Is it possible to require a password to gain access to a specific folder, and if so, how.

Using Win XP home edition

is your HD formatted with THE NTFS or fat32 file system? if you use NTFS you should be able to do this
in the properties menu for the folder you want to lock do you have a sharing tab? if so under local sharing & security you should have an option to make the folder privite the make folders privite link from here http://freepctech.com/pc/xp/xpindex.shtml
should explain how to do this in more detail
HTH

That will only make the file private for that user, if their at multiple people on the same name then you will have a problem. Start a new user for yourself and then make those files private but be sure to be the administrator.

or you can use a 3rd party application such as Folder Security Guard 1.2 http://www.atory.com/Folder_Security_Guard/?google_FSG