Password protect an external USB drive?

[sean_dec]

I have a WD Passport that I would like to password protect but am having trouble finding software to do it. I have found many programs to encrypt and protect files on the drive but thats not exactly what I'm looking for. I have a Sandisk Cruzer that lets me make a password before even letting me get into the drive at all. Thats what I'm looking for for my Passport, a password protecting program that asks for one right when you plug it in before even showing or accessing the files that are on the drive. Anyone have any suggestines? Any help would be appriciated. Thanks. Chas. :wave:

 

[Tmagic650]

You don't say what operating system you are running. I run Vista. Open the drive to view it's contents. Right click, and select "security". Go from there to set access properties

 

[DelJo63]

More interestingly, how will the device be used? If you intend to leave it on ONE system,
then there are techniques available. If you need to move it between Win/XP systems,
extra steps would be required.

Of course, leaving the device as FAT32 (which has no permissions) would need
an encryption technique.