Cannot Encrypt folder

[givingtnt]

Hi, im trying to encrypt the folder on my usb stick, but it won't let me. its just pale and grey and I can't click it for some reason.

is there a way to unlock it ?

[Chaos Network]

4 minutes ago, givingtnt said:

Hi, im trying to encrypt the folder on my usb stick, but it won't let me. its just pale and grey and I can't click it for some reason.

is there a way to unlock it ?

What OS?

[givingtnt]

2 minutes ago, Chaos Network said:

What OS?

hoping between windows 10 and windows 7

but im trying to first encrypt it on 10 to acess the files then on 7.

doing this will I be able to modify the files at will ?

I want to lock the files and have to enter a password to acess the content, but I want to keep 1 text file out of the encryption so that anyone can read it (if found file with adress n stuff..)

[Chaos Network]

1 minute ago, givingtnt said:

hoping between windows 10 and windows 7

but im trying to first encrypt it on 10 to acess the files then on 7.

doing this will I be able to modify the files at will ?

I want to lock the files and have to enter a password to acess the content, but I want to keep 1 text file out of the encryption so that anyone can read it (if found file with adress n stuff..)

I can't help you with that, I mean, you could partition the USB stick, and only encrypt one partition. But I only know how to encrypt the entire drive.

[Ryujin2003]

10 minutes ago, givingtnt said:

Hi, im trying to encrypt the folder on my usb stick, but it won't let me. its just pale and grey and I can't click it for some reason.

is there a way to unlock it ?

What file type is your USB? You cannot encrypt FAT32. You'll have to ensure your device is formatted in NTFS.

[givingtnt]

5 minutes ago, Ryujin2003 said:

What file type is your USB? You cannot encrypt FAT32. You'll have to ensure your device is formatted in NTFS.

oh wow ! it is fat 32 ! I forgot to re-format it when I bought it !
I will try that !

[Ryujin2003]

1 minute ago, givingtnt said:

oh wow ! it is fat 32 ! I forgot to re-format it when I bought it !
I will try that !

It happens. Let me know if the reformat fixes your issue.

[givingtnt]

9 minutes ago, Ryujin2003 said:

It happens. Let me know if the reformat fixes your issue.

I don't seem to be able to encrypt the drive. the option is just gone now. im not sure why...

[Ryujin2003]

3 minutes ago, givingtnt said:

I don't seem to be able to encrypt the drive. the option is just gone now. im not sure why...

What version of Windows 10 are you using? Home or Pro?

[givingtnt]

3 minutes ago, Ryujin2003 said:

What version of Windows 10 are you using? Home or Pro?

I have home on my laptop but pro on my desktop.

 

 

[Ryujin2003]

You can encrypt using BitLocker, but it's only available on Pro editions of Windows. Otherwise, you'd have to use a 3rd party.

 

I don't use encryption, but have W10 Pro, so don't want to use it as a bad baseline, but I can just go to a folder, right click, properties, advanced, and I have the option to encrypt right there.

[corrado33]

Why not just "zip" the files, with 0% compression, and put a password on it?

[Ryujin2003]

2 minutes ago, corrado33 said:

Why not just "zip" the files, with 0% compression, and put a password on it?

corrado33 brings up a great point. Probably the easiest route. You'll have to have Pro on both machines to encrypt, and have the decryption key on both machines as well. It'll probably get annoying doing it that way.

 

 

[givingtnt]

5 minutes ago, corrado33 said:

Why not just "zip" the files, with 0% compression, and put a password on it?

because ziping and unziping files 70+ times a day is a pain.

those files are photoshop projects, web and programation projects. they are big and are ocnstantly being saved, again and again.

[corrado33]

5 minutes ago, givingtnt said:

because ziping and unziping files 70+ times a day is a pain.

those files are photoshop projects, web and programation projects. they are big and are ocnstantly being saved, again and again.

Well then why not use a commercial encryption program? Or a flash drive that requires a fingerprint, or any of the other numerous "secure" usb devices?

 

Why are you encrypting these to begin with? USB drives are inherently non-secure.

 

Most flash drive manufacturers should have their own program to encrypt files...

 

For example:

 

https://kb.sandisk.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2399/~/sandisk-secureaccess-3.0-support-information-and-download-page

 

 

[givingtnt]

3 minutes ago, corrado33 said:

Well then why not use a commercial encryption program? Or a flash drive that requires a fingerprint, or any of the other numerous "secure" usb devices?

 

Why are you encrypting these to begin with? USB drives are inherently non-secure.

 

Most flash drive manufacturers should have their own program to encrypt files...

im keeping custom programs and stuff on them, + no project stealing (it happens.)

[corrado33]

2 minutes ago, givingtnt said:

im keeping custom programs and stuff on them, + no project stealing (it happens.)

You're from canada. No one steals in canada. If someone catches you looking at their stuff you say "Soorry" and walk away.

 

Seriously though, just download the secure tools from your flash drive manufacturer's site.

 

You're not the first person to want to do this. You're making it more difficult than it has to be.

[Ryujin2003]

2 minutes ago, corrado33 said:

You're from canada. No one steals in canada. If someone catches you looking at their stuff you say "Soorry" and walk away.

 

Seriously though, just download the secure tools from your flash drive manufacturer's site.

 

You're not the first person to want to do this. You're making it more difficult than it has to be.

I would shy away from a USB thumbdrive. Get an external HDD or SSD, and get a 3rd party encryption program and encrypt the whole drive. This way it is actually much safer and actually legitimately secured in case of hardware theft. You can upgrade to Windows Pro and use BitLocker if that interests you; however, I wouldn't waste the money on Windows 7 if its not Pro already. If you're in school, Microsoft will give you a free upgrade to W10 Pro through their education program (FYI).

[givingtnt]

8 minutes ago, corrado33 said:

You're from canada. No one steals in canada. If someone catches you looking at their stuff you say "Soorry" and walk away.

 

Seriously though, just download the secure tools from your flash drive manufacturer's site.

 

You're not the first person to want to do this. You're making it more difficult than it has to be.

Well I got to keep a version of windows authentification on it, because I go from pc to pc and we cant use our phones for anything.