hiding folders from other users?

EirePlane · 19 Apr 2007 at 22:15

can anyone tell me how to hide the contents of the "my documents" folder from other users on a PC? got a friend asking me how and i just cant remember.
IIRC there is a feature to do it in windows XP

Cheers in advance,
Mitchel

touch · 19 Apr 2007 at 22:16

Dont be embarrased of your pron folder, everyone has 1

EirePlane · 19 Apr 2007 at 22:21

touch said:
Dont be embarrased of your pron folder, everyone has 1

I have that well hidden already

lol

touch · 19 Apr 2007 at 22:29

using xp?
i *think* if you add a password to your account it will ask you if ou want to hide your files/folders (you can then remove the password if you want)

EirePlane · 19 Apr 2007 at 22:30

touch said:
using xp?
i *think* if you add a password to your account it will ask you if ou want to hide your files/folders (you can then remove the password if you want)

twas what i thought but they already have a password on it

lightbulb · 20 Apr 2007 at 01:02

I right clicked on one of the folders on my desktop and in the properties dialogue box there was a checkbox for 'Hidden' below the Read Only option. Worth a shot, never used it personally though. If the folder becomes invisible to you as well, don't blame me

[edit] Aah just tried it. Looks like it can make the folders disappear for you as well if you dont have 'Show hidden files and folders' enabled.

open any folder > tools > folder options > view tab > Show hidden files and folders or change this to Do not show hidden files and folders for the hidden thing to work.

I don't use mutliple accounts on the one PC so don't know if this option can vary by user-account, ie. show hidden files on account A and dont show hidden files on Account B.

[2nd edit] just a note, this is probably a long winded way around so probably only a temp fix

[3rd edit] phew, maybe I should just leave the edit window open for a few hours until I can't think of anything else:

http://www.pcanswers.co.uk/tips/default.asp?pagetypeid=2&articleid=31077&subsectionid=616
was reading that link and thought maybe all the user accounts are Admins, what about bumping them down to plain old users, or messing with some of the options mentioned in the article to see what comes about

OK i'm leaving this thread now to save on the edits :eek:

bringans · 20 Apr 2007 at 06:50

MS released a program last year called Privite folder, then took it down in days due to people in companys locking data from there admins / boss, IRS etc etc.

google it and ya will prob find a 3rd party who has it for DL.

IAmATeaf · 20 Apr 2007 at 10:53

Can't you just use NTFS file/folder permissions?

Amp34 · 20 Apr 2007 at 12:42

If his account is already passworded how about this...

Right click "My Documents">Properties>Sharing>"Make this folder private"

I think that is what you are looking for.

EirePlane · 20 Apr 2007 at 12:44

IAmATeaf said:
Can't you just use NTFS file/folder permissions?

They are on FAT32 and I thought it best not to tell them to switch since their PC is from a now bankrupt OEM
If something goes wrong the recovery disk wouldn't work and the OEM wouldn't be able to repair since it no longer exists