Originally Posted by
Saab Dastard
Assuming you have NTFS, you could simply switch on file and folder permissions and set the access you want on the folder.
XP Home has Simple File Sharing configured by default and you can't turn it off. So you can't set complex permissions easily.
It IS possible to set classical file/folder permissions individually in XP Home, but you have to have administrator privileges and use
cacls from the command line or logon as the Administrator in Safe Mode and rightclick on permissions. Persons unfamiliar with XP's permissions system are advised to be careful - it is entirely possible to make files completely inaccessible.
Baxbex Software -
http://www.baxbex.com/ - make Cryptomite for encryption and Foldershield for hiding/locking files/folders - I haven't used these specifically, but do use other s/w of theirs which is of excellent quality and support.
NB: XP Home does not support NTFS encryption either.
PS: For those of you who feel that XP Home doesn't give you much, wait for Vista Home, which will give you even less, but cost a lot more. Still, I suppose that you do get a really Scrooge-like EULA, only two activations and some pretty drastic DRM thrown in as a consolation....