[GUIDE] Password Protect a File/Folder ( Vista & XP )

PASSWORD PROTECTING A FILE/FOLDER

Many people need password protecting for their private files or folders. In this guide, I am going to teach you how to do this.

~ VISTA ~
Requirements: WinRAR


Step 1 : Download and Install WinRAR.
Step 2 : Right-click the file/folder you want to password protect and select "Add to archive...".


Step 3 : Go to the "Advanced" tab and click the button "Set Password..."

Step 4 : A pop-up should appear. Enter the password you want in both blanks, tick "Encrypt file names" and click "OK" .


Step 5 : Press "OK" again and wait for it to compress the file.


There you go, a compressed, password protected folder.




~ WINDOWS XP ~
Requirements: •The folder you're attempting to encrypt must be in your own personal folder.
•The hard disk drive must be formatted in NTFS and not FAT32.
Tip: Before password protecting any document you may wish to create a backup of the non-password protected folder and files in case you forget the password in the future.

Step 1 : Right-click the folder you want to password protect and click "Properties".

Step 2 : Click the "Sharing tab" OR "Advanced" button. ( Different for different versions of XP )

Step 3 : Check the box "Make this folder private" OR Check "Encrypt contents to secure data". ( Again, different for different versions of XP )

Step 4 : Click Apply and then OK.


List of password protecting programs
Program Protector
Password Door
Password Protect
My Lockbox​

Credits: Computerhope, Vista, WinRAR, Me .

 

All you did was archive the file with winRAR. :/

Sure, that protects the contents with a password, but if the file is like 10GB or something, it's going to take like an hour for winRAR to unpack it. Or if there are tons of files.

Why not just suggest something like Free Hide Folder?

 

I have tried it on big files, takes pretty fast to unpack it o.0
Vista doesn't have lots of things... Use My Lockbox, its free but only 1 folder can be password protected. You can put all the files and folders inside.

 

There are programs that can lock folder for you ! just search google !
But this is a good method too =)

 

I already included the password protect programs :lol:

 

Kay, point noted

 

Does it works with zip ?