Solved Locking a folder... Possible in Windows 7?

[kdogg]

Is it possible to lock a folder within Windows 7 so NO one can enter it? Not even myself with Admin rights, without knowing a password.

Lets just say I have this folder called, um, "X"... Which we could also call "XXX" if we wanted to, cough...

I have a 14 and a 16 year old who use my desktop to watch movies and I would like them to not be able to enter or find due to indexing said folder called "X"... I don't care if they can SEE the folder, I just want it to pop up a prompt for a password if and when someone double clicks on it, trying to enter it, even IF they are logged in on my login, the one with Admin access.

Is this possible? If not within Windows 7, are there any programs that will do this? I know you can use programs to make encrypted container files on the drives but the bitch with those is that you have to pre-set the size so for example if you make one 20GB, and it's only got 1~2GB of data in it, it still uses the full 20GB. I just want to password protect a couple folders even when people are on my own login.

Thanks!

 

[gregrocker]

Zip the file or folder using 7zip, assign a password, test it, then delete the source file.

 

[richc46]

Here you go. A bit complicated, but it will work
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/96979-folder-lock-password-without-any-software.html

I like this one better
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/394-hidden-files-folders-show-hide.html

Hope they are interesting folders.

 

[Night Hawk]

It's quite viable! That will require changing the permissions however. So make sure you can still open it up once those are changed otherwise you will locked out as well. How To Lock And Password Protect Folder In Windows 7/Vista

 

[kdogg]

AHH it's kinda like .htaccess access! Why didn't I think of something like that!

Thanks guys.

 

[wilywombat]

@gregrocker, If you zip up the files, even with a password, anyone who tries to open the zip will still see a list of the file names contained in the zip ( which could be embarrasing..cough, cough!). To overcome this, if you create a new passworded zip file with just the passworded zip file in it, then all that is visible is the title of the original zip file and not the original contents list.

 

[winsupertweaker]

Zip the file or folder using 7zip, assign a password, test it, then delete the source file.

I have to agree with Greg. I have WinZip since 1998 and I have a bunch of files that are confidential. I go to the folder, select all, right click and use the Shell to send them to WinZip. In the process, I use a password. I then delete the source files and the zip file sits in the folder ready for me to open it whenever I want. It's a lot easier than using the system's permissions. Plus the files are quickly send in a zip file via email if you ever have the need.

WinZip is a lot less bulky than WinRAR IMO. I just upgraded to WinZip 14.5, change it legacy Toolbar and it works great withi Windows 7. A good investment for 20 bucks for lots of reasons. Good luck!

 

[Night Hawk]

7Zip is used here without fuss. As far as Winrar I never found anything bulky about that one amd has a made a good replacement for Winzip even with only the shareware version on.

One option for securing an entire folder is to encrypt a large enough usb flash drive to store them there. That can take with you in your pocket and still only access files with a password lock inplace. You wouldn't have any worry about files and folders being left vulnerable on your desktop. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...ption-internal-data-hard-drives-turn-off.html

That could also apply to a second storage drive or opt to store files on an external usb HD and unplug to go!

 

[Kliton x64]

lock with Winrar yes.

 

[eldinv]

Please use WinRAR or something similar and add a password.

I messed around with encryption and locked myself out of lots of data, haha.

 

[Night Hawk]

Please use WinRAR or something similar and add a password.

I messed around with encryption and locked myself out of lots of data, haha.

Here I have a different solution for making certain drives simply "disappear" rather then forgetting or not being able to decrypt a drive. Note the 3 screens here where the first shows two separate drives about to vanish one being in an external usb enclosure no longer seen in the second.

In the 3rd you will notice another drive vanished as well namely a drive image that was mounted. "The case of the missing drives"

 

[TeeDoubleUDee]

Thanks to the links on here I've just downloaded and installed "My Lockbox". Seems to work great and free so long as you only need one folder (no limit to number of sub folders) plus you can lock it automatically when PC goes into standby or hibernation or no activity for a (variable) time. Excellent - thanks guys!

 

[wilywombat]

@nighthawk:- It may be better to suggest using Trucrypt for drive encryption (especially USB drives) as not everyone has Ultimate or Enterprise. Also, if the user wants to use the USB drive on other computers, they can have a copy of Truecrypt on the same USB drive but on a seperate unencrypted part of it.