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Hey guys, I was just wondering, is there a way that I can put a password to my portable hard drive, so that only I have access to the files? If so is it possible to only put a password on certin folders in the hard drive? Thanks

Hi platinum...
It is possible to set user ristrictions on each folder and even down to the files themselves - it's easily done (if you have XP Pro)...not so easy if you have XP Home...and if someone knows any small amount about how Windows works - they can get around it extremely easy.


If you were to do this and plug the hard drive into another computer - (ie. 2 personal computers) - it will ask you for the user/password - you will need to type in computername\username in the username field, and then the password in the password field.

The reason for this is because the hard drive doesn't know that it's not plugged into a computer without the same users on it...

Well I have Windows XP Media Center, is it possibile?

You might try one of the drive encryption programs, it may do what you want. Ive never used one, but i know some people that do because they store financial info on a portable drive. Heres a free one that they use:
TrueCrypt - Free Open-Source On-The-Fly Disk Encryption Software for Windows XP/2000 and Linux
There are also commercial ones available. I think Sandisk makes one for sale, they have a trial version on some of their flash drives.

I'd say it depends on the level of security your looking for. For light security I'd say go with a simple program like folder lockit

Folder LockIt Free Download

If your looking for medium security I'd say go with encrypted containers with a program like BestCrypt.

All security products from Jetico: BestCrypt, BCWipe, Jetico Personal Firewall, BCArchive. Download it now.

If your looking for the mother of all security I'd say encrypt your entire OS and your portable hard drive with DriveCrypt PlusPack

SecurStar GmbH

If your just trying to hide some pr0n from your gf, Then options 2 and 3 are probable over kill.

Well actually all that I want this for, is so that my friends that I let use the computer have the tendency to go through everything they can find. I just don't want them going through my personal pictures and videos (not those kind of videos, "Vacation Videos"), but the girlfriend thing could also be of good use I guess lol. Thanks for the program recommendations though.