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Question

How do I handle/hide a folder with adult content in Win 8.1?

Jun 6, 2015 9:56PM PDT

Sorry to be so blunt, but I could use your help. My husband has a folder of "adult" pics that I need to hide. I was sitting at the laptop and my mouse rested on the Photos app for a second and--whoa. That can't be allowed to happen, as we have teens that occasionally use this desktop. Even if I password protect it somehow, the icon of the folder reflects the contents within. I also need to make sure the contents of the folder don't get thrown in with other pics in the myriad of photo apps in 8.1. That would be beyond embarrassing when showing vacation photos.

I tried to "hide" the folder and it didn't go anywhere (I went into Properties and clicked "Hidden.") I know there are better ways than this to hide a folder. What are they, and how do you find that folder when you want to look at it?
Once I figure out the "hidden" thing, I'd like to password protect it. Is that possible without downloading another program?
And again, I need to keep these pics in this folder and not allow them to appear, as they are now, in photo apps.

Thanks so much for your help on this delicate topic.

-OS8.1, Dell Inspirion

Discussion is locked

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Answer
install truecrypt
Jun 6, 2015 10:49PM PDT

nuff said.

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Take a look.
Jun 7, 2015 12:10AM PDT
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Re: hiding a folder
Jun 7, 2015 1:35AM PDT

The cheap and safe idea would be to move those pics off the PC to a USB-stick (64 GB is enough for a lot of pics), then tell your husband to use that if he wants to have a look at those pics. And, of course, he should not forget to take it out when he's finished.

But it's nearly as safe to put all those pics in his own My Pictures. Then - like his documents - they wouldn't be visitble to any other user of the PC who isn't administrator. Then password protect his and yours Windows accounts (hhat are administrator), and give everybody else (inlcuding your kids) a non-administrator account. Guests, of course, use the guest account.

Making those folders 'private' is even safer, since it even denies access to other administrators. http://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-make-folders-private-on-a-windows-8-1-family-pc/ tells how, using a 'My Pictures' folder on a family computer as an example.
But even then, if your husband in his own account shows the vacation pics they might turn up by accident.

So just moving them off is safest.

Kees

Post was last edited on June 7, 2015 1:39 AM PDT

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I see good ideas but no WARNINGS!
Jun 7, 2015 8:53AM PDT

There are too many posts asking how to recover files from encrypted folders. Let me end with a CNET moderator saying.

"We only lose what we don't backup."

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Answer
Folder Lock
Jun 29, 2015 7:17PM PDT

You can use the "Protect My Folders" application and it allows you to hide and password protect your private folder.