Re: Locked Files?

From: André Gulliksen (andre.gulliksen_at_start.no)
Date: 12/04/04 

Date: Sat, 4 Dec 2004 10:52:08 +0100

Jenny A. wrote:
> Hello, I was just wondering if there was a way to lock your files or
> password protect them? For example, if I had a collection of word
> documents in the My Documents folder, could I password protect them
> some how?

NTFS has the option of encrypting individual files, but I do not think this
is supported in XP Home.

The other option, as already pointed out, is to use third party software.
There are plenty of free solutions, which can solve your problem in multiple
ways. PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) can be used to encrypt and decrypt
individual files. A lot of archiving software (such as WinRAR) also supports
encryption, so you can use these to a similar effect. The drawback of both
of these alternatives is that you need to work with unencrypted copies of
your documents before you encrypt them. Unless you are _very_ careful, these
copies are later possible to salvage from your hard drive.

You are probably better off just using the built-in password functionality
of Word.

> Also, what is the difference between a folder and a
> briefcase?

The briefcase is a folder specially designed for synchronizing, i.e. if you
have multiple copies of the same documents (at home, at work, on a portable
etc) the briefcase can be used to keep all copies in sync. Stick to normal
folders unless you need this functionality.

> I have windows xp home edition. Any help would be greatly
> appreciated! Thanks.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Password protecting a file and folder
    ... looked online and in the Help on Window XP Professional and can find ... You can't password protect but XP does allow you to encrypt a folder for ... Select the folder ... Check the "Encrypt contents to secure data" option ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics)
  • Re: password
    ... > There must be a way to password protect just one specific file. ... Try using PGP/GnuPG to encrypt a file to avoid reading. ... Or use WinZip to package the whole folder. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin)
  • Re: Password protecting a file and folder
    ... looked online and in the Help on Window XP Professional and can find ... You can't password protect but XP does allow you to encrypt a folder for added security. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics)
  • Re: password protect a folder
    ... If you encrypt or password protect the folder make sure that you have a backup of the unencrypted/unprotected folder and a backup of the encryption key! ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Password Protection
    ... You need to lock your computer when you leave it. ... keyboards that you can do that by pressing a couple keys or create a ... > means via WK2 or XP, or any other Windows platform, to password protect ... > folder one one user likes, such that the folder is ONLY available when ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin)
Loading