Its a simple trick, gives a basic level of Security.
Lots of times you find yourself searching for a software to lock some of your private folders, especially when you are using a public computer or sharing your PC at your office. In the latter case, you are not even given the rights to load any application without the permissions of your Project manager or the System Colleagues. I found this really cool feature of locking your folders in Windows XP without using any software. These are the steps of lock the folder:
1. Suppose you have a folder in your D drive(D:abcd).
2. Create a notepad file in the same folder with the following statement
ren abcd abcd.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}
3. Save the text file as loc.bat.
4. Create another notepad file with the following content.
ren abcd.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D} abcd
5. Save this notepad file as key.bat.
6. There are two batch files currently in the folder. Double click on loc.bat and the folder would change into a Control Panel and the contents can not be viewed.
7. To open the file, just double click on key.bat. After which you can open the folder.
8. To be safe with the folders, have the key.bat file in a seperate location. Only when you need to unlock it, paste it on the same directory.
Next time you want to lock a folder, you know what to do instead of searching/downloading a folder locking application
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Dude.. this can be bypassed very easily. Obscurity is not security.