You cannot password protect individual folders in XP.But access can be
restricted by assigning permissions to drives, folders and files.
In case of XP Professional: Open Windows Explorer> Tools>Folder
Options>View and uncheck
Use Simple File Sharing. Now, when you right click on a drive, folder
or file and select Properties> Security
tab> assign or deny permissions based on user name or user
group membership.
But in XP Home by default, you can only make files and folders under My
Documents "private">right clicking a folder or file>
Properties>Sharing. To change the permissions on other folders boot in
Safe Mode and log in on the built in Administrator
account.Now you will find the Security tab in Properties, and you
can assign permissions based on user name or group membership.
see:-
HOW TO: Set, View, Change, or Remove File and Folder Permissions in Windows
XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308418
HOW TO: Set, View, Change, or Remove Special Permissions for Files and
Folders
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;308419
HOW TO: Disable Simplified Sharing and Password-Protect a Shared Folder in
Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;307874
regards,
ssg MS-MVP
pronetworks.org