Or Password, if you prefer.

Minumum, six characters, I like eight, often use ten, sometimes 12. When it gets really important, as many as 30, (them I gots ta write down.) No dictionary words, no personal information for reference, random combinations of anything and everything on the keyboard.

Caveat, this is when I can use characters, lower and cap letters and numbers.

Whne restricted to letters alone, at least 16. And, I have little faith in letter only passcodes.

Like a cheap lock, all they do is keep honest folk honest.

Another note, if they have direct access to your box?

You're screwed.

There are a number of CDROM, even more than a few Floppy loadable programs that can crack Windows boxes in seconds. A lot of them are freeware. I use one of the best freeware encryption programs I can find. Way past Blowfish 1028.
Dropped the CD in, sicced it on an encrypted file.

By stopwatch, 71 seconds to full access. This with keycode in excess of 30 characters.

I saw for sale a while back a really neat USB device that holds a rather lengthy keycode programmed into it. Used in combo with the program made for it? As good security as you can find and still keep data on your C: drive.

I believe, if memory serves,the keycode in that device is in excess of 100 characters.

It was amazingly cheap too.

But, and always keep this in mind, there's no such thing as an uncrackable system or file.

If it's used, it can be cracked. The only computer that can't be hacked, cracked or slaved is one that doesn't work.

Better if it's been tossed in a fire, minimum 2000 F for one hour, ground up to less than .01 MM screen size then mixed with a good sized batch of Portland cement which is poured into the footings for a skyscaper. Now that box, you ain't gonna hack.