how do i make my documents private?

[metabolic]

when i try and make my documents on my computer private..the box you check cant be checked...how do i get past this?

[jambog]

when i try and make my documents on my computer private..the box you check cant be checked...how do i get past this?

I think that checking that box only makes it private in the sense that another user logged in under a different user name can't access it, but if someone is using your PC under your username they can still see it. I don't know why you wouldn't be able to check it though.

If you want to hide or password protect your files I recommend either of these two programs.

http://www.newsoftwares.net/folderlock/
http://www.softstack.com/hff.html

These will completely hide or password protect any file, folder, or entire harddrive in seconds to prevent anyone except those who know the password from seeing what’s in the file.

Both those programs cost money...if you obtain them legally anyway;) But for a completely legally free program you can use this

http://www.handybits.com/easycrypto.htm

The problem with it is it only encrypts files and folders, which is fine if the file or folder is small in size, but if its several hundred MB encrypting the files can take an extremely long time!

As for a way to hide your files from others using just Windows, the only way to do it that I know of is to Right click the file, go to properties, under the general tab look for Attributes and check the Hidden box then the file will be hidden. To view the file again you have to go to Control Panel, Folder Options, View Tab, and select View Hidden Files and Folders to see the files you have hidden, then go back and select the Do Not View Hidden Files and Folders when you don't want the files to be seen again. Kind of a pain.

[Iconoclast]

This is one way. Some say you can put them in a ZIP or RAR compression archive and add a password.

[jambog]

This is one way. Some say you can put them in a ZIP or RAR compression archive and add a password.

Good call. I didn't think of doing that. I use a program called 7-z (7-zip.org) and you can put them in a zip folder without compressing them and password protect them. By just storing them and not compressing them they open pretty fast but you have to type a password to protect them. Anyone can see the file name and file type though, they just can't open the file without a password and the 7-z program is completly free. I suppose you could also use winace and winrar to do the same thing.

[Fierce Deity]

Good call. I didn't think of doing that. I use a program called 7-z (7-zip.org) and you can put them in a zip folder without compressing them and password protect them. By just storing them and not compressing them they open pretty fast but you have to type a password to protect them. Anyone can see the file name and file type though, they just can't open the file without a password and the 7-z program is completly free. I suppose you could also use winace and winrar to do the same thing.
I like WinRar a lot. I didnt know you could password protect with it though... I'm going to try that....

[jambog]

I like WinRar a lot. I didnt know you could password protect with it though... I'm going to try that....

You can. Just right click on the file and add to archive then under the advance tab there is a set password option. I prefere 7z though, it has much better compression when compressing files. If you are just storing them in an archive without compressing to password protect the files, i guess it wouldn't make a difference.

[the master 123]

to prevent people form seeing what in the file you can use encort file names.

[Fierce Deity]

to prevent people form seeing what in the file you can use encort file names.
How would one go about doing that? And this is in WinRar, correct?

[pizzaman]

There is a program for this, I don't have it though. It asks you for the password if you want to go into a certian folder.

[DarthBrady]

You guys do know that Windows XP and ME both have the option to password protect a folder, don't you? It will not hide them (unless you do the right-click>properties>advanced>check hide file box)

But any way, if all you want to do is Make a folder to put files in that is password protected, here is an article from PC world i believe, just check out the link, it explains it all fairly simple.

http://www.pcworld.com/howto/article/0,aid,110663,00.asp

[psilonaut]

As long as you have admin rights you should be able to just password lock your folder and hide it if you so chose. Windows encryption works just fine for me.