file privacy

[Barbara]

I am a new XP Home user. (upgraded from WIndows 98)I
share my computer with other family members. Is there
any way to set my files & folders so that other users
can't open without a password, etc?

Thanks.

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

Are you asking if you can password-protect an individual file in
WinXP? If so, the answer is "Not exactly." WinXP's file security
paradigm doesn't rely on, or allow, the cumbersome method of password
protection for individual files or folders. Instead, it uses the
superior method of explicitly assigning file/folder permissions to
individual users and/or groups.

HOW TO Set, View, Change, or Remove File and Folder Permissions
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;q308418

As a work-around, you can place the file in a compressed folder,
and set a password to
uncompress the folder to view/access its contents.

If you're asking about password-protecting a file from within a
specific application, you'll have to check that application's
documentation. Microsoft Office's applications have this capability,
and I'm sure other products can to so as well.


Bruce Chambers

--
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You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH


"Barbara" > wrote in message
...
> I am a new XP Home user. (upgraded from WIndows 98)I
> share my computer with other family members. Is there
> any way to set my files & folders so that other users
> can't open without a password, etc?
>
> Thanks.

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Barbara;
You password your profile.
Also you need to be using NTFS and not FAT32 file system.
To check:
Open My Computer, Right click C drive, click Properties.
What does it say by "File System"?
To convert to NTFS:
http://aumha.org/win5/a/ntfscvt.htm

Windows XP Home:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307286

Windows XP Pro:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307874

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
An easier way to read newsgroup messages:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/newsgroups/setup.asp
http://dts-l.org/index.html


"Barbara" > wrote in message
...
> I am a new XP Home user. (upgraded from WIndows 98)I
> share my computer with other family members. Is there
> any way to set my files & folders so that other users
> can't open without a password, etc?
>
> Thanks.