how to password protect files?

[Mama Soltera]

I couldn't find the right place to post this. How do either password protect certain documents or just password protect my entire desktop? I have an older windows (millineum (SP?) edition).

[cat13]

So, I'm not sure about Windows Millenium, but here's what I would do for a newer version of Windows, and it might work for Millenium:

If you just want to password-protect one or two documents, you do that within the document. For example, here's how you protect a Word document. People will still see that the file exists and the name of the file, but they can't open and see it without the password.

If you want more protection, you can create multiple log-ins on your computer and put a password on yours. That way, when someone starts up the computer, instead of going straight to your desktop, they will go to a welcome screen with all the log-ins you created. For example, you can have "Mom", "Dad" and "Guest".  You can have a password for "Mom" and separate password for "Dad" and the "Guest" one can be without a password, so anyone can log into it. Just note that one of you will have to be the Administrator, and can access all the log-ins. Someone logged into the "Dad" side cannot see any files or browser history for the "Mom" side.  Is this more of what you want to do?

[Mama Soltera]

Yes, I think I will just go with the different log ins, like "Mom," "Kids," etc. How do I do that? Thanks so much for your response. :)

[cat13]

Again, I'm not sure about your operating system, but this is how I'd do it on Windows XP: Click Start menu, click Control Panel, click User Accounts, click Create New Account. That's were you will create all the accounts. You will be the "administrator" but you can also set others to be "administrator" too (like Dad). Only the Admin can do things like install new programs, go into other accounts, add/delete accounts, change passwords, etc.

[Mama Soltera]

Thank you. I will give that a try. :)