Unless you use a command-line utility like Cipher.exe, itÂ’s difficult to see at a glance which files are encrypted and which are not. Right-clicking each file and then choosing Properties, General, Advanced (followed by Cancel, Cancel) is tedious.

Fortunately, thereÂ’s an easier way. In Windows Explorer, use Details view.

• Open a folder containing the encrypted files.
• On the View menu, choose Details, and then select Attributes.

Encrypted files show a letter E in the Attributes column. You can also set an option so that the names of encrypted files appear in a different color from other file names.

• On the Tools menu, choose Folder Options, click the View tab, and select Show Encrypted Or Compressed NTFS Files In Color.

Tip taken from Microsoft Windows XP Inside Out by Ed Bott and Carl Siechert. Published by Microsoft Press.