Many times we want to hide some private or important files and folders from other users. We can set the file attribute to hidden to hide it from others but other users can enable the "Show hidden files and folders" option from Folder Options and can open our hidden files. There are many 3rd party software available to hide or make files and folders password protected but most of them are not free.
Today in this article, we are going to share a 100% safe and free of cost method to hide files and folders in Windows without using any 3rd party software.
If you also want to hide some files or folders from others in Windows, check out following simple steps:
STEP 1: First of course, hide the file or folder from its "Properties".
STEP 2: Now disable "Show Hidden files/folders" option from "Tools -> Folder Options".
Hmm. Now you can say "What's so special? Anyone can enable the option again."
STEP 3: OK. No problem. Disable "Folder Options" using Registry Editor. Please take a look at Point 4 in following topic:
All Kind of Restrictions for Windows
Again you'll ask "So what? Anyone who knows about "regedit" can re-enable Folder Options. Then?"
STEP 4: Simple. Disable Registry Editor also. Again take a look at Point 5 in following topic:
All Kind of Restrictions for Windows
Now we have almost done and our hidden files are safe but not really. Why? Because "regedit" can be enabled again using "gpedit.msc".
Go to:
User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> System
In right-side pane, set "Prevent access to Registry editing tools" to either Not Configured or Disabled and it'll re-enable Registry Editor.
So to make our method 100% safe and working, just follow this last step:
STEP 5: Rename gpedit.msc to some other name like "AskVG.msc" and then hide it. You can find it in "Windows\System32" folder.
Now whenever anyone tries to run "gpedit.msc", Windows will show an error message "file not found". But you can always run it using the new name "AskVG.msc".
So its an easy to follow and absolutely free method to hide your private data from others.
Posted by: Vishal Gupta | Categories: Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP
Nicholas
What happens if we don't have gpedit? what do we do?
vasu
error renaming gpedit.msc, how can I do it?
VG
^^ Try to take ownership of the file:
http://www.askvg.com/add-take-ownership-option-in-file-folder-context-menu-in-windows-vista/