File and Folder Management in Windows XP

How To Automate Folder Permissions
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article  Q180464 - It is sometimes necessary to assign permissions to a folder so that a particular User and the Administrators group can administer it, as in the case of Users Home Directories. 

HOW TO: Bypass the Recycle Bin When You Delete Files and Folders in Windows XP 
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 320031 - This step-by-step article describes how to permanently delete a file and bypass the Recycle Bin in Microsoft Windows XP. 

HOW TO: Change the Default Action for a File Type in Windows XP 
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 320036 - This step-by-step article describes how to change the default action for a file type in Windows XP.

HOW TO: Configure Offline Files to Synchronize When a Particular Network Connection Becomes Active 
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 312171 - This step-by-step article describes how to configure Offline Files to synchronize when a particular network connection becomes active. You can make any shared folder on a network available offline so that you can use the files that are inside of that folder when you disconnect from the network. Normally, synchronization happens automatically whenever a network connection becomes active. However, you can configure your synchronization settings to specify the offline files that are synchronized when a network connection becomes active.

HOW TO: Connect and Disconnect a Network Drive in Windows XP 
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 308582 - This step-by-step article describes how to connect and disconnect a network drive in Windows XP. You can map a drive letter to any shared resource on a network. This makes it faster and easier to access the resource, either through the Windows XP user interface, or from a command prompt. Each mapped drive has an icon in My Computer, and a listing in the left pane of Windows Explorer (and in My Computer if you use the Folders view). Windows provides several methods for mapping a drive. 

HOW TO: Create and Disable Administrative Shares on Windows XP 
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 314984 - This step-by-step article describes how to create and disable administrative shares on Windows XP. 

HOW TO: Disable the NTFS File System Tracking of Broken Shortcut Links  
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 299780 - If you disable a shortcut, the NTFS File System in Windows XP and Windows 2000 automatically attempts to locate the shortcut destination by searching all paths that are associated with the shortcut. This step-by-step article describes how to prevent this behavior from occurring. 

How to Remove Files with Reserved Names in Windows XP 
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 315226 - Because applications control the policy for creating files in Windows, files sometimes are created with illegal or reserved names, such as LPT1 or PRN. This article explains how to delete such files by using the standard user interface. 

How to Replace In-Use Files at Windows Restart 
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 181345 - If you need to replace a file that is in use by Windows, you typically must use one of the following methods: 

HOW TO: Search for Files and Folders in Windows XP 
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 308895 - This article describes how to search for files or folders on a Windows XP-based computer. 

HOW TO: Set the My Documents Folder as "Private"
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 298399 - This article describes how to set the My Documents folder to Private. You can use the information in this article only if you have activated the Simple Sharing user interface.

HOW TO: Set, View, Change, or Remove File and Folder Permissions 
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 308418 - In Windows XP, you can apply permissions to files or folders that are located on NTFS file system volumes. This article describes how to set, view, change, or remove permissions for files and folders. 

HOW TO: Set, View, Change, or Remove Special Permissions for Files and Folders 
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 308419 - In Windows XP, you can apply special access permissions to files or folders that are located on NTFS file system volumes. Special access permissions are customizable sets of permissions. This article describes how to set, view, change, or remove special permissions for files and folders. 

How to Share and Set Permissions for Folders and Files Using Windows XP
This article describes how to share folders and files on a network using Windows XP.

HOW TO: Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP 
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 308421 - This article describes how to take ownership of a file or folder to which you have been denied access. 

How to Use Files and Settings Transfer Wizard 
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 293118 - This article describes how to use the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard. This wizard helps you transfer files and settings from your old computer to your new one. You can transfer settings for Microsoft Internet Explorer and Microsoft Outlook Express, as well as desktop and display settings, dial-up connections, and other types of settings. As you go through the wizard, you can select the files and settings that you want to transfer.

HOW TO: Use Compressed (Zipped) Folders in Windows XP  
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 306531 - This step-by-step article describes how to create and use compressed (or "zipped") folders in Windows XP. You can use compressed folders to store files in a compressed format that uses less space than normal, and if needed, you can protect those files with a password. 

HOW TO: Encrypt a Folder in Windows XP
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 308989 - This article describes how to encrypt a folder by using Encrypting File System (EFS). 

HOW TO: Encrypt Offline Files to Secure Data in Windows XP 
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 312221 - This step-by-step article describes how to encrypt offline files to secure data in Windows XP. 

HOW TO: Share Access to an Encrypted File 
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 308991 - This article describes how to share access to a file that is stored by using Microsoft Windows XP Encrypting File System (EFS). Encryption is the process of converting data into a format that cannot be read by others. You can use the Windows XP EFS to automatically encrypt your data when it is stored on the hard disk.

HOW TO: Remove File Encryption in Windows XP 
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 308993 - This article describes how to decrypt a file that been encrypted by using Encrypting File System (EFS) in Windows XP.

HOW TO: Remove File Encryption in Windows XP 
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 308993 - This article describes how to decrypt a file that been encrypted by using Encrypting File System (EFS) in Windows XP.

Windows XP Encrypting File System, Part 1: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back
One of the most interesting developments in Windows XP is the change made to the Encrypting File System. EFS as implemented in Windows 2000 has been widely criticized. Some say it doesn't offer the features they wanted; others say it security is too easily sidestepped. XP's modifications seek to deal with these issues. Unfortunately, XP also introduces new potential vulnerabilities. Here's a catalog of the new features, the problems some of them introduce and what to do about it. Source: 8Wire

EFS, Credentials, and Private Keys from Certificates Are Unavailable After a Password Is Reset Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 290260 - After you reset the password of an account on a Windows XP-based computer that is joined to a workgroup, you may lose access to the user's: 

Error Message When You Use Run Command to Start a Program with a Long File Name 
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: 281675 - If you click Start , and then click Run to start a program that has a very long file name, you may receive the following error message: Windows cannot find 'Path to file'. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again. To search for a file, click the Start button, and then click Search.