how do you put a password on a computer folder, or is their a free program that does it?

Question

i want to put a password on my folders, but dont know how to do it, you can use a zip folder but that only locks the files but not the folder.

Answer 1

With Windows XP Professional, you can help protect private customer and financial information by using its Encrypting File System (EFS).
When you encrypt a file or folder, you are converting it to a format that can't be read by other people. A file encryption key is added to files or folders that you choose to encrypt. This key is needed to read the file. Windows XP Professional makes the encryption and decryption process easy—simply follow the steps below to encrypt your files or folders. When you are logged on to your computer, you'll be able to read them. Anyone who tries to use your computer without your logon will not be able to read them.
To encrypt a file or folder
Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, and then click Windows Explorer.
Right–click the file or folder that you want to encrypt, and then click Properties.
On the General tab, click Advanced.
Select the Encrypt contents to secure data check box.
Encrypt contents to use secure data
Apply to changes to this folder & subfolders & files . hit on ok

To decrypt a file or folder
Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, and then click Windows Explorer.
Right–click the file or folder that you want to decrypt, and then click Properties.
On the General tab, click Advanced.
Clear the Encrypt contents to secure data check box.

Answer 2

There are many options for password protecting files. The official MS product was "My Private Folder". MS killed it due to enterprise concerns but can still be found many at any download sites.

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Security/Lockdown/Microsoft-Private-Folder.shtml

It is simple and easy to use. It places a password protected file on you desktop that you must use a passward to unlock and lock. It will automatically lock on shut down and after a set period of time. It is handy and could be what you are looking for.

If you want to go a step further there is TrueCrypt. A freeware, open source file and folder encryption program.

http://www.truecrypt.org/downloads.php

This program is great but does take a little more user knowledge. It can do many things but in keeping in line with your question it can take a folder you already have and encypt it nad password protect it by turning it into a virtual folder. You lock and unlock this folder and when it unlocked it appears as a seperate drive on your computer. You can simply drag , drop, save to, open from it as if it was a hard drive on your system. When it is locked, it simply aperas as a file on your disk. A encrypted, password protected file.

Either of these products should suits your needs. The "Private Folder" is pretty simple to use and will protect your folder with a password. True Crypt is a bit more of a "industrial strength" solution for you. Enjoy.

Answer 3

I normally use the zip folder and put a password so that the files are locked. I donot require to lock the folder as all the contents are in the file. U can make the folder as a hidden folder

Answer 4

Haha. you may upload a password to a folder yet for me now and again it doesn't ask for a password so anybody can get into it. What you do is flow to the folder, click on the view tab then click personalize this folder. There you may replace how the folder looks, like fairly of having the photographs in it instruct formerly going into it you may have it instruct something else and also you'll also lock it. even although you do not favor to. i might want to reccomend that you're making a concentrated visitor account on your comp.i replaced into interior an similar concern as you and my kinfolk got here to stay with us and they they ended up deleting alot of my stuff now to not instruct downloading courses and one among them even downloaded a virus. e

Answer 5

Follow the link, do a search for security and there will be free programs you can lock folders with. Also some that hide them.

Answer 6

There is a cool little encryption program with a tiny footprint that allows you to encrypt a file or folder with just a couple clicks its called "encrypt on click" and is available from
http://www.2brightsparks.com/freeware/freeware-hub.html

Answer 7

go to the following website and serach for folder locking and download the tool thats best suited for u...