Chapter 4: Windows Explorer
I manage my files and folders on disk, using Windows Explorer program.
Computer stores data in the form of files.
Like physical files are stored in file cabinet, computer files are stored in computer folders.
Windows Explorer is an application, using which files and folders are on computer. It provides detailed
information of all the folders, files and drives on the computer system.
File: A file is a collection of data that can be identified by its name. Different types of files store different types of
data.
File Naming Rules:
File name can comprise of alphabets (a to z), digits (0 to 9) and special characters like, dollar sign ($), at sign (@),
dot (.), blank(), percentage sign (%), etc.
Characters like backslash (\), forward slash (/), colon (:), star (*), double quotes ("), less than (<), greater than (>)
and exclamation sign (!) are not allowed in file names.
Folder: A folder is a special type of file that can hold other files in it. It is also called a directory. The icon of a folder
is shown in the image.
Note: Folder naming rules are same as of file naming. There is no difference.
Openning Windows Explorer:
Perform the following steps to open Windows Explorer.
1. Click the Start Button
2. Click All Programs
3. Click Accessories
4. Click the Windows Explorer option.
The Windows Explorer window will appear on the screen.
Note: The explorer window consists of two vertical panes i.e., left pane and right pane. The left pane is also known as
the navigation pane. It displays all the drives and folders. The right pane displays list of contents present in the
selected folder.
Selecting a Folder: To select a folder, click the mouse on its icon.
Note: To open the Windows Explorer, press Windows key + E.
Remarks: When a folder is selected its content is displayed in the right pane.
Selecting Contiguous Files
Contiguous Files: Files that are placed one after the other are called contiguous files. For example, third, fourth and
fifth file will be contiguous files. To select the contiguous files, perform the given steps.
Step 1: Press and hold the shift key.
Step 2: Click the first file of the contiguous block.
Step 3: Click the last file of the contiguous block.
Result: All files of contiguous block will be selected.
Selecting Non - Contiguous Files
Non - Contiguous Files: Multiple files that are not next to one another are called non-contiguous files. For example,
first, seventh and eleventh file together are non-contiguous files.
Perform following steps to select non-contiguous files:
Step 1: Press and hold the Ctrl key.
Step 2: Click one-by-one on each file icon that is to be selected.
Result: All files of non-contiguous block will be selected.
Copying a File/Folder
To copy a file or a folder, follow the steps given below:
1. Open the Windows Explorer. It will display all the drives.
2. Double-click on the desired drive. It will display all the files and folders contained in it.
3. Select the file or folder that you want to copy.
4. Click on the Organize button. Select the Copy option from the drop - down menu.
5. Select the location where you want to paste the file/folder.
6. Click the Organize button and select the Paste option.
7. The selected file or folder will be copied.
Result: Duplicate copy of the file or folder will get made.
Renaming a File/Folder
To rename a file or a folder, follow the given steps.
1. Select the file or folder that you want to rename:
2. Click on the Organize menu and select the Rename option.
3. Type in the new name.
4. Press the Enter key or click anywhere on an empty space.
Result: The name of the file or folder will change.
Moving a File/Folder
The steps to move or to change the location of a file or a folder are:
1. Click on the file or folder that you want to move.
2. Click on the Organize button.
3. Select the Cut option from the drop-down menu.
4. Select the location where you want to move the file or folder.
5. Click the Organize button again and select the Paste option.
6. The selected file or folder will move to the new location.
Result: File or folder will move to the new location.
Deleting a File/Folder
The steps to delete a file or folder are:
1. Click on the file or folder that you want to delete.
2. Click on the Organize button.
3. Select the Delete option from the menu.
4. A dialog box will appear on the screen. Click 'Yes' to confirm the delete or 'No' to cancel the task.
5. If you click 'Yes', the selected file or folder will be deleted.
Result: File or folder will get deleted.
Restoring a File/Folder
The steps to restore a deleted file from the Recycle Bin are:
1. Open the Recycle bin.
2. Right-click on the file or folder and select the Restore option.
3. The file gets restored on its original location.
Finding a File/Folder
Windows Explorer also allows you to search for files and folders stored in yourcomputer. To do so:
1. Open the Windows Explorer.
2. Click in the Search bar located at the top right corner of the window.
3. Type in the name of the file or folder you want to search.
4. Press the Enter key or click the Search icon.
5. It will display all the results.
Note: In Recycle bin, you can click the 'Restore all items' buttons, to restore all the files and folders.
Canceling the Effect of an Event
Perform the following steps to undo the effect of last command:
Step 1: Click mouse on Organize option in bar menu
Step 2: Select Undo option
Exiting From Windows Explorer
To close the Explorer window, click on the Close button present on the right - most corner of the title bar.