Why can't I save my password protected file in a password protected folder?

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Why can't I save my password protected file in a password protected folder?

I've just encrypted my folder which contains password protected files. I've attempted to save a new password protected file (Word document) but have had to save it to my desktop because when I try to save the file to the folder I receive a message: "Word cannot save or create this file. The disk may be full [which it is not] or write-protected [which it is]". Sooooooo. Does this mean I can only password protect the folder and not the files? Which is really annoying because I really do need the two levels of security. Please can someone help?

Posted on Apr 8, 2014 2:47 AM

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Answer 1

Melophage

Level 5

7,213 points

Apr 8, 2014 10:13 AM in response to Agent Ruby

Agent Ruby,

which software are you using to encrypt your folder? If that software write-protects the folder as part of its encryption mechanism, then it seems as though you’ll need to decrypt the folder, make changes to a file within the folder, and then reëncrypt the folder to maintain your preferred double layer of security each time you need to create or modify a file within the encrypted folder.

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Answer 2

Agent Ruby Author

Level 1

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Apr 8, 2014 5:22 PM in response to Melophage

Hello Melohage,

I'm using the free functionality provided on the Macbook. Do you know much about that?

All the best.

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Answer 3

CMCSK

Level 6

11,452 points

Apr 8, 2014 5:30 PM in response to Agent Ruby

It is very difficult to offer troubleshooting suggestions when the "os version" you are using is unknown as each os has their own troubleshooting solutions.

Please complete or update your system profile so the users here can properly help you.

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Answer 4

Melophage

Level 5

7,213 points

Apr 8, 2014 8:11 PM in response to Agent Ruby

Agent Ruby,

as CMCSK noted, different versions of OS X have different capabilities. Which version of OS X are you using? Is that “free functionality” the old version of FileVault? The more relevant information that you provide, the less time that we’ll spend in a round of Twenty Questions to figure things out.

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Answer 5

Agent Ruby Author

Level 1

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Apr 9, 2014 5:14 PM in response to Melophage

Hello again,

My operating system is Mac OS X 10.7.5

I'm using the functionality in the Disk Utility. I set up a 'Disk Image from Folder'. I'm sorry I'm not sure whether this is an old version of FileVault or not. Can you direct me as to how I could clarify for you?

All the best.

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Answer 6

CMCSK

Level 6

11,452 points

Apr 9, 2014 5:22 PM in response to Agent Ruby

File Vault is not in Disk Utility. It is in System Preferences/Security/FileVault.

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Answer 7

Agent Ruby Author

Level 1

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Apr 9, 2014 6:12 PM in response to CMCSK

I see. This is what I see when I go there.

As you can see, I've not turned FireVault on. Is this the issue?

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Answer 8

CMCSK

Level 6

11,452 points

Apr 9, 2014 6:37 PM in response to Agent Ruby

Yes. However, I recommend that you visit Apple's Knowledge Base website. Read all you can about the use of File Vault. Because if you do not know what you are doing and forget your File Vaults passwords, there is no way to recover them.

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Answer 9

Melophage

Level 5

7,213 points

Apr 9, 2014 6:50 PM in response to Agent Ruby

Agent Ruby,

thanks for the clarification. What you’re doing is creating an encrypted disk image in Disk Utility, rather than creating an encrypted folder using the old version of FileVault. To be able to save an encrypted Word document inside of your encrypted disk image, you’ll need to take the following steps:

Open the disk image by double-clicking it, and provide the disk image’s password when requested;
In Word, save your encrypted document into the opened disk image by choosing the disk image as the destination folder into which the encrypted document should be saved;
Close the disk image, either by dragging the disk image’s icon from your desktop to the Trash, or by clicking on its close button in the Finder’s sidebar.

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Answer 10

Agent Ruby Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 10, 2014 1:53 AM in response to Melophage

Thanks for this, Melophage.

I followed your instructions to the letter despite this being what I did yesterday and I received the same error message.

I really don't mind if itI save to the disk image or not. I just want to be able to password protect a folder, and then password protect the files inside. If I were to start from scratch is there a better way to go about this?

Thanks for your patience.

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Answer 11

Melophage

Level 5

7,213 points

Apr 10, 2014 8:38 AM in response to Agent Ruby

Agent Ruby,

when you’d created the encrypted disk image in Disk Utility, you’d given it a particular maximum size. Perhaps it is filled close to that maximum size, and you would need to create a new disk image with a larger size so that you can save more encrypted documents within it?

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