How To Create A Password Protected Folder In Windows 7

Some people like to go all out with security and encrypt files and folders with such complicated codes that no computer hacker could figure them out. But then there’s also people who just want to hide files from casual PC browsers. That’s where this little guide could come in handy for you.

This tutorial will guide you through the steps to create a locked folder in Windows 7, and the best thing is you don’t need to use any additional software. Now anyone who really is serious about accessing your files will probably be able to crack this, but it should deter more than the average passer by.

A heads up to Simplehelp.net for putting this together:

1. First off, create a new folder and name it what you like

2. Go into the folder and create a new text document (Right click on blank area -> New -> Text Document)

3. Now you want to open up the text file you just created and paste in the following text:
cls
@ECHO OFF
title Folder Private
if EXIST "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" goto UNLOCK
if NOT EXIST Private goto MDLOCKER
:CONFIRM
echo Are you sure you want to lock the folder(Y/N)
set/p "cho=>"
if %cho%==Y goto LOCK
if %cho%==y goto LOCK
if %cho%==n goto END
if %cho%==N goto END
echo Invalid choice.
goto CONFIRM
:LOCK
ren Private "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}"
attrib +h +s "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}"
echo Folder locked
goto End
:UNLOCK
echo Enter password to unlock folder
set/p "pass=>"
if NOT %pass%== ENTER YOUR PASSWORD HERE goto FAIL
attrib -h -s "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}"
ren "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" Private
echo Folder Unlocked successfully
goto End
:FAIL
echo Invalid password
goto end
:MDLOCKER
md Private
echo Private created successfully
goto End
:End
4. Be sure to enter your password in the “Enter Your Password Here” bit

5. Next you want to save your this document in the .bat form and name it locker so it’s called locker.bat To do this make sure you change the Save as type: All Files (*.*)

6. Now you want to go back to the folder you created at the very beginning and double click on the locker.bat file and this should create a new folder named Private, this is where you can put anything you want.

7. Once you add your files to this folder, double click on locker.bat again and it will ask you if you want to lock the folder or not. Press Y and the folder will disappear! You’ve now successfully locked it and hidden it.

8. Now to get back your folder, all you have to do is double click on the locker.bat file again and enter the password that you made and the folder will reappear for you.

Windows 7 Gets Ready for Service Pack 1 (SP1) RTM

With Service Pack 1 (SP1) RTM on the way to Windows 7, Microsoft is taken the necessary measures designed to ensure that the download and deployment of the upgrade will go as smooth as possible.

This is why the operating system received an update set up to ensure that there are no issues in Windows 7 RTM that could prevent the integration of SP1 or additional updates from the Redmond company.

A new release of the System Update Readiness Tool went live this week, and is currently available to customers either through Windows Update or as a standalone download via the Microsoft Download Center.

“This tool is being offered because an inconsistency was found in the Windows servicing store which may prevent the successful installation of future updates, service packs, and software. This tool checks your computer for such inconsistencies and tries to resolve issues if found,” Microsoft stated.

The tool is designed to resolve any servicing inconsistencies not only in Windows 7, but also in Windows Server 2008 R2, as well as Windows Vista, and Windows Server 2008. This particular version of the System Update Readiness Tool was not offered for Windows XP.

“The System Update Readiness Tool verifies the integrity of the following resources:

Files that are located under the following directories:

%SYSTEMROOT%\Servicing\Packages

%SYSTEMROOT%\WinSxS\Manifests

Registry data that is located under the following registry subkeys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Components

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Schema

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Component Based Servicing

When the System Update Readiness Tool detects incorrect manifests, files, or registry data, it might replace the incorrect data with a corrected version,” Microsoft explained.

Microsoft has recently launched the Release Candidate (RC) of Windows 7 SP1 to early adopters for testing purposes.

Ahead of anything else, the RC is a sign that the release to manufacturing (RTM) development milestone is not that far off into the future.

In fact, the software giant also made sure to release a tool designed to block the automatic delivery and deployment of SP1 for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2.

However, the company still has to reveal the availability deadline for Windows 7 SP1 RTM. Microsoft only confirmed that the service pack will be served to customers by the end of March 2011.

Still, there’s no way of saying when will Windows 7 SP1 actually be released to manufacturing, and when will the first RTM bits be served to customers. Speculation still indicates that Windows 7 SP1 will hit RTM by the end of this year, but rumors of availability do indeed point to March 2011.