Windows 7: Password protected folders without programs?

andexls · 13 Jan 2010

Back in Windows XP, there was a trick to make a folder totally inacessible. It was a bat file with comands that would change the name of the folder to some special name, which would make the folder inacessible, and not localizable through "Find (F3)". The code of this bat was the following:

Code:

Quote: cls
@ECHO OFF
title Folder Private
if EXIST "Control  Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" goto UNLOCK
if NOT  EXIST Private goto MDLOCKER
:CONFIRM
echo Are you sure you want to  lock the folder(Y/N)
set/p "cho=>"
if %cho%==Y goto LOCK
if  %cho%==y goto LOCK
if %cho%==n goto END
if %cho%==N goto END
echo  Invalid choice.
goto CONFIRM
:LOCK
ren Private "Control  Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}"
attrib +h +s "Control  Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}"
echo Folder locked
goto  End
:UNLOCK
echo Enter password to unlock folder
set/p  "pass=>"
if NOT %pass%== password here goto FAIL
attrib -h -s  "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}"
ren "Control  Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" Private
echo Folder  Unlocked successfully
goto End
:FAIL
echo Invalid password
goto  end
:MDLOCKER
md Private
echo Private created successfully
goto  End
:End

There's some flaws in that method: the person could enable seeing the hidden folders and extensions, and just remove the code at the end of the folder, to make it accessible. Or the person could check the bat file for the password, but this could be resolved by compiling the bat file to an exe. Anyway it's nice for hidding files from casual computer users.

Well, the fact is that it doesn't work in Vista or 7. Is there any other "special name" that could be replaced by that one, in order to make it work on Windows 7?

richc46 · 13 Jan 2010

Try this. Go to folder right click...properties...security...permissions. You could give permission only to yourself. This does not work of course if others are using your account. In that case set up separate accounts.

andexls · 13 Jan 2010

Quote: Originally Posted by richc46

Try this. Go to folder right click...properties...security...permissions. You could give permission only to yourself. This does not work of course if others are using your account. In that case set up separate accounts.

Nah, I meant protecting it even from the actual user. The problem is: sometimes there's some friends here, and I leave my user logged in for them, since all the games, programs and stuff are already configured here. But those mother****ers insist to search for my porn files when I'm not looking. I would like to prevent this by password locking the folder.

richc46 · 13 Jan 2010

Quote: Originally Posted by andexls

Quote: Originally Posted by richc46

Try this. Go to folder right click...properties...security...permissions. You could give permission only to yourself. This does not work of course if others are using your account. In that case set up separate accounts.

Nah, I meant protecting it even from the actual user. The problem is: sometimes there's some friends here, and I leave my user logged in for them, since all the games, programs and stuff are already configured here. But those mother****ers insist to search for my porn files when I'm not looking. I would like to prevent this by password locking the folder.

In lieu of a better way, you can open another account and put all your private files in that account. Give permission only to the second account.

krazdkiller · 13 Jan 2010

Quote: Originally Posted by richc46

Quote: Originally Posted by andexls

Quote: Originally Posted by richc46

Try this. Go to folder right click...properties...security...permissions. You could give permission only to yourself. This does not work of course if others are using your account. In that case set up separate accounts.

Nah, I meant protecting it even from the actual user. The problem is: sometimes there's some friends here, and I leave my user logged in for them, since all the games, programs and stuff are already configured here. But those mother****ers insist to search for my porn files when I'm not looking. I would like to prevent this by password locking the folder.

In lieu of a better way, you can open another account and put all your private files in that account. Give permission only to the second account.

make sure that you password that account.

zigzag3143 · 13 Jan 2010

Or Just encrypt the folder. Keeps prying eyes out completely see PGP

richc46 · 13 Jan 2010

Quote: Originally Posted by zigzag3143

Or Just encrypt the folder. Keeps prying eyes out completely see PGP

Yes, much easier way, if you have an edition of Win 7, higher than Home Premium. If you do, I, too suggest encryption. You paid extra for that feature.

DeaconFrost · 13 Jan 2010

Even if you don't have a higher version, you could always use something like TrueCrypt.

andexls · 13 Jan 2010

I didn't want to encrypt the folder, just wanted to password protect it.
Anyway, I just found a nice and simple program to do it: Folder Protector.

Thanks for your help!

richc46 · 13 Jan 2010

Sorry we could not be more help; happy that you did find a solution.

Windows 7: Password protected folders without programs?

Password protected folders without programs? problems?