How to Password-Protect a Folder in Windows 7

Reader Ash tree wants to know if there's a way to password-protect individual folders in Windows 7:

"I have a PC and I am the chief user of it 95% of the time. In and of itself, I don't have it request a countersign from Maine when it boots, and haven't setup any exploiter accounts. Once in a while, opposite masses will consumption this PC, but there are a a couple of documents and personal files I'd like to keep hidden with a password."

Seems logical to me. Alas, Windows lacks any kind of file- or folder-specific protections. You aforesaid you wanted to accomplish this without fractional-party software, but I'm afraid that's the only real option. (With multiple user accounts, IT's possible to foreclose selected users from accessing designated folders–but that's a hassle to tack together. Besides, you said yourself you don't have multiple accounts.)

If you don't desire to spend any money, think going the Zip route. Most Nada managers, including popular freebie 7-ZIP code, give you the option to password-protect any zipped files and folders. Yes, you have to jump through the basketball of compressing and decompressing folders, but perchance that's not a big deal for thrust you access infrequently.

No cracking? And so drop a few bucks on a utility suchlike Folder Lock, which is designed exclusively for the purpose of, well, lockup folders. It's a little pricey at $40, so you power also want to check out Iobit's correspondent Protected Folder, which costs half as much.

Of course, all these options overlook one of my favorite methods: misdirection. You could produce a folder with the world's most boring name–Widget Sales Projections 2007, for example–and nuzzle IT a few folders deep where no one would always find IT. For someone in your situation, with a computer that's victimized by you 95 percent of the time, that might be the simplest and about effective solution.

What do you think, readers? What's the best way for Ash to accomplish his destination?

Causative Editor Rick Broida writes about business and consumer technology. Ask for help with your PC hassles at hasslefree@pcworld.com, or try the treasure trove of helpful folks in the PC World Community Forums.