How to Lock Files and Folders without any Software
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Each one of us must have tried many softwares for locking their private files and folders. Few must have bought a licensed copy of one while others are better of using a free version. However, you can achieve the same level of privacy without any software. This tutorial will make things crystal clear of what I am trying to say.
Few months back, Madhur had written a similar article on locking folders without any software but this article is a step forward to what he has described at that time. The trick which I am going to tell here will make a virtual folder by the name “Locker” where you can put as many files and folders you want and after locking, this “Locker” folder will disappear.
Here is step-by-step guide to achieve that.
1. Download or Copy the following text file which contains the program code:-
Text File -> LockCode.txt
2. Paste the above code in notepad or create a new text document by right clicking on your desktop and selecting New->Text Document.
3. Replace “type your password here” with your password in the code you just pasted on the notepad. DON’T FORGET THIS.
4. Save the above file as BATCH file (by extension .bat). Choose any filename but make sure that it ends with .bat
(Open My Computer. Goto Tools -> Folder Options -> View. Scroll down and UNCHECK Hide extensions for known file types. Now rename your file with .bat extension)
5. Now you can see a MS-DOS BATCH file you just created. See the picture below:-
6. Double click on it to create a new folder named “Locker“.
7. Now put all files and folders you want to protect in to this new folder “Locker“.
8. Double click that BATCH file again to lock the folder “Locker”. It will disappear as soon as it gets locked.
9. If you want to unlock that folder, double click the BATCH file again. You will be prompted for the password, enter the correct password and that folder “Locker” will then be appear which is easily accessible by you.
That’s it. You are done. You have just learnt how to protect your important files and folders without any software. Isn’t it amazing? What’s your take on this? Do you know any other technique?
Update:- As pointed out my Mayank in the comment section, the safety of that BATCH file is also very important. So it’s better that you store it in some other directory or completely remove it. Then later on when you want to unblock your files and folder, just copy that batch file to same directory as your “Locker” folder and follow the above mentioned process.
Nice tutorial, I feel this is best than using softwares. Stumbled.
I think this is the coolest of tutorials. Thanks a ton dude! you rock.
Cool tutorial man! This can be pretty useful to hide a lot of files. Personally I am still more comfortable with the established methods such as encryption etc.
BTW are you sure that these hidden files will not be accessible in any scenario such as from MSDOS, Linux etc ?
Just ensure that you keep that batch file safe and delete it everytime once you lock it… else, it’ll be damn simple to crack the password too!
Thanks for the stumble. It’s good that you like it.
@Keshav
Buddy, those are real good words. I appreciate that.
@Jawwad
Yea, softwares do provide an extra touch to your privacy by those encryption algos. I tried to access that “Locker” folder from DOS, but failed to do so. I did not even find it.
Thanks for reminding us about the safety of the batch file. I almost forgot to mention in my post. I am going to edit that right now.
Rakshit: That’s good that it is completely hidden in other OS as well
. Keep up the good work to share the original things like this one 
Stay Tuned…
Thanks for the link rakshit. This trick is cool.
Good tutorial. Can you please explain how it locks the folder?
Hope it solves your problem.
@Rakshit
I mean to ask how this whole thing works?
P.S. I am not asking the explaination of batch file, I have already gone through it. I want to know how it becomes protected?
What it does is that at first the given code creates a new folder named “Locker”, changes that folder into control panel with hidden attribute. That’s it.
@Rakshit
Ok. I got the point.
Hey thanx for the effort but its not working for me when i try to lock it it says are you sure i write y then a file named x is created but nothing is hidden anfd thats it
Also, check that the batch file created after renaming looks same as shown in above picture.It should be something like “MS DOS Batch” file.\
hi
i jus wanna ask that everything goes fine uptil the creation of folder named locker but it doesnt get lock ,on clickin y nothin happens
Anyways, I have updated that lock code. Try the steps again, you’ll get the results. If you face any problem, do let me know.
Enjoy!!!
Hello Friends,
A good technique to lock the folders without any softwares. Another good idea to destroy the “.bat” file for security reasons. But, one(with little knowledge of computers) can easily open that folder without any password. Even from command prompt. This how it can be done:
Step 1: From My Computer goto Menu>Tools>Folder Options
Step 2: Click on View tab.
Step 3: Check th radio button which says “Show hidden files and folders”. Also, uncheck the checkbox which says “Hide protected operating system files(recomended)”.
Step 4: Press apply ok.
Now you can see the “Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}” folder with the control panel icon.
Double click it. You will see the control panel window.
Now
Step 5: Rename the folder. Give any name.
That’s it. You have unlocked the folder. The icon of the folder will be the same as normal folder.
Now you can access the folder and its contents.
From command prompt also u can access the folder. This is how it works:
Step 1: Goto C:\ prompt.
Step 2: Type dir /AH.
Step 3: You can see “Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}” folder in the list.
Step 4: You can get inside the folder using cd command.
cd Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}
Step 5: You can copy the contents of the folder to any desired place.
Done!!!!!!!
You cannot rename the folder from command prompt.
All this is done assuming the folder you created was in C drive. You must be thinking how a person is going to know that folder is created in the c drive.
You are right but the thing is that one can search for the “Control Panel” folder or just hidden folders and can do all of the above steps. The unusual thing about the process of locking the file is that the “Control Panel” folder does not exist in C: drive or inside any other folder.
am sorry man but i forgot to enter my password cause i was in a hurry what can i do???
thanx alot i figured it out
Thanks for your valuable comments. I agree this is really a loophole in this technique. But yes, you can use it to protect your less important files.
Nothing is secured these days.
gr8 man its superb
i didnt think a batch file can do that
its not the batch
but u who has done it
thanks
1 more thing
can we make dilog box that pop out
i want to show text while double clickin the batch
thankx in advance
So better Stay Tuned!!!
I created this Locker folder on share drive but when I went to access it from another computer it doesn’t open the Locker folder all it seems to do is display the control panel if run the batch file again it asks if you want to lock it again so it seems I can only access the unlocked folder from the computer I created it in. Is there something I can add to the script to change this
Thank you
Thnx Dear,
Nice utility
Regards
Amol
Just copy the LOCKER folder and BATCH file to another computer LOCAL DRIVE and then try running batch file to unlock locker folder. It should work pretty fine.
Reply me back if problem persists.
Yes I tried that before I wrote to you and as I mentioned all that comes up is the the control panel icon instead of the Locker folder with the prompt “are you sure you want to lock the folder” after that. If I go back to original computer I can pull it up. This is a share drive but I tried from my laptop sitting right next to my desktop both connected to the same share drive I tried it from the other to test it so when I am at a users desk I can access the drive then the hidden folder but so far I cant do it
thanks in advance
@Jerry
Try renaming the control panel icon as Locker. It should work.
Thank you I will try that but from the other computer not the one I created it from the locker folder does appear but so does the control panel So I tried moving the control panel file in the locker folder going through the lock process again and it just gives me the open locker folder with the control panel in it. Back at the other computer, the one I created it on, it works normal. Very strange
Mar 20th, 2008 at 1:17 am
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