How to Password Protect Folders

Hi I would like to password protect a few folders on Windows 7, how can I do this?

Ideally when someone would click on the folder there would be a prompt asking for a password, similar to what happens when you make a .zip and password protect it.

The only software I found till now which comes closest to my needs is Protected Folder, however you have to open the program each time and unlock the folder you want to use, then re lock it when ready, it's not so straightforward as I was imagining. Also I don't know if access will be blocked from other users on the network, once the folder is shared.

Would love to know if you guys know of some other software that better meets my needs. Thanks.

In addition to Golden, you may see if some of the answers of this thread helps:
Securing a zip file

Hey there, I know this thread is pretty old but I'm after the same sort of thing as the OP. I don't want to have to open a separate program every time I need to access the locked folder (to unlock and re-lock it) I just want something like a password prompt to appear when I double click the folder. The link to JC Software no long exists sadly and I cannot find that application anywhere on his website.

Any other ideas? Again, zip archives with passwords on them are still a bit more complex than what I'm after. I just want it so that if I double click a folder, and I know the password I can view it, but if someone else does, they won't be able to.

Thanks in advance,

Miles :)

You can try the software dirlock, but not run in win 7 64 bits