Advanced File Lock 6.0 User's Manual
Contents
Administrator / Administrator Password
Locking Files
Unlocking Files
Select All
Unselect All
Hiding Files
Showing Hidden Files
Secure Delete
Other Features
Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQs)
Command Button Descriptions:
Lock Files
Locks (encrypts) all checked files on the screen with the password entered in the password field. Once a file is locked, it can only be unlocked using the same password that it was locked with. As in all other operations, the Administrator's password may NOT be used to override the original password.
Unlock Files
Unlocks all selected files on the screen. The original password must be used to unlock a file. Selected files are indicated by the green check icon (shown below).
Select All
Marks all files on the screen with a check. Any file that is checked will be included in operations such as Lock, Unlock, Hide, etc.
Unselect All
Removes the green check mark for all files on the screen. Files that are unselected will not be included in operations.
Stop Action
Stops current operation. For example, if Stop Action is clicked
while a group of files are being locked, Advanced File Lock will
complete locking the file that is currently being locked but will
not proceed to the next file.
Hide Files
Hides all selected files on the screen with the password entered
in the
password field. Once a file is hidden, it cannot be seen or used by
anyone.
To view files that have been hidden, use View->Hidden Files from the
Menu choices. After this, you may show the files again by clicking
"Show Files."
You must be logged on to Advanced File Lock as the Administrator
To perform this operation.
Show Files
Shows all hidden files that are selected on the screen. The
password used to
show a file must be the same password that was used to hide the
file.
You must be logged on to Advanced File Lock as the Administrator
To perform this operation.
Secure Delete
Securely deletes all files that are selected on the screen. Once
a file is securely
deleted, it will be impossible for it to be recovered by any means.
This operation is
Department of Defense 5220.22-M compliant and can by used to
securely delete
sensitive information to ensure that it is permanently removed from
your computer.
Password Fields:
Passwords may consist of letters numbers and symbols and
may not be longer
than eight characters.
Administrator Account / Administrator Password:
Logging in as the Administrator allows a user to hide or
show hidden files.
The Administrator password does not override other passwords.
Therefore, it cannot
be used to unlock or show a file that was locked or hidden with a
different password.
You may select "Use Administrator's password" to use the
Administrator's password
for all operations. This will avoid any confusion with files being
locked or hidden with
different passwords.
Please note that each Windows user can set his or her own Advanced
File Lock
Administrator password. Each user will only have access to their own
hidden files.
For example, if a Windows user with the account name of Mike hides
files, the Windows
user Bob will not be able to view them. And, Mike will not be able
to view Bob's hidden files.
Other Useful Features:
1. Clean Free Space:
This feature can be accessed via the Security menu. It can be used
to permanently wipe
free space clean on your hard drive. This operation will permanently
remove any information
about files that you have deleted in the past. It will not affect
existing (non-deleted) files.
2. File List Context Menu:
You may right-click on a file that is displayed in the Advanced File
Lock screen to
get additional information regarding its status, to open the file or
to remove it from
the screen.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Can I copy or move a locked file
onto another computer and unlock it?
A: Yes. You may copy, move, or email locked
files. The locked file can be unlocked
with Advanced File Lock on any computer as long as the correct
password is used.
Advanced File Lock is always free to use to unlock or unhide files.
Q: How much does Advanced File Lock cost? / What
is the license policy?
A: Each license grants one user the right to use
the software on one computer. Licenses may be
purchased via the software itself, or online. The one-time license
fee is $29.95.
Q: Is there any way to recover a lost password
or to unlock a file without the original password?
A: No. Your file security is the highest
priority of Advanced File Lock. Therefore, no method other
than using the original password can be used to unlock a file.
Q: Can my Administrator password override a
different password that was used to lock or hide a file?
A: No. Logging in as the Administrator will only
allow you to hide files, show hidden files (by using the original
password that was used to hide them), and to set advanced options.
As a matter of convenience, you my select "use Administrator's
password" when performing any operation that requires a password.
This will make it easier to remember which password was used to lock
or hide a file.