Encrypt a file or folder
Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2
To encrypt a file or folder
Open Windows Explorer.
Right-click the file or folder that you want to encrypt, and then click Properties.
On the General tab, click Advanced.
Select the Encrypt contents to secure data check box, and then click OK.
In the Properties dialog box, click OK, and then do one of the following:
To encrypt a file and the parent folder, in the Encryption Warning dialog box, click Encrypt the file and the parent folder.
To encrypt a file only, in the Encryption Warning dialog box, click Encrypt the file only.
To encrypt a folder only, in the Confirm Attribute Changes dialog box, click Apply changes to this folder only.
To encrypt a folder and its subfolders and files, in the Confirm Attribute Changes dialog box, click Apply changes to this folder, subfolders and files.
Notes
To open Windows Explorer, click Start, point to All programs, point to Accessories, and then click Windows Explorer.
You can only encrypt files and folders on NTFS file system volumes.
Files or folders that are compressed cannot also be encrypted. If you encrypt a compressed file or folder, that file or folder will be uncompressed.
Files marked with the System attribute cannot be encrypted, nor can files in the systemroot folder.
If you choose to encrypt the parent folder when you encrypt a single file, all files and subfolders that are added to the folder in the future will be encrypted when they are added.
If you choose to encrypt all files and subfolders when you encrypt a folder, all files and subfolders currently in the folder are encrypted, as well as any files and subfolders that are added to the folder in the future. If you choose to encrypt the folder only, all files and subfolders currently in the folder are not encrypted. However, any files and subfolders that are added to the folder in the future are encrypted when they are added.
Information about functional differences
- Your server might function differently based on the version and edition of the operating system that is installed, your account permissions, and your menu settings. For more information, see Viewing Help on the Web.