Make Folders Private
Published: May 20, 2002
Submitted by Doug Knox, Microsoft MVP, Tewksbury, Massachusetts
You can make a folder and all of its subfolders private. If you do not make folders private, they are available to everyone who uses your computer. However, you must be using the NTFS file system on your hard drive for this option to work. First, check to see what file system you're using, and then get instructions on how to begin the conversion process:
1. | Open My Computer, click the hard drive in question (usually drive C), and look under Details in the left pane. If the file system is listed as FAT32, you can't make the folder private. |
2. | To convert to the NTFS file system so you can make your folders private, open Help and Support and type convert in the Search box. |
The option to make folders private is only available for folders included in your user profile. Folders in your user profile include My Documents and its subfolders, Desktop, Start Menu, Cookies, and Favorites.
Important: Once you convert a drive or partition to NTFS, you cannot simply convert it back to FAT or FAT32. You will need to reformat the drive or partition which will erase all data including programs and personal files on the partition.
Some older programs may not run on an NTFS volume, so you should research the current requirements for your software before converting.
More Windows XP tips from Doug can be found at Doug's Windows Tweaks and Tips.
