How to Password Protect a Folder in Windows XP/Vista

Step 1 : CLOSE THE FILES OR FOLDER, IF OPEN. To password protect folders in VISTA, you should first close them. This is particularly true if you are setting password protection to an executable file (.exe) or a folder that contains an executable file (also called a program). If you are unsure of an executable file's status, press control+alt+delete to view all programs running.

Step 2 : LOCATE THE FILES OR FOLDERS YOU WISH TO PASSWORD PROTECT. Do not click to open the file or folder. You can find files or folders by using the "COMPUTER" tool in your Vista Start Menu.

Step 3 : RIGHT CLICK ON THE FILE OR FOLDER'S ICON. To access the option to password protect folders in VISTA, right click on the file or folder icon. Select "Properties", at the bottom of the resulting pop-up menu.

Step 4 : CLICK THE 'SECURITY' TAB IN POP-UP WINDOW. In the pop-up Properties menu, click the 'SECURITY' tab on the top right of the pop-up window.

Step 5 : CHANGE FOLDER PERMISSIONS. In the Security menu, you will see two white text boxes. The top box shows various users and user groups on your computer. Highlight the user group you wish to deny access to the program and click the "edit" button between the two boxes. You should now be able to add or deny access to the program for the selected user by clicking options in the bottom white text box. Edit the options for each user or user group you wish to deny access to. Click apply after editing for each user. When finished, click "OK". Next, click "OK" on the Security window to approve changes. You have locked the program down and users must now access your Vista user account by password to access the program. Once logged into your Windows Vista user account, you will now have to supply the password to access the file or folder.

Step 6 : TEST ~ To make sure you actually did lock Internet Explorer, try to open the program. Log out of your user account and log in as the user you have locked out of file or folder. If you are unable to locate the file or folder as the prohibited user, you did password protect folder in Vista.