With WindowsXP how do I create a password secure file?

Question

I have grandchildren who use my computer and I don't want them in some of the files.

Answer 1

Hi Diana!
You can add a password to a compressed file or folder in Windows XP.
To compress a folder, right-click the desktop or inside any folder, and choose New, Compressed Folder (in Windows Me) or New, Compressed (zipped) Folder (in Windows XP). This adds a new folder in that location with the default name 'New Compressed Folder'. Type a name for the folder and press Enter. Double-click the folder to open it.
Now open Windows Explorer or any folder window , and select the folders and/or files you want to password-protect. Use the right mouse button to drag the items into the new compressed folder. When you release the mouse button, choose Move Here. (If you left-drag, only copies will be added to the compressed folders, leaving the originals unprotected.)
If necessary, click the title bar of the compressed-folder window to activate it. Choose File, Add a password in Windows XP. Type your desired password in the 'Password' and 'Confirm Password' boxes, and then click OK. From now on, only users who know the password will be able to open, extract, copy, or move the files and subfolders to another folder; Windows will prompt you for your password before permitting any of these operations. If you send the folder to people who don't have Windows XP or Me, they can uncompress the folder using a program such as WinZip, but they'll still need to know the password before they can access the contents.

Keep these things in mind when you add passwords to files and folders:
All of the files in your compressed folder are password-protected at the time you create the password. Any files you add to the folder subsequently will not be password-protected, so make sure the compressed folder contains every file you need to protect before you create the password. To protect files that you add later, open the compressed folder and use the File, Decrypt or File, Remove Password command, and then the File, Encrypt or File, Add a Password command again to password-protect all the files in the folder. You could also compress individual files and give each its own password.

Undo the lock: If you decide to remove the password protection from a file or folder, you have two options. The first is to extract all the contents, either by dragging the file (or files) out of their window or by right-clicking the folder and choosing Extract All (if you prefer the "wizard" approach). Your second option is to open the compressed folder and choose File, Decrypt (in Windows Me) or File, Remove Password (in Windows XP). Either way, Windows will prompt you for your original password

I would also reccomend backing up these files to cd or dvd, or rewritable media if you plan to ad more files to these folders in the future.

Answer 2

I suggest opening a new account for your Grandchildren. Click start-control panel-user accounts-create a new account-enter name-limited user account. The new user will not be able to see your documents. Make sure the account you use has a password, in the control panel user accounts you can create a password.

Answer 3

go to the file right click it then view properties and a tab should allow you to put a password on it to view it. or hide the files like in program files

Answer 4

generally conversing, that is working equipment based. With a suitable working equipment you may regulate a information permissions so as that in the process easy terms the owner can open it. regrettably residing house windows does no longer in all probability take permissions heavily so which you will could use the failings human beings have stated. the alternative is to get Linux which takes secure practices extra heavily.

Answer 5

click on the file go to security and type in a passcode