Is there a free way to encrypt a file in Windows XP? e.g. on my linux I can do vi -x to encrypt a file.?

Question

I verified the drive is NTSF. When I right click a file and choose properties and click Advanced button - "Encrypt contents to secure data" and the Details button next to it are ghosted out. Thoughts?

Answer 1

How to Encrypt a File
You can encrypt files only on volumes that are formatted with the NTFS file system. To encrypt a file:

1. Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, and then click Windows Explorer.
2. Locate the file that you want, right-click the file, and then click Properties.
3. On the General tab, click Advanced.
4. Under Compress or Encrypt attributes, select the Encrypt contents to secure data check box, and then click OK.
5. Click OK. If the file is located in an unencrypted folder, you receive an Encryption Warning dialog box. Use one of the following steps: • If you want to encrypt only the file, click Encrypt the file only, and then click OK.
• If you want to encrypt the file and the folder in which it is located, click Encrypt the file and the parent folder, and then click OK.

If another user attempts to open an encrypted file, that user is unable to do so. For example, if another user attempts to open an encrypted Microsoft Word document, that user receives a message similar to:
Word cannot open the document: username does not have access privileges
(drive:\filename.doc)
If another user attempts to copy or move an encrypted document to another location on the hard disk, the following message appears:
Error Copying File or Folder
Cannot copy filename: Access is denied.
Make sure the disk is not full or write-protected and that the file is not currently in use.

Answer 2

Before you can encrypt a file you should transfer your file system into NTFS, its very easy and safe. Do the following:

NOTE: Although the chance of corruption or data loss during the conversion from FAT to NTFS is minimal, it is best to perform a full backup of the data on the drive that it is to be converted prior to executing the convert command. It is also recommended to verify the integrity of the backup before proceeding, as well as to run RDISK and update the emergency repair disk (ERD).

To convert a FAT partition to NTFS, perform the following steps.
1.Click Start, click Programs, and then click Command Prompt.
2.At the command prompt, type CONVERT [driveletter]: /FS:NTFS.
3.Convert.exe will attempt to convert the partition to NTFS.

CONVERT may present the following error:
Convert cannot gain exclusive access to the [driveletter]:, so it cannot convert it now. Would you like to schedule it to be converted the next time the system restarts (Y/N)?
This error will occur if any of the following three conditions exist:
•If you run the CONVERT command while the current directory is on the drive that is to be converted (for example, you type CONVERT F: /FS:NTFS at the F:\> prompt). To solve this, either answer "Yes" to the prompt and restart the system, or change to a directory on another drive and retype the command.
•If an application has a file open on the drive that is to be converted. To solve this, either answer "Yes" to the prompt and the drive will be converted the next time the computer is restarted, or close any applications that may be using files on the drive to be converted. Remember that this also applies to users accessing files on the drive over the network. This also includes a page file that resides on the drive.
•If you attempt to convert the partition from which the operating system is running. It is not possible to convert the boot partition while the operating system is running. To convert the boot partition, it will always be necessary to issue the CONVERT command, answer Yes to the prompt, and then restart the computer. The partition will be converted the next time the computer is restarted. As an alternative, it is possible to boot the computer to an installation of Windows on a different partition and convert the partition from that installation of Windows.



How to Encrypt a File
You can encrypt files only on volumes that are formatted with the NTFS file system. To encrypt a file: 1. Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, and then click Windows Explorer.
2. Locate the file that you want, right-click the file, and then click Properties.
3. On the General tab, click Advanced.
4. Under Compress or Encrypt attributes, select the Encrypt contents to secure data check box, and then click OK.
5. Click OK. If the file is located in an unencrypted folder, you receive an Encryption Warning dialog box. Use one of the following steps: • If you want to encrypt only the file, click Encrypt the file only, and then click OK.
• If you want to encrypt the file and the folder in which it is located, click Encrypt the file and the parent folder, and then click OK.

If another user attempts to open an encrypted file, that user is unable to do so. For example, if another user attempts to open an encrypted Microsoft Word document, that user receives a message similar to:
Word cannot open the document: username does not have access privileges
(drive:\filename.doc)
If another user attempts to copy or move an encrypted document to another location on the hard disk, the following message appears:
Error Copying File or Folder
Cannot copy filename: Access is denied.
Make sure the disk is not full or write-protected and that the file is not currently in use.

Answer 3

It would be more work to use than the above suggestions, but I believe you can get gnupg for Windows.

At least you can run it under cygwin. Cygwin has other advantages if you're used to using Linux :)