Hiding Files in XP (not with attribute hide)

this is an earlier posting in EE, could it help you?

https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/20639973/Xp-make-private-folder.html

im not sharing my files on the network i am trying to prevent any1 that comes on my computer with my account of seeing my program folders. the windows xp hide attribute is not suficient enough because they can unhide files and see them.

There is no way you can hide files from your account in XP/2000/NT/2003.  However, you can do some fancy stuff with file streams - but I suspect that's not what you're looking for.  (File streams aren't easily accessible without tools that are not included with Windows and unless you know the stream name, you can't access the data in it.  Problem is unless you write a program to handle this, the most you'd be able to do is store some text data into a file stream).

Otherwise, you're best bet is to put the files into a zip or similar archiving/compression program that can be password protected.

Removable media, compressed files with passwords, or password for applications that support them.

Is this your home computer or you work computer?  

If you home computer, then you may want to just set up unique userid/password for each family memeber and setup security on your directory.  Not totaly secure, somebody could boot the PC from removable media and gain access.

If it is a work computer, the removable media is the only solution, unless you happen to be THE only admin.  

while it's true anyone with sufficient permissions can toggle the hide attribute, if you're using xp pro, enable the "2000-style" security model then you can take ownership of the files and limited users won't be able to access them.

there's some filesystem encryption in xppro but i haven't used any of that, i opt for something a bit more secure and non-microsoft for that sort of thing. a little info on what's built into xppro is here http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308989

always logout or lock your screen when you leave your work area (screen saver can be set to require password to exit and set on a short timer) to keep people from accessing your computer with your account.

otherwise, you're looking at something like http://www.truecrypt.org/ or http://www.securstar.com/ (create mountable encrypted volumes or encrypt an entire partition or drive) or maybe even just a passworded zip file or pgp -- or keep your confidential data on a flash drive that you keep with you, and keep your backups of it locked up.

Do you want the applications to be hidden, or to not show up on the "All Programs" menu from the Start menu?

I would say to install the programs to another folder, like maybe      c:\windows\system32\microsoft\     folder (there probably isn't a folder of that name, but you can create it during install.  Most people looking for programs are not going to look into the system folder, only program files and on C:\drive, besides, you can rename the folder to anything you want and then hide the folder within the system32 folder and also make yourself the owner and remove all other permissions for others.   Only issue you would have then is someone seeing the running process in task manager.  

When you create a user account <and im sure you can apply it afterwards, might have to google that if interested> you can select to "Keep my files private".. basically it will lock anyone from being able to navigate into any of your c:\documents and settings\username\*.* folders/files.

I want the applications that are installed in the program files folder to be hidden and when someone come on this computer that they cant see them

if i thought about it before i would have installed in to something like c:\windows\system32\microsoft\  but now i have a ton of stuff and if i have to i will uninstall it and reinstall it again

Is this your home computer or your work computer?

Exactly who are you trying to hide these from?

You may not be able to hide them, but if you are admin on your computer, you can setup access control so that only you can get to the files.  That is, only you can run the programs.

Why not prevent them from going to folders in the first place... using a some kinda admin software.. Ill see if I can find one..

 Found one from Microsoft The web will guide you through...

DOWNLOAD
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/sct/scthch01.mspx

READ THE INSTRUCTIONS
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/sct/scthch03.mspx
 
Hope it is what you are looking for.. Good Luck