# PC Wizards--How do I "code" writing font on Windows? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 4, 2003, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-wizards-how-do-i-code-writing-font-on-windows/152708 "2003-02-04T16:25:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Xavier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/2bfe46/32.png) [@Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xavier)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-wizards-how-do-i-code-writing-font-on-windows/152708/1 "2003-02-04T16:25:00Z")
Okay, so I have all these important word files on Windows (Microsoft Word 2000). The thing is, I have other tenants living with me who have access to my computer, and hence my computer files. Now one of the other tenants has a computer too, and what he has done is that he has password-enabled the computer. This means that when you start up the computer, you have to enter a personal password to even get to the **STARTUP** page. _Q: How did he do this?_ Now I don’t want to seem quite so paranoid. What I would ideally prefer is a way that I can code the files I want to keep secret, or at least code the font I am using to make the words untraceable. **I am not talking about writing out the whole darn document in a Leonardo Da Vinci-esque code, as that would be pointless.** But to be able to change the whole font of the existing originals would be brilliant. But it has to be untraceable (or practically very difficult). _Q: How do I go about doing this?_ Now remember that _I’m_ not a computer whiz folks, so if you’re gonna use words like “Vintop tracing” please explain and elaborate on what they mean (to a novice like me, for example). ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-wizards-how-do-i-code-writing-font-on-windows/152708/2 "2003-02-04T16:33:23Z")
> [@](#): > > Now I don’t want to seem quite so paranoid. What I would ideally prefer is a way that I can code the files I want to keep secret, or at least code the font I am using to make the words untraceable. I am not talking about writing out the whole darn document in a Leonardo Da Vinci-esque code, as that would be pointless. But to be able to change the whole font of the existing originals would be brilliant. But it has to be untraceable (or practically very difficult). > > Q: How do I go about doing this? Would doing this really be simpler than just buying some floppy disks and keeping your files on those? ---
**Author:** ![II\_Gyan\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@II\_Gyan\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/II_Gyan_II)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-wizards-how-do-i-code-writing-font-on-windows/152708/3 "2003-02-04T16:37:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Xavier \* > > _Q: How did he do this?_ You need to mention what Operating System you’re using ? Generally speaking, Win 9x/ME won’t give you the protection you want. But Win 2000/XP will. You’ll need to go to Control Panel -\> Users and then set a password for all accounts that you have. In another possibility (from your phrasing, it’s not clear) your co-tenant has set a barrier at the Power On stage. This can probably be done in the BIOS. If this is so, report back with the BIOS you have (Press Del during Power-Up, you’ll be directed to a menu on a blue background, note the name and version.) > [@](#): > > But to be able to change the whole font of the existing originals would be brilliant. But it has to be untraceable (or practically very difficult). This is untenable if you don’t encrypt the file. If you simply highlight everything and change the font, someone can just change it back to a Roman script font. The measures you need to take will depend on how computer-literate (and intrusive) your co-tenants are. If you’re using Win 2000/XP, you could simply create a directory where you store ALL your files. Then put a password on that directory. I haven’t done this since I don’t have a need. Either Google this or someone else will come along and enlighten you. ---
**Author:** ![Xavier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/2bfe46/32.png) [@Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xavier)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-wizards-how-do-i-code-writing-font-on-windows/152708/4 "2003-02-04T16:56:52Z")
> [@](#): > > **Gyan9** : If you’re using Win 2000/XP, you could simply create a directory where you store ALL your files. Then put a password on that directory. I haven’t done this since I don’t have a need. Either Google this or someone else will come along and enlighten you. Would I be able to encrypt a particular folder as well? Because rather than having to store **ALL** my files I could then just store the important word documents in this particular folder. Would that be possible? > [@](#): > > Generally speaking, Win 9x/ME won’t give you the protection you want. But Win 2000/XP will. You’ll need to go to Control Panel -\> Users and then set a password for all accounts that you have. What do you mean by all the **accounts**? All the particular _files_ that I want stored safely? > [@](#): > > You need to mention what Operating System you’re using ? Did I not mention this in my OP? I am using Windows 2000 (or is it something else you are looking for?). > [@](#): > > **KneadToKnow** : Would doing this really be simpler than just buying some floppy disks and keeping your files on those? I’m doing this approach now but I don’t want to keep running around with floppy discs all over the place. It’s easier just to have them encrypted on my computer. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-wizards-how-do-i-code-writing-font-on-windows/152708/5 "2003-02-04T16:58:24Z")
Look in your Word 200 help applet under “document protection”. > [@](#): > > MS Word 2000 > > Require a password to open a document > > When you create a password, write it down and keep it in a secure place. If you lose the password, you cannot open or gain access to the password-protected document. Learn about using passwords. > > Open the document. > > On the File menu, click Save As. > > On the Tools menu in the Save As dialog box, click General Options. > > In the Password to open box, type a password, and then click OK. > > In the Reenter password to open box, type the password again, and then click OK. > > Click Save. ---
**Author:** ![II\_Gyan\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@II\_Gyan\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/II_Gyan_II)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-wizards-how-do-i-code-writing-font-on-windows/152708/6 "2003-02-04T18:57:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Xavier \* > Would I be able to encrypt a particular folder as well? Because rather than having to store **ALL** my files I could then just store the important word documents in this particular folder. Would that be possible? Ah, terminology. Directory is same as folder. You can put whatever files you want in it. > [@](#): > > What do you mean by all the **accounts**? All the particular _files_ that I want stored safely? Windows 2000 is by default, a network operating system. Which means, at any given time, a specific user is logged onto the system. If you don’t type a password when starting Windows, it’s because the OS is set to automatically log in a certain user. If you set up passwords for all user accounts, anyone wanting to log in, will need a password. Of course, this is all getting ahead. It seems someone has already mentioned about ‘Document Protection’. This should be adequate for your needs.