Frequently Asked Questions:

Support Questions:

Q1. Why do I need to protect my files & folders?
Q2. How to Lock any folder?
Q3. How secure are my files?
Q4. How to protect files on other drives like D: E: F: etc. not just C:?
Q5. How it lock files on a USB Flash Drive, CD-RW or floppy disks?
Q6. Are my locked files also protected from network computers?
Q7. Are files protected from viruses, trojans, worms, spyware etc.?
Q8. Are files protected from hackers when I am on the internet?
Q9. How many bits of encryption are used? Is it secure?
Q10. Is there any limit to the number of files or folders I can protect?
Q11. Can I protect any format of files?
Q12. Does it work on all disk types like FAT16, FAT32, NTFS & EFS?
Q13. Does it work on Windows 2003 Server / XP / 2000 / NT / Me / 98?
Q14. Can I use NDD, ScanDisk, Defragmenters & other disk tools?
Q15. What if I try to delete the program folder manually?
Q16. My kids have deleted the program EXE file? What do I do now?
Q17. Is it possible to Encrypt some files and Lock others?
Q18. Are these files undeletable also?
Q19. How fast can it Lock my files and folders?
Q20. Is Locking secure? How Folder Lock works when locking files?
Q21. How do I open the Locker again if I have closed it?
Q22. How is the version 5 different from the version 4?
Q23. Can I do backups of my files?
Q24. Can I see the properties, size or number of the files I've protected?
Q25. Will my files remain locked if I boot computer from a bootable disk?
Q26. How to change the password?
Q27. How to uninstall the program?
Q28. Can it be removed from taskbar and show in system tray?
Q29. I don't want others to know that I use Folder Lock, can I do that?

Answers to Support Questions:

Q1. Why do I need to protect my files & folders?
Files and folders should be protected so that other PC users like your kids, parents, family members, co-workers and friends cannot access, read, view, copy, move or delete files without your permission (password). Files left unprotected can lead to theft, data loss and breaches of privacy. This can cost you money, lost time and inconvenience, even your job. Folder Lock not only protects files from unauthorized users but also safeguards them from viruses, trojans, worms, spyware, malware, etc., and from network computers and hackers who may try to steal your files when you connect to the Internet. It also prevents illegal copy or duplication of your material.

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Q2. How to Lock any folder?
To lock folders anywhere on your computer, click the 'Browse' button and then select lock folders option. This will allow you to select any folder. Once a folder is selected, it will be locked such that it cannot be deleted, renamed, accessed and can't even be seen. However if you want your files and folders to be protected in real DOS-Mode or Safe-Mode, then we suggest you to keep your files and folders in the 'Locker' folder and lock them up.

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Q3. How secure are my files?
With Folder Lock encryption option, secret files are highly secure. If you want unbreakable encryption for your files, you can choose to Encrypt files. It uses 256-bit Blowfish Encryption which is a highly secure method to protect sensitive files. Even if you choose to lock files, the program locks your files using five different locking methods simultaneously. Click here to learn more about that.

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Q4. How to protect files on other drives like D: E: F: etc. not just C:?
To protect files on other drive partitions of your hard disk, click 'Browse' and select the option 'Move to portable disk'. Then read the instructions and click the 'Next' button. Now you will be able to select the drive(s) in which you want protection. You can select these drive(s) by clicking the check boxes next to them. After that click the 'Move It' button, this will move the program folder of Folder Lock to that drive. Now you can run the program from that drive and keep the files in the 'Locker' folder it creates and lock them up.

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Q5. How it lock files on a USB Flash Drive, CD-RW or floppy disks?
To protect files on USB Flash Drives, Memory Sticks, Pen Drives and Zip Drives, click 'Browse' and select the option 'Move to portable disk'. Then read the instructions and click the 'Next' button. Now you will be able to select the drive(s) in which you want protection. You can select these drive(s) by clicking the check boxes next to them. After that click the 'Move It' button, this will move the program folder of Folder Lock to that drive. Now you can run the program from that drive and keep the files in the 'Locker' folder it creates and lock them up.

In case of Floppy Disks, click 'Browse' and select the option 'Move to portable disk'. Then read the instructions and click the 'Next' button. Now you will be able to select the drive(s) in which you want protection. You can select these drive(s) by clicking the check boxes next to them. After that click the 'Move It' button, this will move the program EXE of Folder Lock to that drive. Now you can run the program from that drive and keep the files in the 'Locker' folder it creates and lock them up.

In case of CD-RW, we recommend you to use a CD-RW burning software to copy the program folder of Folder Lock, while the 'Locker' is open, to CD-RW drive and continue locking files in its 'Locker'. It is important that the 'Locker' folder with all files and folders contained in it should be open when you burn the program folder of Folder Lock to a CD-RW or CD-R. Note: Do not burn the files when the 'Locker' folder is locked.

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Q6. Are my locked files also protected from network computers?
Folder Lock protects you from computers that are networked with your computer, a useful feature to prevent sharing private files with other users.

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Q7. Are files protected from viruses, trojans, worms, spyware etc.?
Yes. There is no way these types of programs can do any damage to your protected files.

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Q8. Are files protected from hackers when I am on the internet?
Yes. Hackers or Script Kiddies can't access your secured files even if they break through to your computer...which means total peace of mind on and off the net.

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Q9. How many bits of encryption is used? Is it secure?
We use 256-bit BLOWFISH Encryption, one of the most trusted encryption algorithms. The Blowfish algorithm is fast, powerful and very secure. It can be used in confidence for your files.

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Q10. Is there any limit to the number of files or folders I can protect?
There is no limit to the files that can be Locked in the evaluation version. However, only registered users can Encrypt more than 25 MBs of files or, in case of Scrambling, more than 250 files.

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Q11. Can I protect any format of files?
There is no limit to the format of files Folder Lock can protect. It doesn't matter whether your files are in .jpg, .doc, .pdf, .txt, .bmp, .gif, .html, .psd or any other format.

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Q12. Does it work on all disk types like FAT16, FAT32, NTFS & EFS?
Yes. Folder Lock has no compatibility issues running on any type of disk drive including FAT16, FAT32, NTFS and EFS.

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Q13. Does it work on Windows 2003 Server/XP/2000/NT/Me/98?
Yes. It works perfectly on all 32-bit versions of Windows: i.e. Windows 2003 Server/XP/2000/NT/Me/98.

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Q14. Can I use NDD, ScanDisk, Defragmenters or other disk tools?
Sure, why not? Version 4 didn't support this feature, but Folder Lock 5 allows you to use any kind of disk utility without any sort of problems.

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Q15. What if I try to delete the program folder manually?
It is no use! Folder Lock will not allow you to delete itself (but it works only if there are files locked or encrypted in the 'locker folder). It locks its own program folder, so that intruders cannot remove the program from your computer without your permission (password).

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Q16. My kids have deleted the program EXE file? What do I do now?
No problem. Run the setup program again and choose the same program folder path you used before which, by default is 'Program Files\Folder Lock'. Once you've installed the program to the same directory, you can start using the program once again. Your files will continue to lock and unlock.

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Q17. Is it possible to Encrypt some files and Lock the others?
Yes, it is possible. Once you have copied program folder of 'Folder Lock' to another locations of your hard disk, you can choose to Encrypt files on one location and Lock files on another. This is useful if you have some casual files to Lock as well as some highly confidential files that you need to Encrypt. Click here to learn how you can copy the program folder to more than one location of your hard disk.

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Q18. Are these files undeletable also?
Not only are they undeletable, they are unrenamable, unmovable, hidden, locked and totally inaccessible. Intruders can't delete the program folder of Folder Lock and uninstalling the program is not possible without entering the correct password.

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Q19. How fast can it Lock my files and folders?
You can lock GBs (even Terabytes) of files and folders in two seconds.

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Q20. Is locking secure? How Folder Lock works when locking files?
You will be using five different locking methods(patent pending) to secure your files and folders, protecting files at kernel level, Windows Explorer level and (real) DOS Mode Level. This makes Folder Lock highly secure, unlike other locking software which can be hacked by loading a computer in Safe Mode or running it with a bootable disk.

Folder Lock locks your files dynamically and intercepts requests from other programs to open files or list the contents of folders, and then rejects such requests for the files in the 'Locker' folder. This is done on lower hardware level, in other words, at kernel level. Additionally, it also renames the folder to some difficult to type ascii characters and makes it hidden, read-only and system and finally makes it behave like an unrecognized file.

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Q21. How do I open the locker folder again if I have closed it?
Click the small link below the key called 'Open.' to open the Locker folder if you have closed it.

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Q22. How is the version 5 different from the version 4?
Folder Lock 5 is five times more secure than Folder Lock 4. It uses kernel level locking, which was not available in version 4. Furthermore, Version 5 gives you the ability to Scramble and Encrypt files, as well as to Lock them. Folder Lock can also remember its password when you move your secured files on portable media from one computer to another. Other features like AutoLock, Lock PC, Auto Shutdown, Evidence Eraser and System tray/taskbar options make Folder Lock unique.

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Q23. Can I do backups of my files?
You can do regular backups. Enter your password after the wait screen, click the exit button on the top of the program and then click 'Exit'. After closing the program this way, start your backup program and make a backup of the Locker folder or even the whole program folder of Folder Lock.

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Q24. Can I see the properties, size or number of the files protected?
No way. The program doesn't even show whether the locked files and folders take any hard disk space. This is useful because no one can guess how many or what sort of files you have protected or how much space they take.

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Q25. Will my files remain locked if I boot computer with a bootable disk?
Yes. Whether you boot your computer with a bootable disk or load it in safe mode or DOS mode, files will remain locked and secured. Folder Lock is a break-through technology. Even if you choose to lock your files, hackers would have to pass through not one or two but five different layers of locking, two of which are unknown even to the most advanced programmers.

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Q26. How to change the password?
You need to click the Options button in order to see a 'Change Password' button in the options area. Clicking this button allows you to set a new password of your choice. Please do not confuse your new password with the old one. Once you've changed it, your old password will not work, so do not forget to remember the password by heart. Also note that you cannot see the Options button until you've entered your current password. This means people who do not know the current password cannot access the options.

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Q27. How to uninstall the program?
Folder Lock can only be uninstalled by clicking the 'Uninstall Program' button, which you can access after clicking the Options button. You cannot uninstall the program directly without entering the password. This is done to protect the program from being uninstalled by other users and to avoid the program and locked files getting deleted accidentally. Do not try to delete the program manually. Use only this option to remove the program from your computer.

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Q28. Can it be removed from taskbar and show in system tray?
Yes. With the version 5 you can remove the program from taskbar and, instead, force it to sit in your system tray. Click the Options button after entering the correct password. Then click the advanced options button (third from the top), and deselect the In Taskbar checkbox. You can also remove the program from the system tray and show it in the taskbar if your system tray is too crowded.

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Q29. I don't want others to know that I use Version 5, can I do that?
Yes. For complete privacy, we suggest you run the setup program of Folder Lock and enter a different location and a different name of the program folder. For instance, instead of 'Program Files\Folder Lock', you can choose 'C:\My Stuff' You can even rename the EXE and disguise it.

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