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How to Encrypt: A file or folder on Windows XP Professional, Windows Media Center 2005 and Windows 2000 systems

Print Friendly Instructions

Before You Begin:

  1. Check with Your Local IT Support to ensure you are following your Department or Office's internal procedures and policies for data encryption. If you do not have local IT support, contact 8help at 688-HELP (4357), by email, or take advantage of their walk-in support at the BuckeyeBar.
  2. Proceed with Caution: If you forget your encryption key (your password), there is no way to recover your encrypted files.

Instructions:

  1. Open Windows Explorer

How to Open Windows Explorer:

  • Select Start
  • Select All Programs
  • Select Accessories
  • Select Windows Explorer
  1. Create a new folder for storing your encrypted files or designate an existing folder as your secure folder.
    You should name your new folder something easy to remember. In the example below, a folder named “Encrypted” is created and will be used to store files containing restricted data.
    Encrypting a new folder reduces the risk of losing older files that do not contain restricted data and allows you to easily store and control the location of those files.
  2. Select the file or folder that you want to encrypt. Open the file or folder Properties window (Right-click).
  3. In the Properties window, there are four tabs. You should already be on the General tab, but if not, select General. Then select the Advanced button.
  4. In the Advanced Attributes window, select the Encrypt contents to secure data check box to make the folder an encrypted repository.
  5. Select OK to confirm your choice.
  6. The Advanced Attribute window will close and you will see the Properties window again. Select OK to dismiss this window and return to Explorer.

Important Things to Note:

When you encrypt a single file, you are asked if you want to encrypt the folder that contains it as well.

  • If you choose to do so, all files and subfolders that are added to the folder in the future will be encrypted as well.

When you encrypt a folder that already contains files or subfolders, you are asked if you want all files and subfolders within the folder to be encrypted as well.

  • If you choose to do so, all files and subfolders currently in the folder are encrypted, as well as any files and subfolders added to the folder in the future.
  • If you choose to encrypt the folder only, all files and subfolders currently in the folder are not encrypted. However, any files and subfolders that are added to the folder in the future are encrypted when they are added.

You cannot encrypt files or folders that are compressed.

  • If you encrypt a compressed file or folder, that file or folder will be uncompressed.

You can only encrypt files and folders on NTFS file system volumes.

You cannot encrypt files marked with the System attribute or files in the systemroot directory structure.

Decrypt a file or folder

  1. Open Windows Explorer

How to Open Windows Explorer:

  • Select Start
  • Select All Programs
  • Select Accessories
  • Select Windows Explorer
  1. Right-click the encrypted file or folder, and then click Properties.
  2. On the General tab, click Advanced.
  3. Clear the Encrypt contents to secure data check box.

Note: When you decrypt a folder, you are asked if you want all files and subfolders within the folder to be decrypted as well. If you choose to decrypt the folder only, the encrypted files and folders within the decrypted folder remain encrypted. However, new files and folder that you create within the decrypted folder will not be automatically encrypted.

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