How To Encrypt Files And Folders In Windows 7

Encryption is a method to protect your files from unauthorized access.Windows 7 has inbuilt Encryption capabilities so that you don’t have spend extra money on these type of softwares.File encryption is becoming more and more important these days.If you fear that somebody may transfer your important data from your computer then go for windows encryption.The person is still able to transfer your data but they will never be able to read/open that data because it is encrypted and it cannot be opened without private encryption key.Encryption is the safest Protection for files and folders that windows 7 provides to its users.

Now,lets start the step by step tutorial with screen shots on how to encrypt files and folders in windows 7.

1.Right click on the folder you want to encrypt and then click on properties.

2.In the properties dialog click on Advanced under the general tab.

3.After clicking on advanced you will see a prompt,check the box in the prompt which says Encrypt Contents To Secure Data

4.If your trying to encrypt a folder you will see another prompt asking you whether you would like to encrypt subfolder also.Click on OK.

5.Now your files will be encrypted.

Note:If you are performing the encryption for the first time then you should backup your encryprtion key certiface because without this encryption key certificate you wont be able to open your files or folders on other computers.

6.Your Encrypted files and folders names will turn into green colour which indicates that the these files have been encrypted.

Encrypt/Lock Computer Drives Or Pendrive In Windows 7

Microsoft Bitlocker drive encryption is used to encrypt/lock any Local drive or removable drives like pendrives.Bitlocker encrypts the drives using 128 bit key.Once the drives are encrypted/locked it can only opened using the password.Microsoft introduced bitlocker encryption in windows vista.The bitlocker feature is currently available in Ultimate and Enterprise editions of windows 7 ,Vista as well as the Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2 .Bitlocker requires that your hard disk should have atleast two NTFS drives :One of the operating system and the other with a minimum size of 100 MB.

Let’s Begin the step by step tutorial along with screenshots on how to Lock/encrypt Computer drives or pendrive in windows 7.

1.Plugin your Pendrive into your Usb port.

(Skip the above step if you want to lock/encrypt a local drive)

2.Click on Start button and type Bitlocker and click on BitLocker Drive Encryption

3.Now you can see all local drives and your pendrive(If you have plugged in any)

4.Now click on Turn on BitLocker in front of the drive you want to lock/Encrypt.

5.Now it will ask you to choose your password

6.Once you have entered your password click Next you will be now asked to save the password or take a print out.

Note:If you save your password in your computer then make sure that it at some safe place.

7.Now bitlocker will start encrypting your drive.The encryption time varies according to the size of the drive.

8.If you have encrypted/locked  a local drive then you will see a lock in front of the drive.

9.If you have encrypted/locked a pendrive then you will see a bitlocker setup file when you put this pendrive in computer.Install this in another computer.

(If bitlocker is already installed in another system then this step is not required.)

10.Now it will prompt you to enter your password.

Note:If you want to encrypt only a specific file or folder then you can read the or tutorial by clicking the link below

Trick To Create Invisble Folder Without Name In Windows 7 And Vista

Windows 7 and vista allows you to create an invisible folder without any logo and name.If you have some private data and want to hide it from pirating eyes without using any external software then certainly you will benefit from this tutorial.

If you want to protect your data using password then you can read my post on Axcrypt:Free Encryption Software orBitlocker Encryption utility

In this tutorial we will protect our data first placing it in an invisible folder and then hiding it so that no one can even accidentaly open that folder.So this will provide you with two level security.

How To Create A Folder Without Name In Windows 7 And Vista?

1. Click on Start Button in taskbar
2. Search For Character Map
3. Open character Map and click on the blank Coloumn
   
4. Now Click on Select Button and then on Copy Button(Now you have copied a blank Space)
5. Create a New folder and Rename it and press Ctrl+V keys from keyboard.

By this time we have created a folder without any name.Now we have to create a folder without any Logo.

How To Create An Invisible Folder  In Windows 7 And Vista?

1. Right click on the folder that you have created without name in the previous step.
2. Click on Properties>>Customise>>Change Icon
3. Now will get a popup windows with various icon.Select the blank Icon

4. Press Ok

By this time you have created an Invisible folder with no logo and no name.

Move all of your private data in this invisible folder.

How To Hide the Invisible Folder In Windows 7 And Vista?

1. Right Click on the Invisible Folder
2. Select Properties and now select the Hidden Checkbox.

By this time you have your data in an invisible folder with no logo,name and which is hidden.So only you can access this folder as only you have knowledge where this invisible folder is stored.

How To Open This Hidden folder?

1.First Make Your Hidden Files,folders visible from  folders options in control panel.

2.Now go to the drive (location) of your computer where you have created the folder without name and icon.Now press Ctrl+A your folder will get highlighted.

cool 15 Windows 7 Tips and Hacks

1. Use Keyboard Shortcuts

Using the mouse, you can drag-”˜n-dock windows to either side of the screen, or drag it to the top to maximize it. These keyboard shortcuts are even faster:

• Win+Left Arrow and Win+Right Arrow dock the window to the left and right side of the screen
• Win+Up Arrow and Win+Down Arrow maximize and restore/minimize
• Win+M minimizes everything
• Alt+Up, Alt+Left Arrow, Alt+Right Arrow navigate to parent folder, or browse Back and Forward through folders in Explorer
• Win+Home minimizes/restores all open windows except the active window
• Alt+Win+# accesses the Jump List of program number ‘#’ on the taskbar

2.Rearrange System Tray Icons

You can rearrange icons on the taskbar as you wish and start new (or switch to running) instances of the first ten taskbar programs using Win+1, Win+2, and so on. The cool thing is you can also rearrange system tray icons. Reorder them on the tray or move them outside or back in the tray. Take control of what you want to always keep an eye on, and from which apps you’ll require notifications

3. Access Jump Lists with the Left Mouse Button

Jump Lists usually show up when you right-click on a taskbar icon. However, they can also be accessed by holding the left mouse button and dragging upwards. If you’re using a laptop touchpad or a touch screen, this is convenient because you do not have to click any button to access a context menu.

4. Add Any Folder to Favorites

You can add any library or folder to the Favorites section in Windows Explorer. To add a folder, navigate to it in Explorer, right-click Favorites in the left navigation pane, and select Add current location to Favorites. Now you get quick access to your favorite folders in all File->Save As dialogs!

5. Pin Frequently Used Folders to the Taskbar

Right-click, drag, and pin your favorite folders to Windows Explorer on the taskbar. They will now show up in the Jump List when you right click on Explorer giving you quick access to your favorite folders.

6. Pin Control Panel to the Taskbar

You cannot pin the Control Panel to the taskbar via the Start Menu or by drag and drop. Open the Control Panel and right-click its taskbar icon to pin it to the taskbar. An advantage of this is that Control Panel’s Jump List allows quick access to recently used functions.

7. Create Keyboard Shortcuts for Programs

You can create keyboard shortcuts for any program in Windows 7. Right-click the program icon and select Properties. Select the Shortcut tab, click in Shortcut key, to set the keyboard shortcut for that program.

8. Open Command Prompt in Any Folder

Like the command prompt? Miss the “˜Open Command Window Here’ Windows XP power toy? Press “˜Shift’ when right-clicking on a folder to get that option in the context menu. This also works on the desktop. No power toy required!

9. View Expanded ‘Send To’ Menu

Press Shift when right-clicking on a folder to get an expanded Send To menu.

10. Adjust Screen Text with Clear Type

Use Clear Type Tuner for the best look on your LCD monitor or laptop screen. Run “˜cttune.exe‘ from the Start Menu search box, or go to the Control Panel Display applet, and select Adjust ClearType Text from the left.

11. Get Exact Colors On Your Screen

If you are an artist or you work with colors, use the Calibrate Color option in the Control Panel Display applet or run dccw.exe from the Start Menu search box. You can adjust gamma, brightness, contrast, and color balance, ensuring that colors are displayed correctly on your screen.

12. Customize the Power Button

If you restart your computer more often than you shut it down, change the default Shutdownpower button to Restart. Right-click on Start, select Properties, and choose the Power button action that you use the most.

13. Customize Number of Items in Jump Lists & Start Menu

Right-click Start, select Properties, click Customize and choose the number of recent programs to be shown in the Start Menu and the number of items displayed in Jump Lists from the Start Menu Size section below.

14. Search Internet from the Start Menu

Enable Internet search from the Start Menu using your default browser. Run GPEDIT.MSC from the Start Menu search box to start the Group Policy Editor. In the left pane, go to User Configuration->Administrative Templates->Start Menu and Taskbar. In the right pane, right-click to Edit and Enable Add Search Internet link to Start Menu.

15. Add Videos to Start Menu

Windows 7 does not place a link to your videos on the Start Menu by default. To add a link to your videos on the Start Menu, right-click Start, select Properties, click on Customize. In theVideos section at the bottom, choose Display as a link.

Did you like these tips? Tell us or share your tricks with us in the comments! Don’t forget to watch out for Part 2!