Adding a password to a large zip file

[siskin]

Hi,

I need to password protect quite a large ZIP file (around 50 KB) using Windows XP. I've tried double clicking on the file from Windows Explorer and then selecting "Add a password" from the File menu. However, when I do this it seems to be adding the password to every single zipped file (there are hundreds) so it's taking ages. I was expecting the password to just to be added once to the zip file itself. Is there a reason why it needs to apply it to every single file or is there some way of just adding it once to the whole collection? (My main concern is how long it's going to take for the recipient to remove the password if it's taking me this long to add it.)

I'm grateful for any suggestions.

Many thanks!

Kate

[-pops-]

I avoid passwords as much a I can but, can you put the zip file into a folder and apply the password to the folder?

Is applying a password really necessary? As you have already noticed, they are the cause of many problems - and that is just the start of it.

In addition, creating is good, secure password is no easy task so that in many cases, anyone determined enough would be able to crack a password in little time - there are even programs which will do it for you.

[siskin]

I avoid passwords as much a I can but, can you put the zip file into a folder and apply the password to the folder?

Is applying a password really necessary? As you have already noticed, they are the cause of many problems - and that is just the start of it.

In addition, creating is good, secure password is no easy task so that in many cases, anyone determined enough would be able to crack a password in little time - there are even programs which will do it for you.

Hi –pops-,

Thanks a lot for the tip – that's got me thinking about whether there’s a different way of tackling the problem.

I probably should have mentioned that the zipped file is to be saved onto a disc. I'm sure I'm being dim but I can't work out how to password protect a folder that's going to end up on a CD. Is that even possible? (I'm using windows XP.)

Thanks again for your help

Kate

[-pops-]

Have a look at:

/>http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000705.htm

[Seshomaru Samma]

Winrar will archive a file for you and password protect it

Go to the 'advanced' tab when you click 'add to archive' , there a 'set password' option there.

Easy to do, difficult to crack.

[siskin]

Hi,

Thanks for all the tips. Just for the record, I finally worked out a way of doing it.

Once you've created the zip file with the hundreds of files, you then need to create another empty zip file and password protect that. Then just put the large zip file inside the empty (password protected) one.

This blog was helpful...

/>http://askbobrankin.com/password_protection_for_windows_xp.html

Kate

[MANEMAN]

Hi,

Thanks for all the tips. Just for the record, I finally worked out a way of doing it.

Once you've created the zip file with the hundreds of files, you then need to create another empty zip file and password protect that. Then just put the large zip file inside the empty (password protected) one.

This blog was helpful...

/>http://askbobrankin.com/password_protection_for_windows_xp.html

Kate

Thanks for the feedback. It's always useful for people reading the forums Kate.

Yep ! - All of the information is out there somewhere's folks. :)

Wonderful thing the - "Search Engine." - and comes in many different flavours. :)