Putting a Password on Files

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Guest

I would like to put a password on a certain file in my computer, I've tried
using the Information and Help Center but I can't seem to find what I'm
looking for anywhere.
 
You cannot password protect a file in XP, natively. You can encrypt the file or folder.

Make absolutely sure that you read up on file encryption prior to doing this. There are some pitfalls that are associated with the encryption certificates being backed up that must be avoided. This cannot be stressed enough because without following the best practices for file encryption, you will be in danger of losing all of the valuable data that has been encrypted. When you back up the encryption certificates, they should be stored on removeable media other than the removeable drive where your encrypted backup files are stored.

Read the following articles thoroughly.

Best practices for the Encrypting File System:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/223316

How To Encrypt a Folder in Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308989

How To Encrypt a File in Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307877

How To Remove File Encryption in Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308993

HOW TO: Share Access to an Encrypted File in Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308991
 
You cannot password protect individual files/folders in XP. You restrict access by assigning permissions to drives, folders and files.

To do this, you must be running NTFS as your file system on the drive in question. If your hard disk/partition is not NTFS you will need to convert it. To do this, open a Command Prompt window and enter the following command:

CONVERT X: /FS:NTFS

Where X: is the drive letter you wish to convert. You may also want to see http://www.aumha.org/a/ntfscvt.htm to ensure that you're getting the optimal conversion.

After this step is completed and you've rebooted the computer, if necessary:

XP PRO: In Windows Explorer, go to Tools, Folder Options, View and uncheck Use Simple File Sharing. Now, when you right click on a drive, folder or file (on an NTFS partition) and select Properties, you'll see a Security tab. Here you can assign or deny permissions based on user name or user group membership.

XP Home: By default, you can only make files and folders under My Documents "private". This is done by right clicking a folder or file and selecting Properties, Sharing. To change the permissions on other folders, you need to boot the computer to Safe Mode and log in on the built in Administrator account. In this mode, you'll see the Security tab in Properties, and you can assign permissions based on user name or group membership.

How Do I Get the Security Tab in Properties - XP Home (makes the Security tab appear outside of Safe Mode)
http://www.dougknox.com, Win XP Tips section

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
 
|I would like to put a password on a certain file in my computer, I've tried
| using the Information and Help Center but I can't seem to find what I'm
| looking for anywhere.

XP Pro a simple approach (will stop non savvy users not users with some knowledge)

To hide a file or folder that is in My Documents
1.Open My Documents
If the file or folder you want to hide is not located in My Documents or its subfolders, use Search to find it. To open Search, click Start, and then click Search.
2.Right-click the file or folder, and then click Properties.
3.On the General tab, select the Hidden check box.

Once hidden how do I find it again?

If the file or folder is under My Documents
Click Start, and then click My Documents.
To view hidden files, on the Tools menu in any folder window, click Folder Options. On the View tab, under Advanced settings, select Show hidden files and folders.
If located somewhere else on the hard drive simply turn on the option of viewing hidden files Click Start, Open My Computer, Select the Tools menu and click Folder Options.
Select the View Tab, Under the Hidden files and folders heading select Show hidden files and folders.
 
This is very simple, and I've done it a number of times - and it will
work with any version of windows - simply make a passworded ZIP file
using winzip or PKZIP - Bob
 
Nit said:
I would like to put a password on a certain file in my computer, I've tried
using the Information and Help Center but I can't seem to find what I'm
looking for anywhere.
Click to expand...


I'm surprised nobody responded "Switch to Linux." There's always people who say things like that even though it's not helpful at
all.


Anyway, as mentioned, you could use an archiver to password protect it, use some third-party encryption system, or just use NTFS
permissions. There aren't too many options when it comes too password protecting file system objects.
 
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