Putting a Password on a folder

[CubicalGangster]

This may have nothing to do with programming but i thought if i needed an answer to post here.

How can I put a password on a folder on my PC? I am running windows xp if that helps. I do not need one for an account on my comp just the one folder to keep fools outta my work at my house.

[Hackmaster]

huh...?

Um...creating a password file is easy... if you are doing what I think you are.... which is to make a file that holds multiple passwords.

just type it into notepad...

if you want encryption, then you are going to to need to make an algorhythmn to encrypt it... and then, yes, coding helps.

[Cervantes]

Huh? No, that's not what he wants at all. He wants to protect a single folder with a password, not create a file to remember all his passwords.

I'm not sure how to do this, but I know a few things: you'll need to be the owner of the folder; any administrator will be able to see the folder (I think); putting the sensitive files in your home folder would probably be easiest.

[CubicalGangster]

uhhhh..... can i get that in laymens terms just how to put a password on a regular folder so in order to access it I have to type in the password

[rdrake]

Install a real operating system that has file permissions, then change ownership of the folder to the user in question. You must login as that user in order to access the files.

If you're on winders, use something like WinRAR in order to encrypt it with a password. That's about it.

[md]

windows 2k and on actually uses a VERY good file permission model, arguably it's better then the standard *nix model. Unfortunately it only really works if you setup multiple user accounts (as you'd have in linux), if you only have a single user account that everyone shares you're boned.

[bugzpodder]

of course, i learned a lot about FS in posix and windoze in my OS class, but proceed to forget everything. In anycase, look into magic folders. i remember using it back in the 98 days to hide stuff, hehe fun. probably not free though

[bugzpodder]

google cant answer everything, but it can sure answer a lot (Even that magic question with 42 as an answer)

http://www.practicalpc.co.uk/computing/windows/xpencrypt1.htm

[cool dude]

surprised nobody mentioned this. here is an easy way without downloading any software.

1. right click on desktop
2. new - compressed folder
3. place any files that you want to encrypt into this folder you just made
4. click on the files you want to add a password to and then click on file add password.

[Clayton]

Uhh...

rdrake wrote:

If you're on winders, use something like WinRAR in order to encrypt it with a password. That's about it.