You may already have what you need. Check the documentation that came with your CD-RW drive and its associated software. Some CD-RW drives, such as Plextor's PlexWriter, have a feature that allows you to password-protect CDs when burned.
But if your drive does not, there are other ways to get this job done. You could use your backup software program. Almost all programs allow you to password protect a backup.
Consider what you are putting on the disc. For example, if the CD contains a Microsoft Word file, you can password-protect a file from within Word. Open the Tools menu, select Options and Security. Almost all software programs allow you to password protect files.
You could also compress the files and put them into a password protected ZIP file on the disc using a program like WinZip: http://www.winzip.com
First, create a ZIP file that contains all the files in the folder. Give the file a password by selecting Options and Password. Afterwards, if you want or feel a need to, you can delete the original folder on your computer's hard disk. Save this password protected ZIP file on a CD. When you try to open the files in the ZIP file, you will be asked for a password.
Or if you prefer, use a program like Pretty Good Privacy (http://www.pgpi.org) to encrypt the files before burning.
Finally, there are software programs that encrypt and password protect files saved on a CD. Be careful which program that you use.
Freelock (http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Code/6061/) is a free program that will protect the CD. But, as the author states, it is very easy to re-create such CDs by copying the contents to your hard drive and then re-mastering the CD from the files copied.
LittleAdvice
1.1K Posts
0
November 18th, 2003 20:00
tazz10,
I found and copied the following information from this site. http://www.bluescanada.net/ComputerTips2.htm
You may already have what you need. Check the documentation that came
with your CD-RW drive and its associated software. Some CD-RW drives,
such as Plextor's PlexWriter, have a feature that allows you to
password-protect CDs when burned.
But if your drive does not, there are other ways to get this job done.
You could use your backup software program. Almost all programs allow
you to password protect a backup.
Consider what you are putting on the disc. For example, if the CD
contains a Microsoft Word file, you can password-protect a file from
within Word. Open the Tools menu, select Options and Security. Almost
all software programs allow you to password protect files.
You could also compress the files and put them into a password
protected ZIP file on the disc using a program like WinZip:
http://www.winzip.com
First, create a ZIP file that contains all the files in the folder.
Give the file a password by selecting Options and Password. Afterwards,
if you want or feel a need to, you can delete the original folder on
your computer's hard disk. Save this password protected ZIP file on a
CD. When you try to open the files in the ZIP file, you will be asked
for a password.
Or if you prefer, use a program like Pretty Good Privacy
(http://www.pgpi.org) to encrypt the files before burning.
Finally, there are software programs that encrypt and password protect
files saved on a CD. Be careful which program that you use.
Freelock (http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Code/6061/) is a free
program that will protect the CD. But, as the author states, it is very
easy to re-create such CDs by copying the contents to your hard drive
and then re-mastering the CD from the files copied.
Other programs include:
CryptCD 3:
http://www.timesavesoftware.com/products.php
EncyptionPlus:
http://www.pcguardiantechnologies.com/Encryption_Plus_CD-ROM/