How to Password Protect Programs in XP
If there are multiple people using your computer, you may want to take an extra step to secure your privacy and password protect certain programs or files. The Windows XP operating system includes a feature that allows you to encrypt a folder and secure its contents with your own personal password. The password protection feature works slightly differently depending on whether you are using Windows XP Home or Windows XP Pro.
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Instructions
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Windows XP Pro
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Locate the folder where the program is saved on your hard drive. Right-click the folder's name and select "Properties."
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Navigate to "Advanced." Click the check box labeled "Encrypt contents to secure data."
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Select "Apply" and then click "OK" to protect the file with the profile password you use to login to Windows XP.
Windows XP Home
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Navigate to the folder that contains the program you want to password protect. Right-click the folder and select the "Properties" option.
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Navigate to the "Sharing" tab. Click the check box labeled "Make this folder private."
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Click "Apply" and then "OK" to password protect the folder. The folder will use the password you use to login to your personal Windows XP profile.
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Tips & Warnings
If you want an extra layer of protection, you can also download and install a third-party encryption tool that will allow you to set another password on a folder or individual file.
If you don't use a password to login to your Windows XP account, the operating system will prompt you to create a password when you select "Encrypt contents to secure data" or "Make this folder private."
In the Windows XP Home version, you can only password protect folders that are located in the "C:\Documents and Settings" folder. If you want to password protect a program located outside that folder, you will need to drag it into the "Documents and Settings" folder first.
