Encrypt a File in Windows 2000

1. Open Windows Explorer so that you can view the file or folder that you want to encrypt. 
2. Right-click the file or folder that you want to encrypt, and choose "Properties." 
3. In the Attributes section near the bottom of the Properties dialogue box that appears, click the "Advanced" button. 
4. In the Compress or Encrypt section of the Advanced Attributes dialogue box that appears, place a check (click) next to Encrypt contents to secure data. 
5. Click OK, and OK to close the dialogue boxes. 
6. If you chose to encrypt a folder, you may be prompted as to whether or not you want to encrypt sub-folders and existing files in the folder. 
7. Use the file as you would any other file - except it will only be accessible to the user that encrypted it. 
8. To decrypt a file, follow the same steps above, except clear (click) the box mentioned in step 4.