Exploring Drives and Folders (Windows XP)

Module 5
Objectives
 Define Files, Folders, and Disks and their purpose in IT
 Understand how to navigate inside Windows XP using
commonly accessed folders and functions
 Identify Windows icons and their function
 Be able to correctly and systematically name and locate
files
 Be able to move, copy, and delete files and folders

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 Files
The word “File” is the name for data that is saved to a disk.
File icons appear in many different shapes and colours.

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 Folders
 A folder is the name Windows uses for a directory.
 Folders are stored in a hierarchy. It is possible for
folders to have subfolders, which in turn may have
subfolders.

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 Disks
 Disks (also referred to as drives) are where
files and folders are physically stored.
Hard Disks:The main hard disk inside your
computer is usually labelled the C:\ drive in My
Computer.

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 Removable Disks
Floppy Disk:The floppy disk drive is usually labelled the
A:\ drive in My Computer.

Optical Disk: There are two basic forms of optical storage

used in computers today: compact disc (CD) and digital
versatile disc (DVD).
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 Removable Disks

CD-ROM:Compact disc storage using CD-ROMs was derived

from the same media that we use from audio compact discs

DVD-ROM:DVD drives in computers is used primarily for

video and not for software distributions.

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 Removable Disks

Removable Flash Drives:Newer removable storage

devices include USB Drives, Flash Drives, Pocket Drives
or Thumb Drives.

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 Navigating Folders
My Computer: contains all the local disks available on your computer. These
can include the floppy disk, hard disks, CD-ROM drive, and other removable
drives.

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 Navigating Folders
Control Panel :My Computer also contains the Control
Panel object, which is used to configure Windows
settings and manage printers.

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 Navigating Folders
My Network Places: My Network Places contains a list of all the
computers, servers, printers, and folders available to you on your
computer network or over the internet

Recycle Bin: The Recycle Bin stores files and folders that you have
deleted from your local disk(s) - usually the C drive

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 Navigating Folders
My Documents: isa special folder designed to
store the data files you create.

My Documents contains several default subfolders, such as

My Pictures or My Music.

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 Navigating Folders
 A path is the location of a folder or file. A path is
made up of the following elements:

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 Use My Computer to Browse Files

Icon Object
Hard Drive: The main disk drive inside
your computer.
Removable Drive - this is usually a floppy disk,
though this icon could also indicate a backup
device such as a tape drive
CD-ROM Drive - for running CD-ROMs.

Network Drive­- a folder on the network

connected to your computer (mapped) so that
you can use is as if it were a drive.

Folder A folder can store files and other folders.

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 Use My Computer to Browse Files
Icon Object
System Folder - folders with icons on them are
special system objects, such as My Documents
or Printers.
Shared resource - an icon with a hand on it
indicates that the drive or folder is shared with
other users.

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To Open an Object

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 To Open an Object
An example of a highlighted icon

To Use the Toolbar Browse Buttons

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To Use the Common Task Pane

Common Tasks Pane

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 To Use the Explorer Taskbar


On the Standard toolbar, click Folders
Or
 From the View menu, select Explorer Bar then Folders

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To Use the Explorer Taskbar

Explorer Task Bar 20

File and Folder Management
 Naming Files
 Moving, Copying and Deleting
 Backing Up Files
 Scanning Files
 Sharing Files

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File and Folder Management
Naming Files
 Avoid using spaces in the file name
 Identify the type of document, the subject, and
the version in the file name.
 If you create a series of similar documents, make
sure that the name will sort appropriately

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Moving, Copying and Deleting Files

Windows makes it easy to move and copy files you

can simply click-and-drag a file icon to move it to
another folder.

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Scanning Files for Viruses and Malware
Antivirus software is must-have protection.
A new and even more threatening form of intrusion on
your computer is called Spyware or Adware. Also
called "Malware"

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New Folders
 New Folders: You can create folders on any
disk drive, within another folder, or on the Windows
Desktop.

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To Create a Subfolder

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Rename a File or Folder
 Security settings may prevent you from renaming
a folder stored on a network drive. Also, you cannot
rename a file if the file has been opened

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Select and Move Multiple Files and Folders

 You can move, copy, and delete more than one

folder and/or file at a time by selecting several icons
at once.

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To Select a Group of Files That Are Next to Each Other

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To Delete a Folder or File

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Recover Data From the Recycle Bin
 On the Desktop or in My Computer or Windows
Explorer, open the Recycle Bin icon.
 The Recycle Bin and its contents are displayed.

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To Empty the Recycle Bin
 Double Click on the Recycle Bin icon to open it.
 From the File menu, select Empty Recycle Bin.
OR
 From the Common Tasks pane, select Empty the
Recycle Bin.
OR
 Right-click the Recycle Bin icon and select Empty
Recycle Bin.

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To Move and Copy a Folder or File

 Using Drag-and-Drop

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Using Cut, Copy, and Paste Operations
Carefully
 When you move or copy data, you need to be very
careful as there is always a chance that you could
destroy or misplace important data by making mistake.

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Undo a File Operation
 Most Windows programs, including My
Computer and Windows Explorer, have an
Undo feature.

To Undo an Action: From the Edit menu, select Undo

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