Need to create PWD protected CDs

[Jim Poor]

Anyone know of a tool to create password protected data discs on MAC that can be opened on WIndows?

So far, all the tools I've found involve creating a PWD protected zip file (which would work fine) however, those zip files seem to be incompatible with windows.

Once the password is provided, I need the person using the disc to have full access to the files/photos, etc.

Any thoughts?

[High_Speed]

Jim, what version of OS X are you running? 10.5? 10.7? 10.7? 10.what?

[Jim Poor]

Originally Posted by High_Speed

Jim, what version of OS X are you running? 10.5? 10.7? 10.7? 10.what?

Depends on which machine.

I have Lion, Snow Leopard and Leopard.

Looks like Winzip for Mac will do it, although it's somewhat clunky on the extraction.

[High_Speed]

Jim:

Try this:

1. Place all the files you want to "zip" up into one directory. Name it something easy, like "zipme" or something. Copy this to your desktop (that's just the easiest place to work) on your Mac.
2. Open up the "Terminal," which can be found under your Applications\Utilities folder if you're not familiar with it.
3. Navigate to your desktop by entering the following command: "cd Desktop"
4. Enter the following command: "zip -re name-of-zipfile.zip name-of-directory" <---- [replace name-of-zipfile with whatever you want to name your new zip file, like "Photos"] and [replace name-of-directory with the name of the folder you created earlier on your desktop, like "zipme" I used as the above example]
5. You will then be prompted to enter a password, so enter the password you would like to put on the zip file. Don't worry, as you're typing, you won't see anything. Just type and press enter, and it will ask you to enter the password again. Enter your password a second time, and it will begin compressing all the files in that directory (ie. "zipme") and encrypting the new zip file with the password you supplied.

Now, you can burn that zip file to disk and transfer it to a Windows computer. The person with the windows computer can browse into the zip, and will even be able to see the filenames inside the zip file, but they won't see any thumbnails. The Windows user will have to copy the file from the disk to their own Desktop, right-click it, and say "Extract All." At that point, they will have to enter the correct password that you put on the file.

On your Mac, if you want to open the zip file back up that you created, open the Terminal again, and navigate back to the folder your zip file is in (ie. cd\Desktop), then enter the command: "unzip name-of-zipfile.zip" <--- you will then be prompted for the password



PS: Don't forget to clean up your "Desktop" when finished.

PSS: I tested this with Mac OS X 10.6 and Windows 7 32-bit.

PSSS: I'm going to try to create an automated routine to do all this, if I can. Sounds like fun, and for the life of me, I don't know why there isn't something so simple for the Mac anyway.

[Izzy]

This looks like the best answer I could find

Google Answers: Creating password-protected CD or DVD

[Jim Poor]

Thanks folks. I had seen references to the terminal solution, but they all concluded that the zip files will be incompatible with windows.

Thanks for testing it to prove them wrong!

I ended up using a trial of WinZip for Mac.

Long story short, I had a client "claim" non-delivery of a disc of high-res files. Paypal took my money away "temporarily" until the issue is resolved. I sent a new disc with tracking, but want to make sure the client can't get to the photos until I get paid. Given Paypal's bias in favor of buyers, I'm sure I won't be seeing the funds restored to my account, so the buyer will have to pay me through some other means before I give them the password.

[High_Speed]

Originally Posted by Jim Poor

Thanks folks. I had seen references to the terminal solution, but they all concluded that the zip files will be incompatible with windows.

Thanks for testing it to prove them wrong!

I ended up using a trial of WinZip for Mac.

Long story short, I had a client "claim" non-delivery of a disc of high-res files. Paypal took my money away "temporarily" until the issue is resolved. I sent a new disc with tracking, but want to make sure the client can't get to the photos until I get paid. Given Paypal's bias in favor of buyers, I'm sure I won't be seeing the funds restored to my account, so the buyer will have to pay me through some other means before I give them the password.

Good for you, Jim. I hate how ebay/Paypal ALWAYS sides with the buyer. I even got burnt by eBay one time when a buyer claimed they never received my item when I even had delivery confirmation with a signature proving they received it. The buyer claimed it wasn't his signature, that maybe his neighbor just signed his name. I was like, "WTF eBay, what good is signature confirmation if you'll still take their word for it that it still wasn't them signing."

[SwissJon]

I prefer 7 zip, it's Windows, Mac and Linux compatible and can encrypt the file.. Best of all... ITS FREE!!!

7-Zip

[Jim Poor]

I see where the program will run on all those platforms, but but don't see that the files can be transferred from one system to another after being encrypted. Granted, I didn't look all that deep, but I figure that would be an "up front" feature.

[High_Speed]

Jim,

I'm sure you don't need it now, but for the future, I now have a working beta version of an application that will allow one to just place it on the desktop/dock and drop a folder onto it. It will take the folder, zip up what's inside it, and then ask you for a password. You supply it the password, and you'll have a nice password protected zip file that is compatible on Mac OR Windows.

I'm still working on it, but like I said, just in case you need it or are interested, let me know.