Lock folder with password in Windows 10

Hello and welcome everyone. In today's article, you will learn how to lock folder and content in it.

Please be aware of few things:

  1. The method is shown here works, but you need to be careful and follow step by step or you will damage your files permanently,
  2. If you forget your password, you can not access your files anymore
  3. Your files altho protected can still show up in recent files of some applications

All of that being said, let us start with locking the local folder on the computer with the password.

Go to the folder where you have files that you would like to hide and lock with a password. Enter the folder and create the new text file inside it. Skip the name for now and go inside it. Copy and paste the following code inside the file:


cls

@ECHO OFF

title Folder Locker

if EXIST "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" goto UNLOCK

if NOT EXIST Locker goto MDLOCKER

:CONFIRM

echo Are you sure u want to Lock the folder(Y/N)

set/p "cho=>"

if %cho%==Y goto LOCK

if %cho%==y goto LOCK

if %cho%==n goto END

if %cho%==N goto END

echo Invalid choice.

goto CONFIRM

:LOCK

ren Locker "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}"

attrib +h +s "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}"

echo Folder locked

goto End

:UNLOCK

echo Enter password to Unlock folder

set/p "pass=>"

if NOT %pass%==Your-Password-Here goto FAIL

attrib -h -s "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}"

ren "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" Locker

echo Folder Unlocked successfully

goto End

:FAIL

echo Invalid password

goto end

:MDLOCKER

md Locker

echo Locker created successfully

goto End

:End


Now locate this line of code in the document: if NOT %pass%==Your-Password-Here goto FAIL and replace Your-Password-Here with your password.

!!! Write down somewhere your password, if you lose it you will lock the folder even for you !!!

Save the file as FolderLocker.bat and double-click on it to execute it.

If everything was done correctly, a new folder with the name: Locker

Move files that you want to hide and protect inside that folder.

Double click again on FolderLocker.bat

The command prompt will appear with the question do you want to lock the folder, press Y, and press ENTER. The command prompt will close and the Locker folder will disappear.

In order to unhide and access the folder, you will need to double click on FolderLocker.bat again but this time command prompt with ENTER your password will appear. Type in your chosen password and the folder is back. If you wish to hide and lock it again just double click on FolderLocker.bat again, confirm with Y and it is hidden again.

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This error occurs when the C++ program crashes which is usually because of the malfunctioning or missing of the device driver or incomplete device driver files. It happens because your application indirectly calls a pure virtual member function in a context where a call to the function is invalid. Most of the time, the compiler detects it and reports it as an error when building the application. R6025 error is usually detected at run time.

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Option 3 – Use the Google Public DNS

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  • After that, search for the network connection that you are using to connect to the internet. Note that the option might be “Wireless Connection” or “Local Area Connection”.
  • Right-click on your network connection and click on Properties.
  • Then select the new window to choose the “Internet Protocol 4 (TCP/IPv4)” option.
  • After that, click on the Properties button and click the checkbox in the new window for the option “Use the following DNS server addresses”.
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Option 4 – Run the built-in Malware Scanner and Cleanup Tool in Chrome

In case you don’t know, there is actually a built-in malware scanner and cleanup tool in Chrome that helps you get rid of any unwanted ads, pop-ups, and even malware, as well as unusual startup pages, toolbars, and other things that could affect the performance of the browser. In addition, this built-in tool in Chrome might also help in fixing the ERR_CERT_COMMON_NAME_INVALID error.

Option 5 – Reset Chrome

Resetting Chrome can also help you get rid of the error. Resetting Chrome means restoring its default settings, disabling all the extensions, add-ons, and themes. Aside from that, the content settings will be reset as well and the cookies, cache, and site data will also be deleted. To reset Chrome, here’s what you have to do:
  • Open Google Chrome, then tap the Alt + F keys.
  • After that, click on Settings.
  • Next, scroll down until you see the Advanced option, once you see it, click on it.
  • After clicking the Advanced option, go to the “Restore and clean up option and click on the “Restore settings to their original defaults” option to reset Google Chrome.
  • Now restart Google Chrome.
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Upon updating to Windows 10, some users might encounter a blinking or flashing desktop after logging in. This will result in a repetitive restarting of explorer or you won’t be able to make the start menu and shortcut keys work. In addition, the network icon might not appear in your taskbar as well. Other Windows 10 error messages include error code 0xc000021a.

Solution

Restoro box imageError Causes

Your blinking or flashing desktop after logging in might be the result of problems with the bushell.dll shell extension, which is a part of the Norton Security Suite. Another possible cause for this annoying problem is an issue with your display driver since not all systems will use the same display driver and will depend on what graphics card you use.

Further Information and Manual Repair

In fixing the bothersome blinking or flashing desktop after logging in problem, you can do a manual repair method to address the root problem. You need to be familiar with the Windows command line to successfully go through the process. However, if you are not knowledgeable or confident enough to do this on your own, it would be best to seek help from a professional. Or, you might want to consider using an automated tool to solve the issue.

You need to identify first what’s causing the blinking or flashing of your desktop after login to properly address the issue. The following methods can be done if your issue is caused by bushell.dll shell extension issue:

Method One: Forcefully Terminate Process

  1. Press on Ctrl+Alt+Del then select Task manager
  2. Start a Command Prompt as an administrator by choosing the File menu then Run New Task.
  3. Type exe. Make sure to tick the checkbox “Create this task with administrative privileges.”

NOTE: Text input is most probably affected by the explorer restarts so you might need to repeatedly type some letters or to carefully input texts.

  1. In the Command Prompt, type taskkill /f /im explorer.exe. This will stop the blinking or flashing.
  2. Type cd “Program Files” afterward, type dir /s bushell.dll to locate where the dll is. (For example, purposes, use c:\program files\Norton Security Suite\Engine6422.5.2.15 as the location)
  3. If the dll file is not found, you can try repeating step 5 but this time, use “Program Files (x86)” However, you can proceed with the next step if you already located where the bushell.dll is.
  4. Type cd ”c:\program files\Norton Security Suite\Engine 6422.5.2.15” to change the name of the directory you found the dll in.
  5. Type ren bushell.dll bushell-crash.dll
  6. Restart now the system by typing shutdown /r /f /t o in the command line.

Method Two: Uninstall Programs

  1. Log out then go to the sign in screen
  2. Press the Shift key as you simultaneously click on the Power button on the screen.
  3. Continue pressing on the Shift key as you click
  4. Continue pressing on the Shift key as you wait for the Advanced Recovery Options menu to appear.
  5. Once the Advance Recovery Options menu appears, click on Troubleshoot then select Advanced options.
  6. Click on the Startup Settings then select
  7. Boot on Safe Mode by pressing 4 on your keyboard.
  8. Log in then press Windows key + X.
  9. Select the Device Manager then expand Display Adapter.
  10. On your Display Adapter, right-click then select
  11. Exit Device Manager
  12. If in case you also have an older Antivirus utility, you should uninstall it as well.
  13. Restart

NOTE: You might need to download the latest Video Driver on a working computer. Save it in a thumb drive then copy and install it on your computer. If in case there is no native Windows 10 driver, you can also download the latest Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 video driver. Afterward, install it in compatibility mode.

Method Three: Use Microsoft System Configuration Utility

  1. Log out then go to the sign in screen
  2. Press the Shift key as you simultaneously click on the Power button on the screen.
  3. Continue pressing on the Shift key as you click
  4. Continue pressing on the Shift key as you wait for the Advanced Recovery Options menu to appear.
  5. Once the Advance Recovery Options menu appears, click on Troubleshoot then select Advanced options.
  6. Click on the Startup Settings then select
  7. Boot on Safe Mode but this time, choose 5 to start in Safe Mode with networking.
  8. Check if your problem is present or not in Safe Mode. If not, then you are on the right track.
  9. Press on the Windows key + R then type msconfig to start up your exe file.
  10. Click on the Services tab then choose Disable All. Afterward, click on
  11. Once you’re prompted to reboot your computer, go ahead and reboot in Normal Mode. Check if the issue is still present.
  12. If the blinking or flashing desktop after login is gone, then you can just do a process of elimination.
  13. Start-up on your exe again then begin bringing up services a few at a time.
  14. You can turn on all other services except for the following which causes the blinking or flashing desktop after login problem: Problem Reports and Solutions Control Panel Support •Windows Error Reporting Service.
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Why You Need Antivirus Software & How to Select the Right One

Anxiety from all these digital threats lurking everywhere? An antivirus program can help put your mind at ease.

What can a virus do to your device?

A virus is malicious software that can affect pretty much any device and does so in a variety of ways. Be it your computer, your phone or your smart lightbulb - as long as there’s access to the internet, malware can get to it.

How exactly does this kind of attack manifest itself? Well, there’s a wide variety of effects ranging from mild to severe. Among other things, they depend on which type of malware attacks your device - a virus, spyware, ransomware, adware or something else.

These are some of the things you can expect to happen:

  • Slow performance
  • System crashes
  • Theft of data and sensitive information
  • Connectivity issues
  • Constant browser redirects
  • Strange messages sent to your contacts 
  • Interference with files

It really can be the stuff of nightmares. So, if you want to sleep peacefully knowing that your devices are completely safe, you should definitely consider getting an antivirus.

P.S. don’t let its name fool you - an antivirus does indeed protect your devices against more than just viruses.

What is antivirus software exactly?

Antivirus software is designed to help you battle and ward off malware. Basically, it scans your device to detect any suspicious activity and offers tools to get rid of the culprit. 

At first, antiviruses were developed to fight against viruses only, but nowadays they cover a lot more ground. Here are some of the biggest benefits of getting yourself a powerful defender.

Advantages of antivirus software

1. It fights those pesky ads

Look, constant ads that pop up everywhere aren’t the absolute worst thing that can happen on your computer. If anything, they are annoying, like when you’re trying to sleep but that one fly in your room just won’t stop buzzing.

Now, there’s a free, well-established solution for that - installing an ad blocker. And we’re about a hundred and ten percent sure you’ve already done that on each and every browser you use.

However, “if I can’t see it, it doesn’t exist” isn’t the most ideal approach for your online safety. Ad blockers can’t block everything and they won’t protect you from potential adware. An antivirus on the other hand offers that layer of protection against malware snuck into pop-ups and spammy websites.

2. It protects you from hackers

Hackers don’t target government institutions only. They’ll target regular people too if they have something to gain.

Antivirus can protect you from hackers
Credit: Clint Patteron (Unsplash)

There are different types of hacking, such as phishing e-mails, transmission of malicious programs, credential reuse, denial of service and more. In any case, they take control of your device and hijack your data.

The good thing is that, as threats evolve, antiviruses evolve too and there are tons of quality programs on the market that can keep you secure for an affordable price.

3. It keeps your files and data safe

When malware enters your device, it can target pretty much any file and get access to any and all data.

Installing an antivirus program will make sure that every single file, new or old, is monitored at all times, warning you against threats immediately. That way, you can make sure to react before your other files become infected and data is lost or stolen.

Another great thing for data protection is that the best antivirus software normally comes with a password manager, so no one can use malware to steal your passwords.

4. It blocks all kinds of malware

As we already stated, malicious attacks can be performed in many ways and malware comes in in different shapes an sizes, such as:

  • Trojan horse
  • Spyware
  • Ransomware
  • Adware
  • Rootkit
  • RAT (remote access Trojan)
  • Keyloggers
  • Worms
  • Botnets
Illustration of a computer worm
Credit: Growtika (Unsplash)

Nowadays, antivirus software is designed to fight against all of these types. That’s why more often than not we hear the term 'antivirus' used interchangeably with 'anti-malware,' like in this article.

5. It keeps your children protected

You can’t keep your eyes on your kid every second of the day and you can’t protect them from everything. But at least you can limit their exposure to the threats they can encounter at every corner of the digital world.

An antivirus program will block harmful or suspicious websites and ads, which is great both for you and your children. To take it a step further, though, many such programs come with special parental controls and offer monitoring as well. It’s a great solution for keeping your kids safe online without sounding like the irritating, overbearing, controlling parent who “just doesn’t get it!”

How to pick one

There are definitely lots of different antivirus programs out there, both free and paid. We recommend you look for a paid option, since free ones are unfortunately a lot more susceptible to being compromised through malicious attacks.

Now, there are a few factors to consider when choosing the right software. If you use your PC for basic things then a basic antivirus will suffice. However, the more complex your use and the more sensitive the data you deal with, the stronger it needs to be.

It’s also crucial that you take into account the features it includes. As we already mentioned, some programs have additional security options. For example, depending on the package you select, Bitdefender provides:

  • Webcam and mic monitoring
  • Parental control
  • Firewall
  • VPN
  • Password management
  • Identity theft protection

Some are included in plans and some are separate products, so make sure to check out all the offers.

And don’t worry if you have multiple PCs or you’re looking for protection for your smartphone or tablet as well; Bitdefender has suitable solutions for your needs. Of course, you can also just pick their classic antivirus software if you’re not in need of advanced protection.

Another important point is how regularly the software is updated and enhanced. The more frequent the updates the better, as bugs can make the program more vulnerable. Other things we advise you consider are user-friendliness, impact on performance, reputation (user reviews especially) and, of course, price.

The bottom line

Fact is: anyone can be a malware victim. Don’t let it be you.

You can’t put a price on peace and security, so don’t be reluctant to pay for yours - especially since a lot of options out there are extremely affordable. Is $159.00 a year really too much to pay for cross-platform protection for up to 10 devices? We don’t think so.

Explore your options and protect your files and data before it’s too late.

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