Is there a way in windows xp to password protect a folder of information? I know I can protect certain files depending on the program that created them. Looking to protect a group of files from different programs.

Thanks

You can encrypt a file or a folder in Windows:
Right click on the file/folder
Select properties
Click the Advanced button.
Check "Encrypt contents to secure data"
Click OK.

If the people that use the computer all use the same login then this method is useless because it goes by who you are logged in as. If you walk away from the computer w/o locking it then it's useless as well. If someone else were to login as a different user, they would not be able to see or open those files. If they have administrator access they might be able to delete them but I'm not 100% sure about that.

Here is a good free utility that will encrypt files for you.
Axantum Software AB | AxCrypt | File Encryption Software
To encrypt a folder/file:
Right click on the folder/file.
Select AxCrypt then select Encrypt.
Enter your pass phrase twice.
Click OK.

Anytime someone double clicks on the file to open it they will be prompted to enter the pass phrase.

Camouflage Home Page - Hide your files!

That is another software you can use.

Try my site's Data protection category

Open-Source