Just like the title says really. From what I have read this can only be done with folders in "my documents" but when I go to the security tab the option is greyed out. Does anybody know how to access this option, or is there any software that can help me? Thanks.

Use compressed folders: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306531/en-us

Hi Hope this is of use. As i once tried to make some folders private on my second HDD. This is from windows own help screens...... You cannot make your folders private if your drive is not formatted as NTFS. For information about converting your drive to NTFS, click Related Topics. My second HDD is formatted in FAT, not sure what happens if you try the convertion. But it may be the reason why you can not make them private.

Don't do it. (Convert your Hard drive from FAT to NTFS.) You will end up reformatting your hard drive and loosing everything and reinstalling windows. Besides which if you are running XP it should be NTFS anyway.

Don't do it. (Convert your Hard drive from FAT to NTFS.) You will end up reformatting your hard drive and loosing everything and reinstalling windows. Besides which if you are running XP it should be NTFS anyway.

In their infinite wisdom, some computer companies do supply their Win XP PCs formatted as FAT32. Up to now, I have had no problems converting to NTFS on these computers.

Don't do it. (Convert your Hard drive from FAT to NTFS.) You will end up reformatting your hard drive and loosing everything and reinstalling windows. Besides which if you are running XP it should be NTFS anyway.


Iv converted about 10 PC's from Fat to NTFS and never once had a problem, never had to reinstall, never lost anything.

It's already in NTFS format so I guess that's not the issue. Thanks for all the advice so far though.

I have just right-clicked on a folder on my desktop, then I clicked on sharing and security and with the "sharing" tab showing there is the option to put a tick in “Make this folder Private”

Does this work for you?

Don't do it. (Convert your Hard drive from FAT to NTFS.) You will end up reformatting your hard drive and loosing everything and reinstalling windows. Besides which if you are running XP it should be NTFS anyway.

It's worked fine for me every time Grahame :)

I think the OP wants to make a folder un-accessible to people without a password. Your method will only stop other user accounts accessing your folder (if i remember rightly). Anyone using your account will be able to still open the folder :?

I would like to know if there is a way to do this too *goes searching*

OK. It's just that I have bad memories of windows 2000 and the Blue Screen of Death.

Yes I remember now, I did once partition my hard drive and in one partition it was NTFS and for some reason the other partition was FAT, this was on XP ages ago and I do remember converting the FAT partition to NTFS.

It's just that I still have nightmares of forever reinstalling Windows 2000.

According to XP Help and Support, you need to create a zipped compressed folder...


To create a zipped compressed folder
Open My Computer.
Double-click a drive or folder.
On the File menu, point to New, and then click Compressed (zipped) Folder.
Type a name for the new folder, and then press ENTER.
Notes

To open My Computer, click Start, and then click My Computer.
You can also create a zipped compressed folder by right-clicking the desktop, pointing to New, and then clicking Compressed (zipped) Folder.
You can identify compressed folders by the zipper on the folder icon.
If you share compressed folders with users on other computer systems, you may want to limit the compressed folder names to eight characters with a .zip file name extension.


Then you can protect the zipped folder with a password....


To protect files in a zipped compressed folder with a password
Open My Computer, and then locate the compressed folder.
Double-click the compressed folder.
On the File menu, click Add a Password.
In the Password box, type a password.
In the Confirm Password box, type the password again.
Notes

To open My Computer, click Start, and then click My Computer.
Passwords are case sensitive.
You can identify compressed folders by the zipper on the folder icon.
When you extract an password protected file, the extracted file is no longer protected.


Hope that helps.

Hmmmm..... Didn't work for me :?
It does everything you posted above but i can still open and view everything in the zipped folder without having to enter a password :(

Works for me. I can view the contents of the folder but not open what's in it.
Compressed folders are quite limited in terms of what you can do with them though.

I have just right-clicked on a folder on my desktop, then I clicked on sharing and security and with the "sharing" tab showing there is the option to put a tick in “Make this folder Private”

Does this work for you?

It doesn't - the option to make this folder private isstill greyed out even with a folder on the desktop.

Then I suggest it is something to do with your folder settings.

I had a similar problem once and it took me ages to realise what I had done.

Have you tried clicking on “My Documents”

“Tools”

“Folder Options”

Then have a browse around.

Clicking on "Restore Defaults" may cure it but I'm sure the problem will be in folder options.

I use an encryption programme called Easycrypto deluxe.

Works great for me :)

www.handybits.com

Use compressed folders: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306531/en-us
Did this not work for you bensonand hedges?
Not sure why but I only have unequivocal success with this if I start with a new empty folder, then can drop anything you like in to it afterwards.

Possibly bensonhedges has a limited user account, & it works for administrator accounts?

Possibly bensonhedges has a limited user account, & it works for administrator accounts?Good thinking - but I've just switched to my test limit account and that is able to make compressed folders and add a password to the contents.
But I've not tried in XP Home edition so that might make a difference (though it shouldn't, AFAIK)

Thank the lord! I had visions of Bensonhedges loosing everything off his hard drive with my first post. I converted my back up hdd ok, but that had no operating system on it. Even though that is not his problem, glad the conversion does not wipe everything out. Cos i hate the taste of humble pie.

Forgive me for being dumb but if I make the folder into a compressed folder, will I have to uncompress it every time I want to look at something in that folder? Appreciating all your thoughts btw:)

There is freeware out there you can download. I've used a program called Folder Access before.

Forgive me for being dumb but if I make the folder into a compressed folder, will I have to uncompress it every time I want to look at something in that folder? Appreciating all your thoughts btw:)
No you can open things from compressed folders as if from a normal one. You can't, for example, save a word document in it though, you'd have to save it in another folder then drag it in.

Don't do it. (Convert your Hard drive from FAT to NTFS.) You will end up reformatting your hard drive and loosing everything and reinstalling windows. Besides which if you are running XP it should be NTFS anyway.
my hd drive only knows ntfs anyway

my hd drive only knows ntfs anyway
That is good. It is the recommended format anyway.:thumbsup:

I'm not sure if this is what you're asking, as this is how to password protect a Word document....

Open the document, click File, Save as....at the top of the save as box, click Tools, then Security Options; insert the security options you wish to apply.

Does login (administrator, guest etc) make a difference to saving options etc?

That is good. It is the recommended format anyway.:thumbsup:
I was told that it was evil, and FAT could repair itself or somthing like that and I won't be able to get to msdos ect: