protecting folders

[maansingh169]

i have some folders with pictures. i have them backed up on cds, but i want to know if i have a folder on my harddrive. is there a way that i, and other users, could look at the files, but not modify them, or more importantly, delete them?

any program or feature in windows xp that i need to know or have??


thanks

[makntraks]

i have some folders with pictures. i have them backed up on cds, but i want to know if i have a folder on my harddrive. is there a way that i, and other users, could look at the files, but not modify them, or more importantly, delete them?

any program or feature in windows xp that i need to know or have??


thanks

Magic Folders is what I use although iit is cashware..... 8) 8)
Really nice to work with....

makntraks

[bunyip]

If your file system is NTFS, then you can just modify the permissions on the folder, but be careful not to permanently lock yourself out.

[makntraks]

If your file system is NTFS, then you can just modify the permissions on the folder, but be careful not to permanently lock yourself out.

I don't think this satisfies his question.... I don't think altering permissions "hides" folders, etc....

I could be wrong as I use the pgm I mentioned so I have no worries...

makntraks

[bunyip]

Well the question was how he could protect them from deletion, alteration or moving but still be able to view them.
By altering the permissions you can control which users can view them and which users can have update rights.

As for hiding, if a user is denied access then they can't open the directory.

[makntraks]

As for hiding, if a user is denied access then they can't open the directory.

They are still visible though (I believe)

Either way, your suggestion or mine will accomplish the same.... although mine might cost a few $$ unless.....

makntraks

[maansingh169]

will look into purchaseing magic folders.......

but, with the windows one it is already integrated into the OS. is there a link or a guide that you can refer me to on how to sucessfully do this. or if you can write some steps down.

here is what i am trying to protect. i want to protect about 3 folders. one has pictures, one has mp3s, and one has important documents.

i dont use windows logins or anything, so there is only one user (and i want to keep it that way)

i want to lock everyone out even me. but by locking i mean that i want to be non-Editable and non-deletable (if those words exist)

i want to be able to listen to my music and look at my pictures and view my documents, and even be able to load my pictures into programs like photoshop or word, but i dont want it to be damaging, and if i do accedentally press save or delete, it would say that "you cant do this action" or something like that. but still want that accessablitiy if i do load my mp3s in soundforge and edit them, that the only way that i can save it is if i Save As a different file name.

please no more software reccommendations, i want to stick with either the magic folders or the windows thing (windows prefered)

[makntraks]

FYI: Magic Folders also has a hot key setup so you don't actually have to run it everytime you want to protect or hide/unhide folders..

The "encrypted" version of Magic Folders will also let you specify specific "files" inside folders, etc which makes it even more nifty...

makntraks

[bunyip]

OK here's how to manage it with windows security - but remember your disks must be using NTFS. FAT32 doesn't support the NT security system.
It's not complicated - just get familiar with the different access types.
For this we are only using 'write' and 'delete' permissions.

Firstly you have to enable advanced security (by default XP uses only simple file sharing).
- In any explorer window select 'Tools' -> 'Folder Options' -> 'View' and right at the bottom of the 'Advanced Settings' list is the option 'Use simple file sharing', this needs to be UNticked.

The simplest action is to now deny "write" & "delete" access to the parent directory, you only need to set the permissions on the directory that contains all the files, these permission will also protect the files in the directory.

(I suggest you set up a test directory with some files to get familiar with the settings before you apply them to the critical data).

- To Get to the Security Settings.
- Right-click on the directory you want to protect and select 'Properties', and click on the 'Security' tab.
- You should see several accounts listed as being able to access the directory.
-- Typically you will see 'Administrators', 'CREATOR OWNER', your account, 'SYSTEM' and 'Users'.
- Your account will be affected by settings for 'Administrators' and 'CREATOR OWNER' as well.

- So to to protect against accidental changing ..
-- you will see a list of permissions at the bottom of the properties window, for each of the accounts 'Administrators', 'CREATOR' and your account tick the 'Deny' box on the 'write' option.
-- Once you have done this for all accounts make sure you press the 'Apply' button.
- At this point you can test that you are unable to write to the directory or 'save' any changes to files in the directory.

- Now to also protect against accidental deletion of the files or the directory..
-- go back to the security tab in 'Properties' for the directory.
-- click on the 'Advanced' button.
-- here you will see a full list of current permissions.
-- you should also see the 'deny' permissions that you just set.
-- for each of the three accounts 'Admin', 'Creator' and your account, select (highlight) the entry that says 'Allow' and press the 'Edit' button.
-- You want to click the deny options against 'Delete Subfolders and Files' and 'Delete'.
-- Once you have done this for all 3 accounts press the 'APPLY' button.

- You can now test the directory and you should find that you cannot write, change or delete anything in the directory but you can read everything.

- To restore access rights you just need to reverse the settings and untick all the 'deny' options.