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Advanced File Lock

By Blue Lakes Technology Free to try Editors' Rating

Editors' Review

Download.com Staff Feb 24, 2009

On the surface, Advanced File Lock seems to fulfill its purpose well enough, but we found enough quirks--and one feature that just didn't work--to make us want to bypass the application altogether.

The interface appears clean and simple, but we would have preferred direct Windows Explorer integration. Especially with the proprietary file-selection mechanism, which breaks standard Windows file selection conventions and makes the interface feel clunky. Most of the functionality worked without issue, and the capability to easily hide and show files was nice. Unfortunately, you can't lock AND hide files, so which was a usability annoyance. The last notable feature was "Clean Free Space," which should prevent the recovery of any previously deleted files in your drive's free space. But that wasn't enough to save this app from its fatal flaw, the broken "Self Extractable File" functionality, which deletes your source file even when it doesn't successfully create the output file.

Excepting the broken feature and the interface's quirkiness, there were no stability issues during our testing. The features of this 30-day trial don't appear to be limited, and it is mostly nag-free. Installation was simple, but icons were placed on the desktop and in the start menu without asking. Uninstallation required a trip to Add/Remove programs, or to the install directory. With the quirky interface and the broken feature resulting in data-loss, this application is currently NOT recommended. There are other applications with similar, if not identical, features and the tighter Explorer integration Advanced File Lock is missing.

Full Specifications

What's new in version 7.1.3451

Version 7.1.3451 may include unspecified updates, enhancements, or bug fixes.

General

Date Added June 17, 2009
Version 7.1.3451

Operating Systems

Additional Requirements None

Popularity

Total Downloads 168,793
Downloads Last Week 1
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Developer's Description

Hide or password-protect any file or folder instantly by clicking on it. Advanced File Lock works with all file types including pictures and movies. Once a file is locked or hidden, it is completely encrypted and none of its contents can be viewed. To lock a file or folder, simply right-click on it and select the lock option.

Version 7.1.3451 may include unspecified updates, enhancements, or bug fixes.

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