Anyone who knows a lot about computers: Privatizing on a laptop?

Question

Please read carefully.
I want my new laptop to be completely private. You know how you can go to My Documents and open up other users' folders? Well, I don't want that to happen. In case someone wants to have their own desktop on my computer (like my sister), I don't want them to be able to open my folders from their documents folder. I know I can set a password for my desktop, and I will do that, but that doesn't solve the other problem. Is there any way to prevent access to those folders from other desktops?

Thank you so much, Dustiiart! I knew there was a way to do that, but I had no idea how. Very helpful-you'll definitely get best answer.

Answer 1

Right click on the My Documents folder, then click Properties,
there is a tab that says SHARE...click on that ... you'll see an option that says "make this folder private" click that check box...you'll then be prompted for a password I believe, enter one and the folder is then only accessible by you.

You can also create two desktops...so at login you can access your desktop after entering a chosen password, no one else can enter your desktop with out knowing your password. You can then also set up a desktop for your sister....

Answer 2

Its definately possible.

You can make any folder inside your account profile. You account root should be "C:\Documents and Settings\Account_Name" if you installed windows to the C drive. Any subdirectories under this folder can be made private.

1. Right click on any folder in your account.
2. Select Properities
3. Select the Sharing Tab
4. Click Make This Folder Private
5. Click Apply
6. Windows will make sure your account has a password
7. Click OK


Do this to your "My Documents" folder and nobody will have access to those files but you.

Answer 3

Dustilart made a great suggestion. Another thing you can do is to st up different accounts. That way, you each have your own account, your own files, your own folders etc. Click Start>Control Panel>User Accounts>Create a New Account>Follow the instructions. Then click on YOUR name and click add a password. Now you each have your own account with your own folders. Good luck. Hope I was of some help!!

Answer 4

Set them up with a limited account access. The reason you can access everyone's 'My Documents' folder is because your account has Administrative rights
To setup an account
Start
Settings
Control Panel
User Accounts
**This will also prevent them from installing some software on the computer as well.

Answer 5

You can prevent others from gaining access to folders and settings by setting yourself up as the Administrator and Limited User. You should only use the Administrator account when you need to change settings or download something. All other users should have Guest Accounts. This Microsoft site has the instructions for setting up the account(s).

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/winxp/accounts.mspx

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/tips/advanced/adminaccount.mspx

Answer 6

well have a password to ur comp
and any1 else that goes on ur comp can be a guest while u be the administrator...
go to control panels
user accounts
computer administrater
on this page u'll have create password.... and other stuff.... u can browse through them and change at will... theres also an option sumwhere that lets u choose what u want ur guests to view and be able to use.. etc.. like internet and programs and stuff...

Answer 7

Dustiiart's answer is correct, with one caveat - it works only for drives formatted in NTFS. FAT32 drives can't take advantage of that.

If you use MS's own power toys, you can turn that feature off all together, plus do some other nifty things.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx

Answer 8

go to control panle then user or passwords put in what you want and if they don`t have the key word to get in then you know