How to lock a folder in Windows XP without any special software ?

Want to lock a folder so as to prevent others using your computer from viewing its contents ? Normally we use third party software to achieve this . I found a good way to lock a folder in Windows XP without using any third party software .

• Open Notepad in your PC by typing " Notepad " in run prompt .
• Copy the following Code and paste it in notepad.
  

cls
@ECHO OFF
title Folder Technade
if EXIST "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" goto UNLOCK
if NOT EXIST Technade goto MDLOCKER
:CONFIRM
echo Are you sure u want to Lock the folder(Y/N)
set/p "cho=>"
if %cho%==Y goto LOCK
if %cho%==y goto LOCK
if %cho%==n goto END
if %cho%==N goto END
echo Invalid choice.
goto CONFIRM
:LOCK
ren Technade "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}"
attrib +h +s "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}"
echo Folder locked
goto End
:UNLOCK

echo Enter password to Unlock folder
set/p "pass=>"
if NOT %pass%==technade123 HERE goto FAIL
attrib -h -s "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}"
ren "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" Technade
echo Folder Unlocked successfully
goto End
:FAIL
echo Invalid password
goto end
:MDLOCKER
md Technade
echo Technade created successfully
goto End
:End

• Save the notepad and change the extension of the file from ".txt" to ".bat" .
  
• Now you have created a batch file . You can even customise the batch file by following the below two points.
  
• Replace Technade which is in bold letter with the name of the locked folder you want to create ( Optional ) .
  
• You can change the password also by replacing " technade123 " in the above code with your new password ( Optional ).
• Now place the batch file in the location where you want to create your password protected folder .
• Run the batch file by double clicking on it. This will create a folder named "technade" in the same location as the batch file.
• You can now open the folder and place the files inside .
• After placing the files , run the batch file again . It will ask you whether you want to lock the folder . Press' y' and hit enter .
• The folder will become invisible . To reopen the folder , run the batch file again . You will be asked for a password .
• Enter the password and hit Enter . You can view the contents of your locked folder .

Note : After locking the folder , don't keep it in the same location as anyone can open the batch file and see your password . Keep it in someother location , and whenever you want to open it , Place it back in the location of locked password and run it .

Thanks to Digital Quest.

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