Password for normal folders

I'm looking for a way to set up a folder so that anytime someone opens it, it asks for a password. I've heard you can do this with compressed folders, but I don't think I want to compress the folder. I'd rather just have the folder the way it is, except that it asks for a password. Anything I can do? I have Windows XP.

 

XP does not have folder password protection built in to it, but there are free apps that can do this for you. Below is a link to one such app that should do it for you.

http://www.brothersoft.com/password-folder-58297.html

 

Having some pretty serious problems with this program. I followed the directions, and everything seemed to be going great. But when it finished encrypting the files and locking the folder, I went to click on it, and it did not ask me for a password. So I enter the folder and guess what? It somehow turned into "control panel". That's right, instead of the files that I had in the folder I wanted locked, it takes me to control panel, even though it's not titled that. Wha????

 

That makes no sense whatsoever. Are you sure you locked the correct folder with a password? Have you tried uninstalling, running a cleaner and reinstalling?

 

I'll try that, but the folder that is the exact same thing in control panel has the exact same title as the folder I wanted to lock.

 

Screenshots might be helpful if you can post one up?

 

I don't know how to do that. Here's how it looks: I click on the folder that I wanted to lock. It takes me to the control panel. Except that on the top, instead "control panel" it has the name of my folder. However, on the side, it actually does say "control panel" confirming my suspicion that my folder is now a shortcut to control panel. I even tried searching for the a particular file that was in the folder I wanted to lock, and my computer found nothing.

The website gave me a link for emergency recovery software, or something like that, which I have no idea how to use. Any chance you do?

 

You don;t know how to take a screen shot or to post it up?

Use this to take screenshots http://wisdom-soft.com/products/screenhunter_free.htm

 

Meh. You won't gain anything from it. I dunno. Maybe later I'll try and download that software. I'd just rather learn how to use the recovery software first.

 

No I have not used its recovery feature, but go ahead and try it. You have nothing to lose right? You DO make backups of your data first, correct?

 

The recovery worked, fortunately. But I wouldn't recommend that software to anyone anymore. I may not be an expert, but I know enough to know that I did nothing to cause that problem.

 

Tested the Password Folder program on XP Pro SP3.
Same results as OP.
ie. Locking a folder actually turns it into a shortcut to Control Panel.
With no option available anywhere to unlock.
This is seriously broken on my XP Pro SP3 at least.

Soooooooo how about a link for that recovery app?

TIA

 

I went to the start menu, found the application, and a then saw a link to the website. The recovery program was the only thing featured on the website, because the website is under construction.

 

Thanks endlesst0m

 

No problem.

If anyone knows any software that actually works properly, I'm all ears.

 

Hi endlesst0m,

I've not used this myself but have heard great things about it. It's not Free but it works.

You can look around and find user reviews if interested. Hope this Helps.

http://www.everstrike.com/

 

Thanks for your feedback - I"ll quit recommending that app, and I'm sorry you had such a bad experience with it. Brothersoft are usually reliable apps. It might be good to go back to the website and provide some constructive feedback for them if you have the time.

 

I wasn't really expecting to pay for something so simple, so I don't think that's an option. Thanks anyway.