User:Rey Dacoco

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[edit] Unconventional Folder Protection Methods

I call this as unconventional folder protection methods by the fact that the basic method of guarding folders known to a standard computer user is by hiding it,i.e., right clicking your folder>checking the hidden check box>etc.>etc.Ahem!Excuse me for my restrained vocabulary...

I personally believed that the peculiar the method is, the lesser the chance that your file or folder will be altered by unauthorized users.What a sparkling idea from me!

Method 1: Totally Hidden Folder (Works in Windows XP and Vista)

This approach is different from the usual method of hiding folders. One its advantages from the conventional mode is it doesn't show up on search.Let's put its name into a test.

Steps:
1. Make a new folder (The easiest way to make one is to right click on an empty pane in the desktop>new>folder.
2. While the default folder name is highlighted> Hold alt + 0160. (0160 is an Alt key combinations for non-breakable spaces.)
3. You'll noticed that your folder name is gone and is replaced with a blank one.
4. For your folder to be totally invisible, all you need to do is hide your folder icon.
5. Right click your folder now>Select the customize tab>Click the change icon button>(the folder icon dialog box will appear)>Select the blank folder icon,(the blank folder icon can normally be found in the middle portion of the displayed available icons)>apply.

It works comrade! If it works for me, it will definitely work for you. Do you want another method? Okay okay, let us have another one...

Method 2: ATTRIButed Folder (Works in Windows 98---XP)

To be able to do this trick we need to use the ATTRIB command. The ATTRIB command allows you to assign attributes to your file and folder. Available attributes are READ-ONLY, ARCHIVE, SYSTEM and HIDDEN. READ-ONLY means that your file or folder can be accessed but it cannot be deleted. ARCHIVE makes your file or folder available for archiving. SYSTEM and HIDDEN attributes hide your file from the folder listing.

The idea here, my sister, is simple, what we need to do is to apply the READ-ONLY attribute to our file and folder so that it will not be deleted. But the problem is although it cannot be deleted or altered, it can still be accessed by the standard computer users like me and you.Not a problem because we can hide it by using the SYSTEM and HIDDEN attributes. I'm sure your excited, no more puzzling talks, Let's go now into action.

Steps:Protecting your folder using the ATTRIB command
1. Make a folder named "myfolder" in the C drive.
2. Start the command processor(Press winkey + r> type cmd >press enter).
3. Type cd\ to go directly to the C drive.
4. In the c:\ drive, type:
ATTRIB myfolder +R +S +H Then press enter.

Here, we assign 3 attributes to our "myfolder" folder. Attributes can be typed in any order, i.e, +S +H +R or +H +R +S,etc.Very easy, isn't it?

To unprotect your folder, type ATTRIB myfolder -R -S -H Then press enter.(Just Replace the plus sign with a minus sign).I am sure you want another method, don't be sad, this one's for you.

Method 3: Access Denied folder(Works in Windows XP and Vista)

CACLS modifies the control access list of your file or folder. In English it means that using this command, you will be able to control the user who will be able to and who will not be able to access your file or folder.Enough, let's have a real action.

Steps:Protecting your folder using CACLS Command
1. Make a folder named "myfolder" in the C drive.
2. Start the command processor(Press winkey + r> type cmd >press enter).
3. Type cd\ to go directly to the C drive.
4. In the c:\ drive, type:

CACLS myfolder /d everyone Then press enter. (Here we deny all users from accessing our folder by using the /d or deny option. Everyone is a recognized keyword that pertains to all users).

What an accomplishment! If it did not work for you maybe you have missed something along the way.To unprotect your folder, type CACLS myfolder /g everyone:F Then press enter. (/g is an option that grants all users. F means that users has full control over our folder). Let's have another method, Good luck!

Method 4: Illegal folder (Works in Windows XP and Vista)

Another way to protect your folder is to use an illegal folder name. Folders with illegal folder name can be accessed, but there is no way that you can delete them, unless of course you have unlocker. Examples of the Illegal folder names are CON, AUX, LPT1, LPT2, LPT3, LPT4, LPT5, LPT6, LPT7, LPT8, LPT9, COM1, COM2, COM3, COM4, COM5, COM6, COM7, COM8,and COM9. They are known as illegal folder names because there's know way that Windows Xp will allow you to use those names as folder names unless of course you know the trick. Well fortunately, I know the trick, and this day, you'll know it too.

Steps:
1. Start the command processor(Press winkey + r> type cmd >press enter).
2. Type cd\ to go directly to the C drive.
3. Type MD \\.\\C:\COM3
Then press enter.
Here we use the Make Directory command to create a folder,slashes are normally used to create folder on remote computers, only that in this case, we use it to create a folder with an illegal folder name.

What an achievement again! To delete your folder, type:RD \\.\\C:\COM3. Its just as easy as 123.Let's go now to our final method won't we?

Method 5: Inherited Folder (Works in Windows XP and Vista)

This method is based upon the concept of inheritance. In OOP, when you derived a class from a base class, the derived class inherits the features and capabilities of the base class.I just don't know the technical details, but windows xp folders seems to abide to the rules of inheritance. In this case, we will clone a known folder by using this syntax:
REN FOLDER_NAME FOLDER_NAME.{CLSID of the base folder}.
CLSID or Class Identifier is a unique folder identifier. To get the CLSID of a folder, press winkey +r > type regedit >Expand HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT > Expand CLSID > Copy the key name of the folder that you wanted to clone > Then follow the steps below:

Steps:

1. Make a folder named "myfolder" in the C drive.
2. Start the command processor(Press winkey + r> type cmd >press enter).
3. Type cd\ to go directly to the C drive.
4. In the c:\ drive, type:
REN myfolder myfolder.{645ff040-5081-101b-9f08-00aa002f954e}
Then press enter.

Here, we cloned the recycle bin folder by using its CLSID. When you click your folder, instead of displaying its normal contents or files, the files inside the recycle bin folder will show up instead. But don't worry, you files will not be lost. To view your files, just reverse the process, i.e.,REN myfolder.{645ff040-5081-101b-9f08-00aa002f954e} myfolder.

That's all for now folks. I hope what I have shared with you can be beneficial in your daily computing life, if not, please accept my apology.If you have questions, just browse friendster/mnemonist and drop me a message. Thanks.