What is the best software to lock directory ?

Yes, don't trust her. Most women act stupid to "hide" their brain for men, but they are smarter in reality.

 

Yes she is smart, and she probably already know....because she know me. And she may have seen those folders already, its not the end of the world. But still I want to hide those folders

 

Have you tried Folder Lock?
http://www.newsoftwares.net/folderlock/

edit. I just saw that they have a discount till tomorrow 16/6/2008. (35$ instead of 69.95$)
Maybe I'll buy it myself; I like the companies that give free upgrades and life-time support.

 

I believe you will get just a one-time possibly time-consuming occurrence when you create the TrueCrypt container file. Otherwise you shouldn't notice.

 

You might attempt a search of this forum for past threads. Experiences seem mixed.

Blue

 

Pandlouk thanks for replying.

I have not tried Folder Lock or any similar. I remember a thread going on here about similar programs. I was going to test some of them, but I did not. So much to read, test etc etc and not so much time to do it. And now I always create an disk image before testing. I wait until I have a list of 3,4 or 5 programs to test, then create image, test, and restore image. Then download or buy the program I want if any. I will try to find the old thread. I believe EA also posted, if not started, that thread. In the meantime:

Please see this:

https://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=195823&highlight=folder lock

 

Thank you so much I did not know that. Very useful info.

I may have to test TrueCrypt soon.

 

Thanks I will do some searching and reading

 

Thanks tepe2. You saved me a few backs.

ps. pay attention that all the encryption programs can give such kind of problems if there is a bug or an unknown limitation (size or type of file, strange carracters, etc.)

 

So Folder Lock is no good.

And I would not use Free Hide Folder: https://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=172860&highlight=folder lock

So theres:

-PC Security http://www.tropsoft.com/pcsecurity/prodinfo.htm
Not free. For security not perfect but could be an option for me

-Magic Folders http://pc-magic.com/des.htm#emf and
-Hide Folders XP http://www.fspro.net/hide-folders-xp/

https://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=117610&highlight=magic folders
I dont know if they have free versions

On Hide Folders XP hompage it says: License: Free to try, $29.95 to buy. But if you scroll down it says "absolutely free"

And...

-InTouch Lock http://www.lovelysoft.com/
-Instant Lock http://instantlock.net/

None of these two have free versions I guess

Maybe I start a thread to find out more about encryption like TrueCrypt and Axcrypt to find out how they work and how they compare to each other.

But all programs of this type (hide,lock,encrypt) seem a bit risky. Im scared to try, so maybe I just use none of them and show my girlfriend all my folders

I have seperated system and data. C-partition for Windows and applications. D-partition for data like documents, music, movies. If I trial a hide/lock program or encryption program I restore an image when done testing. Then my system partition will be the same. No problem. But these programs could mess up my data partition.

I use BING for disk imaging and know it works. I use Karens Replicator to backup my data partition, but I have not used it that much and I have never restored my data partition with KR.

EDIT: I forgot R-Guard http://www.data-security-software.com/ and
Hide Folder http://www.dirfile.com//hide_folders.htm

Thank you all for these suggestions and I hope the OP has found something he like.

 

I use Karens Replicator also and I did restore my data partition, two times already and it really works.
I have two jobs in Karens Replicator :
1. Data Backup, which I use daily (not a full backup, only the changes)
2. Data Restore, which I use seldom. (full restore)
The settings of each job are different of course.

BUT I never tried it with hidden folders, but you can test this easily. If you don't try anything, you will never know.

 

Do you never sleep

As far as I can remember KR backed up my hidden files (I was using Windows inbuild hidden files feature) to ext hdd. But I think these files were unhidden when I accessed them on ext hdd. I had to hide them again. I may be wrong.

Time to log off and go to work

 

I believe you are right.
It's been a while since I rewieved my external HDD, but I believe I remember that hidden files where unhidden in the external drive.
If your GF uses your computer will that drive be plugged?

 

Regarding Karen's Replicator.

Not having tried this one yet, i assume since is mentioned the term "job" that Task Scheduler must be activated for it to work? Or does it employ it's own scheduler?

I normally completely disable Task Scheduler in XP Services in exchange for a program named Solway's Scheduler.

EASTER

 

I don't use scheduled backups, I prefer to do manual backups, because my external harddisk is always OFF. If you only backup changes, it doesn't take much time and I don't backup my system partition anymore.

 

It has it's own scheduler.
I don't use it, I just backup "on demand".

 

I use both TrueCrypt and AxCrypt. TrueCrypt would be the one that suits your needs in this case. With TrueCrypt, a container file is mounted with a password when you want to use it. Then you get a separate new volume which you can manage in Explorer just like any other volume. With the TrueCryypt volume you can add files, remove files, use it in other programs, etc. When you're done with the TrueCrypt volume, you unmount it, and it disappears. I've never had corruption issues with a TrueCrypt volume. However, as with any other data that's important to you, it's a good idea to back up the container file just in case, preferably having multiple copies or backups. If you're really fearful of corruption issues, you could mount an older and newer version of the TrueCrypt volume at the same time, then use a program like TestPath to see what files are different in the two volumes. If you forget your TrueCrypt container password, then you're hosed, assuming you used a decent password.

 

This may be an option for a few of you using Returnil.

Returnil can create a "virtual partition" during installation and access to Retunil's GUI can be password protected. You can also choose when to mount the VP. When it's not mounted, it's just a file (can't remember the ext.) sitting in the hidden C:\Returnil folder. I also think the VP can be taken with you and used on another computer with Returnil installed.

https://www.wilderssecurity.com/showpost.php?p=1149546&postcount=27

Edited to correct link.

 

Hi

I agree with previous posters that Truecrypt is a good choice.

I also use My Lockbox to hide files.

 

"My Lockbox" seems to be developped by FSPro Labs
http://www.fspro.net/
but I can't find it at this website, they only mention "Lock My PC".
My guess is that "My Lockbox" is replaced by "Lock My PC" and that "My Lockbox" is discontinued, but still downloadable from other websites, like SoftPedia and others.
http://www.softpedia.com/reviews/windows/My-Lockbox--Review-81945.shtml

EDIT :
I finally found it :
http://www.fspro.net/folder-lock-box/

 

Hi

They're two completely different software.

Actually I also use Lock My PC, but it's shareware. Does anyone know of a free program that does what it does?

Thanks

 

A bit more focused program for the task at hand. I realize my previous suggestion is a little too much for the OP's problem.
Folder Shield
Never tried it, found it from a newsletter. (regarding another utility from this site)

 

@ tepe2

Since you are more interesting in hiding folders instead of locking them you can take a look Free Hide Folder.

Another mode to "hide" a folder is by using the codes that will redirect to another folder.

Lets make an example. Create a folder with a name xxxx. Then rename it to xxxx.{00EEBF57-477D-4084-9921-7AB3C2C9459D}.
In the windows enviroment (using the default explorer) that file will appear as xxxx and when a user tries to open it, he will be redirected to the desktop.

Here are some codes that you can use:

Desktop
.{00EEBF57-477D-4084-9921-7AB3C2C9459D}

My Computer
.{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}

Control Panel
.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}

Printers and faxes
.{2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D}

My documents
.{450D8FBA-AD25-11D0-98A8-0800361B1103}

Recycle bin
.{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}

Network connections
.{7007ACC7-3202-11D1-AAD2-00805FC1270E}

Search
.{E17D4FC0-5564-11D1-83F2-00A0C90DC849}

Zip
.{E88DCCE0-B7B3-11D1-A9F0-00AA0060FA31}

Scanners and Cameras
.{FB0C9C8A-6C50-11D1-9F1D-0000F8757FCD}

Sometimes is better let something visible instead of hiding it.

Panagiotis

 

If you then want to open the folder, you just delete that extension?

 

I didn't like it. I had the impression it didn't work either. Folders didn't become invisible. Maybe I did it wrong.