# Protect folders in Windows ME

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protect-folders-in-windows-me/311850>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 10, 2005, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protect-folders-in-windows-me/311850 "2005-07-10T14:47:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![wisernow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@wisernow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wisernow)\
**Post date:** [July 10, 2005, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protect-folders-in-windows-me/311850/1 "2005-07-10T14:47:58Z")

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Is there a way to password protect folders in Wondows ME without having to pay and buy a vendor developed solution?

If there isn’t, can someone tell me the cheapest solution?

Thanks.

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**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\
**Post date:** [July 10, 2005, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protect-folders-in-windows-me/311850/2 "2005-07-10T16:10:22Z")

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How secure do you need it? If this is for network access, you can implement Share level security - anyone trying to access a share on your machine over the network has to enter a password.

Ordinarily, I’d recommend [PGP](http://www.pgp.com) but they don’t sell a version for Windows 9x or ME.

If you move to Windows XP, don’t use the inbuilt encryption - it’s for the corporate market.

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**Author:** ![wisernow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@wisernow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wisernow)\
**Post date:** [July 10, 2005, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protect-folders-in-windows-me/311850/3 "2005-07-10T18:06:55Z")

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It is only for the machine at home that is shared with others. Purpose is to prevent access to some sensitive information from my other room mates.

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**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\
**Post date:** [July 10, 2005, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protect-folders-in-windows-me/311850/4 "2005-07-10T19:41:36Z")

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[HandyBits EasyCrypto Deluxe](http://www.handybits.com/easycrypto.htm) is free for personal use.

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**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\
**Post date:** [July 11, 2005, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protect-folders-in-windows-me/311850/5 "2005-07-11T19:04:30Z")

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Possibly the simplest way would be to get yourself a removable HDD and lock the disk away when not in use.