How to hide files and folders???

[go4saket]

Hello Friends!

Can anyone guide me the procedure or a software with which I can hide the folders or files that I dont want anyone to see. There are loads of software available like Folder Lock, Folder Security etc, but all have a problem. None of these softwares hides files & folders in such a way that it cant be viewed from DOS mode.

Is there any software that can hide files and folders i such a way that it cannot be found even in DOS mode.

[navjotjsingh]

Originally Posted by http://www.fspro.net/hfxp/faq.html#DOS

I heard that some applications can hide folders in realty and the folders will be hidden in Dos session as well. Why don't you implement a similar feature?

This feature requires meddling into file system. Running such low-level utilities like Norton Disk Doctor, Scandisk, etc may damage hidden folders in this case.

So I would recommend that you create archives and encrypt them with a password. Archives can be extracted in dos mode only if you know the password making it safe from others.

Otherwise if you really want to know name of such softwares some of them are here:

http://www.superlogix.net/hidefolder.htm

http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/U...e_Folders.html

http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/U...uard_Lite.html

http://www.newsoftwares.net/folderlock/

[q3_abhi]

You may use Dos-based compression utilities.
You can add password to these compressed files.
This is safe.

UHARC is a good dos-based compressor.

www.maximumcompression.com

[go4saket]

Well friends, I dont want to encript or zip the files or folders to hide them. Please tell me a safe way or a software that works with windows and hides folders in such a way that it cannot be found even from DOS with out password.

[navjotjsingh]

Have you tried the links which I gave you.

[QwertyManiac]

I have heard of a s/w called Magic Box doing this, my bro used that to hide his diaries once...

[navjotjsingh]

Are you sure its called Magic Box because Magic Box is a designing software from what I have founded.

[go4saket]

Originally Posted by navjotjsingh

Have you tried the links which I gave you.

Thank Navjot. I did try all the softwares that you had recommended, but all have the same problem. It hides the folder in Windows mode but if I start my computer in DOS mode, all the hidden stuff is visible. The basic aim is to hide folders in such a way that they shouldn't be visible even from DOS mode.

[khattam_]

Originally Posted by go4saket

Thank Navjot. I did try all the softwares that you had recommended, but all have the same problem. It hides the folder in Windows mode but if I start my computer in DOS mode, all the hidden stuff is visible. The basic aim is to hide folders in such a way that they shouldn't be visible even from DOS mode.

So what windows are you using??
If you just want to hide your folders even from dos mode, this seems kinda impossible without encryption........

You can do one thing.. write to a drive and remove the drive from the mbr and when you need to use it again, you can again add the drive........

This way, you can hide to some extent, but if someone uses a Linux live CD, it may not again be difficult to view those files...

So, without encryption, it looks a kinda impossible....

[khattam_]

I had once downloaded a proggy called Absolute Lock...... Haven't used it, I use encryption when I need to hide files.....

Originally Posted by Absolute Lock Readme

1.1 What is AbsoluteLock? -------------------------------------

AbsoluteLock is a system and harddisk security tool, which uses
the only acceptable method to assure a really secure protection
solution for your data. After you have installed AbsoluteLock
to your system, you will be asked to enter a password everytime
you boot your computer. If the password is incorrect the access
will be denied, if a user tries to boot from a floppy disk, the
protected harddrive(s) will still not be accessable at all.

If you have source codes, other kind of sensetive files or
simply want to keep your harddisk locked against others,
you need to find a way to secure your system so, that you
are the only person who is able to access your data.
You might have already discovered that using the BIOS
password protection is simply not safe enough, if you
honestly want to protect your system against intruders.
Removing the CMOS battery, using the universial password
or replacing a harddisk into another computer system would
disclose total access to your data without even
knowing your password. Other worthless protection shemes
such as a program which is called within autoexec.bat or
a driver which gets executed in config.sys are also very
easy to be removed. Boot from a floppy disk and you will
have full access to your harddrives again, can remove the
line in config.sys or where ever it is.
Within Microsoft(R) Windows(TM) several programs offer
the possibility to secure folders by asking for a password
everytime you want to access the protected folder.
These kind of security products a) slow down your working
process, b) folders can usually be accessed from a DOS
environment, booted e.g. from a floppy disk c) cannot
protect all data (configuration files, system files...)
because these programs only run under Windows and thus
conflict with the OS if e.g. the \windows directory
would be protected.
Similar weak security offer "protected environment"
operation systems such as Windows NT or Windows 2000.
If you want to bypass the LOGIN, you can again simply
boot from a floppy disk, if the harddisk uses the
NT file system (NTFS) you run a program like NTFDS(5)
and you are again able to access all files (patch or
delete the SAM file in config32\ and can login into
Windows without password).
In fact, most protection system prompt for a password
write that password either in encrypted or plain form
to disk, when the user wants to log in, the program
again prompts for the password and compares it with the
one which was written to disk. AbsoluteLock uses a lot
more secure variant, it encrypts code which is neccesary
for the system to run and even to access the harddrive
(either from a floppy boot or from hdd boot). The area
which is password encrypted by AbsoluteLock is called
"partitiontable", the code which is followed by the
masterbootrecord of every IBM, PS/2 or compatible
computer system independent which operationsystem
is installed. Registered users also have the possibility
to encrypt the "bootsector" and do a "partly FAT
encryption" for additional security.
Due to this method, the password is neither in plain nor
in encrypted form written anywhere to disk.

http://www.absolutelock.de

[vignesh]

Just rightclick and check the hidden checkbox.That should hide the file or folder.

[khattam_]

Originally Posted by vignesh

Just rightclick and check the hidden checkbox.That should hide the file or folder.

This was funny.... Hope it was a joke..........

[Vishal Gupta]

I think he didnt read the whole question.
Thats why he gave the solution to simply hide files and folders...

[srijit]

did u try magic folders?

[Ashis]

attrib +s +h "C:\Hide\"

The above command at the command prompt will Super Hide the folder (or file insted, as specified in the path)

One cannot see the folder in the explorer or even enabling 'Show hidden files & folder'

U can us the command
C:\>dir /a
to see the hidden files or folder.

To change back, Use:
attrib -s -h "C:\Hide\"


Thats how windows hides its 'boot.ini' file & many other files.

[khattam_]

Originally Posted by Ashis

attrib +s +h "C:\Hide\"

The above command at the command prompt will Super Hide the folder (or file insted, as specified in the path)

One cannot see the folder in the explorer or even enabling 'Show hidden files & folder'

U can us the command
C:\>dir /a
to see the hidden files or folder.

To change back, Use:
attrib -s -h "C:\Hide\"


Thats how windows hides its 'boot.ini' file & many other files.

Hehe the same thing again

[khattam_]

Originally Posted by Ashis

attrib +s +h "C:\Hide\"

The above command at the command prompt will Super Hide the folder (or file insted, as specified in the path)

One cannot see the folder in the explorer or even enabling 'Show hidden files & folder'

U can us the command
C:\>dir /a
to see the hidden files or folder.

To change back, Use:
attrib -s -h "C:\Hide\"


Thats how windows hides its 'boot.ini' file & many other files.

Hehe the same thing again... It is the same as ticking hedden in the properties window

[Ashis]

Originally Posted by khattam_

Hehe the same thing again... It is the same as ticking hedden in the properties window

Read again; the Bold & underlined words :roll:

[ramprasad]

Hi,
The folders hidden using attrib +s +h can be viewd when 'Hide Protected Operating System Folders' is unchecked in Folder Options --> View.

Regards,
Ramprasad

[QwertyManiac]

Oops , sorry, it was magic folder and not box, i dint read the s/w name properly, i was young at that time it was about 3 years back

Srijit said it right

[Ashis]

Originally Posted by ramprasad

Hi,
The folders hidden using attrib +s +h can be viewd when 'Hide Protected Operating System Folders' is unchecked in Folder Options --> View.

Regards,
Ramprasad

Well....
I tried what U said....But it doesn't seam to work that way!
The files Or folder hidden using attrib +s +h are still hidden!

Any way...I any be wrong & I am still looking into it...If any body else also finds the same..Plz do report

[go4saket]

Thankyou every one, but the problem is not solved till yet. I tried every thing that I was recommended in the forum, but none could hide the files or the folders if I boot the computer in MS DOS mode. Now, is there any software that can actually hide the folders from MS DOS bootup.

[Ashis]

Originally Posted by go4saket

Thankyou every one, but the problem is not solved till yet. I tried every thing that I was recommended in the forum, but none could hide the files or the folders if I boot the computer in MS DOS mode. Now, is there any software that can actually hide the folders from MS DOS bootup.

Yea.....convert UR partition into NTFS

[go4saket]

Thats fine, but what if I want to use that partition from MS DOS for some reason. Incase if I convert it to NTFS, I wont be able to use it from DOS atall, and I cant do that.

[Ashis]

Originally Posted by go4saket

Thats fine, but what if I want to use that partition from MS DOS for some reason. Incase if I convert it to NTFS, I wont be able to use it from DOS atall, and I cant do that.

Well in that Case U need NTFS Floppy

Also Visit:
http://www.ntfs.com/
http://www.ntfs.com/products.htm

[go4saket]

But that again wont help as if I convert the partitions to NTFS and boot through a NTFS floppy, the same thing happens. Again the hidden folders and files would be exposed to every one... That's something I dont want to happen... Seems like there is no resque...