "virtual disk" rather than a folder. <http://www.truecrypt.org> HTH, John
Guest Gandalff Posted August 7, 2008 Posted August 7, 2008 Re: Windows XP Folders "HankL" <hlaskin@bendbroadband.com> wrote in message news:uLsqrlM%23IHA.5040@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl... > One question for Windows XP folders Single computer not networked > > 1) Is there a way that I can password protect a specific folder so that no > one can see its contents and have a password necessary to get into the > folder? > > There is a decent 3rd party utility called Folder Guard that is reasonably priced, that will allow you to password protect specific folders. Also there are quite a few "freeware" utilities that work very similar, do a google search on "folder lock" there are quite a few options both free and shareware. hope this helps Gandalf The Wizard MCDST, MCSA, MCSE, MCPD, CCNA
Guest Bruce Chambers Posted August 8, 2008 Posted August 8, 2008 Re: Windows XP Folders HankL wrote: > One question for Windows XP folders Single computer not networked > > 1) Is there a way that I can password protect a specific folder so that no > one can see its contents and have a password necessary to get into the > folder? > > 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 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 crude work-around, you can place the file in a compressed folder, and set a password to uncompress the folder to view/access its contents. Also, some applications allow the user to password-protect their specific data files. Read the specific application's Help files for further information on this capability. -- Bruce Chambers Help us help you: http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375 They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has killed a great many philosophers. ~ Denis Diderot
Guest Gandalff Posted August 8, 2008 Posted August 8, 2008 Re: Windows XP Folders "Bruce Chambers" <bchambers@cable0ne.n3t> wrote in message news:%23v30HKP%23IHA.3656@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... > HankL wrote: >> One question for Windows XP folders Single computer not networked >> >> 1) Is there a way that I can password protect a specific folder so that >> no one can see its contents and have a password necessary to get into the >> folder? >> >> > > > 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 > > 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 crude work-around, you can place the file in a compressed folder, > and set a password to uncompress the folder to view/access its contents. > Also, some applications allow the user to password-protect their specific > data files. Read the specific application's Help files for further > information on this capability. > > > -- > > Bruce Chambers > > Help us help you: > http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html > > http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375 > > They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary > safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin > > Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand > Russell > > The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has > killed a great many philosophers. > ~ Denis Diderot Yes, I like that quick work around idea Denis, very good. I think I will use that one myself :-) cheers Gandalf The Wizard MCDST, MCSA, MCSE, MCPD, CCNA
Guest Patrick Keenan Posted August 9, 2008 Posted August 9, 2008 Re: Windows XP Folders "HankL" <hlaskin@bendbroadband.com> wrote in message news:uLsqrlM%23IHA.5040@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl... > One question for Windows XP folders Single computer not networked > > 1) Is there a way that I can password protect a specific folder so that no > one can see its contents and have a password necessary to get into the > folder? There is, but it doesn't use anything that's included in XP. *If* you have XP Pro, not Home or MMC, you can encrypt the folder, but this will not provide *any* protection once a person is into your account. And if you do this, you must take the extra steps, which shouldn't be optional but are, to back up the account credentials. Again, with the XP tools, once you're in the account, you have access to any files associated with it. To do what you want, you must use 3rd party encryption tools. HTH -pk
Recommended Posts