Thread: Lock A Folder Without Installing Any Software

A very useful trick to lock a FOLDER. This trick has only been tested in Windows XP.

Suppose you want to lock the folder lucky in d: which has the path D:\lucky. In the same drive create a text file and type
ren lucky lucky.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}
Now save this text file as lock.bat

create another text file and type in it
ren lucky.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D} lucky
Now save this text file as key.bat

Now you can see 2 batch files lock and key.Press lock and the folder lucky will change to control panel and you cannot view its contents.Press key and you will get back your original folder.

Nice information man! :thumbup:

This particular thing can be used by a virus too... see that's why ur data is so vulnerable on a windows system...
tho u can get the data back (particularly here) but it causes so much time loss.... i remember during the non avira days , i had to spend 2 whole days figuring out what virus had infected my system and what all it had done and steps to get back the data it infected... windows is sh** and its only the games and some apps that are keeping me to it...

But thanks for the info m8... cud come in useful :clap: <--- tho i'm not so jubilant as this smiley

Neat trick but if you really want to keep your data away from prying eyes you should be using an encryption software like Truecrypt :yes:

I use folder lock.. but its no good in safe mode... but it does its work normally...

You can use HIDE FOLDER XP for that. It also works in safe mode. It also have an automatic history cleaner in it.

Originally Posted by Archer

You can use HIDE FOLDER XP for that. It also works in safe mode. It also have an automatic history cleaner in it.

In that case I suggest folder guard......it is the best...unlike folder lock its interface is easy to manage and can ask password on clicking the folder

Originally Posted by xfilos

In that case I suggest folder guard......it is the best...unlike folder lock its interface is easy to manage and can ask password on clicking the folder

This is the one you are talking about. Right ?




It doesn't look simple(interface). But if it can ask password on clicking the folder, then it would be really handy.

i'm a rookie here..
I suggest using the following steps

for Hiding(Virtually locking) a folder: for example in a path c:\1

Type the Following in the notepad

attrib "path of the folder goes here" +r +h +s

to show the folder again replace all the +r +h +s with -r -h -s
and save it as batch file

The folder is hidden and it cannot be accesed untill one know the correct folder name

Originally Posted by Archer

This is the one you are talking about. Right ?




It doesn't look simple(interface). But if it can ask password on clicking the folder, then it would be really handy.

yep mate , thats the one...you dont have to lock and release every time by opening the software ...its just handy , it asks for password when u click the folder and while u close the folder it locks it again by itself.

Originally Posted by xfilos

yep mate , thats the one...you dont have to lock and release every time by opening the software ...its just handy , it asks for password when u click the folder and while u close the folder it locks it again by itself.

That's Cool.

Originally Posted by sam luvey

i'm a rookie here..
I suggest using the following steps

for Hiding(Virtually locking) a folder: for example in a path c:\1

Type the Following in the notepad

attrib "path of the folder goes here" +r +h +s

to show the folder again replace all the +r +h +s with -r -h -s
and save it as batch file

The folder is hidden and it cannot be accesed untill one know the correct folder name

Whts big deal in that......i can right click on the bat file>>edit & can change the value +r +h +s with -r -h -s & i can see the folder.....coz we already specified the path in the bat file....aint we?

attrib "path of the folder goes here" +r +h +s

Edit :
Here is just change in the same method.....Creat two bat files with with name lock & unlock

so lock.bat file will have

attrib "E:\Downloads\Documents +r +h +s

& Unlock.bat file will

attrib "E:\Downloads\Documents -r -h -s

now add these both bat files to archive (.rar) using WinRAR & set password to the archive.....delete both the bat files outside archive...coz u already have them in archive.....plz select appropriate name to the archive & save it to ur fav location. now if u wanna unlock folder....then double click archive....enter password for it & run the unlock.bat......same goes with the lock.bat to lock/hide folder

This is really cool method.

I generally use the attrib command to hide folders. And in folder options the hide protected system files is turned on. Also i save the files with passworded rar archive.

If some one really needs to hide data then truecrypt or system protect. I think its easier with less headaches of managing batch files, commands, etc. Those are free softwares so why not use them.

This stuff cool .. never thought we could tis plain good ol' xp !

Nice & helpful post. I use bc-crypt to create a virtual drive as a file to store data in it. This file cant be deleted also.

thanks for the tips

this is gud one.

there is another way to lock folder using shell program.....

Originally Posted by flitz

there is another way to lock folder using shell program.....

shell program ? are you talking about linux.

Anyways mention your method too na..

I've used Folder Lock so far..didn't know it fails in Safe Mode.
Time to try Folder Guard

this trick is amazing ... but i dont like to do it with the softwares mentioned here ... i hide folders and partitions using gpedit

Originally Posted by thats_me

I generally use the attrib command to hide folders. And in folder options the hide protected system files is turned on. Also i save the files with passworded rar archive.

i think the attrib command locking system works only in win 98..........

nd u can use a method also after making rar archive just change its file format to some other thing like .mb or . ma or something like that it was the best method to hide ur files by viewing them........

Originally Posted by saurav_kataruka

this trick is amazing ... but i dont like to do it with the softwares mentioned here ... i hide folders and partitions using gpedit

ya i also use Group Policies Editing for lots of things..........

neone can check them by win+run>gpedit.msc

How about using old Alt+255 trick to hide folder

Or even better a seperate drive protected with HDD boot program :38:

Originally Posted by mtnlpacked

How about using old Alt+255 trick to hide folder

Or even better a seperate drive protected with HDD boot program :38:

this trick wont work in windows xp ...

Originally Posted by saurav_kataruka

this trick wont work in windows xp ...

i think so too..