File ManagementIn this exercise the A drive is used as an example. If you are using

another storage device, substitute that drive letter (D, E, F…) where the “A” drive is mentioned.

Revised 7/31/07

Understanding Your Computer’s Filing System

Your computer’s filing system has three basic divisions:

– Files

– Folders

– Drives

File Management Instructional Information…

Where did all my folders and files (documents) go?

To find your documents (files) You need to answer these questions:

1. What drive is it on?

2. What folder is it in? 

3. What is the name of the file? 

 

Part I:  Disk Drives

• Knowing how your computer stores data is essential for creating, storing and retrieving your own files. 

• A computer stores data on a drive. 

• There are many types of drives.   

Hard Drive• Normally designated as the "C"

drive. • This is the internal storage unit

of your computer. • Normally, you will install

programs on it and store your data on it. 

• You cannot see the hard drive unless you remove the case of the tower.

Removable Portable Storage Devices

• CD

• Floppy Diskette

• Flash Drive (memory sticks)

CD_ROM

• CD drive (normally designated as the "D" drive or the "E" drive)

• Is accessible from outside the computer

Floppy DriveFloppy drive

• Normally designated as the "A" drive. 

• This is the drive accessible from the outside of the computer. 

• One floppy diskette will hold 1.44 MB of data. 

Flash Storage Drives (Memory Sticks)• Flash Drives

• Normally designated as a “Removable Disk” (E or other)

• The flash device plugs directly into the Universal Serial Bus (USB) port of a personal computer

• Flash storage devices for personal computers can hold from 16 MB to 512 MB of data and more.

Let's Take a Look• You can see what drives you

have on your computer by double clicking on the “My Computer" icon on the windows desktop.

• You can also view what's on each drive by using your left mouse button to double-click on the A, C, or D icon.  

Now it's your turn ... Lets do it!

Part 1: Disk DrivesExercise

1. Start the computer, if necessary.

2. On the Windows desktop double click the

My Computer icon.

3. View the disk drives.

4. Insert your project diskette

5. Double click on the icon where your data is stored (or double

click on the “C” drive if you do not have data saved on a

project diskette). All the documents that are stored on your

project diskette will be listed.

6. Close the drive

7. Close My Computer

Tutorial 2:  Folders and FilesHow a disk drive is organized

Your New Filing Cabinet• Think of your computer as

one big file cabinet. 

• You will store your work in the file cabinet. 

• But you can't just throw documents in the cabinet! 

• You want to have an organizational structure to your filing system. 

Creating a File• Open MS Word. • Create a new document. • In the body of the

document, type: This is a test. 

• Do not close MS Word. Minimize it by clicking on the uppermost box in the upper right hand corner of your screen. 

• Leave it alone for now--you will come back to it at the end of the next tutorial. 

Folders• Folders provide that

organizational structure to a disk drive, just as they do in a file cabinet. 

• First, you will put labeled folders into your cabinet/drive. 

• Each folder will have a name. 

Folders & Files

• Inside the folder, you will put (save) your documents (files). 

• In order to be able to find your documents later, you will give each document a name. 

Tutorial 3:  Creating a Folder

Creating a Personal Storage Area• You will need some place to save the files you

will be creating in this class. • You could, of course, just save them to the hard

drive where they would be along side all the other files that are already there.

• A wiser move would be to create a folder on the drive where you will store your files.  

• Make sure your project diskette is inserted into the drive

My Computer

• On your desktop click on the icon called “My Computer”.

• Click on 3 1/2 Floppy (A:) drive or the appropriate drive for your project disk.

How to Create a Folder

• Click on "file“

• Click on "new“

• Click on "folder”

• Use School as the name of the folder.

(With the folder highlighted type school, then enter)  

Tutorial 4: 

Saving a Document

What drive is it on? • You can save your document on any drive you

choose.• "A" drive (floppy disk)• "C" drive (hard drive inside the computer)• "D“ drive (CD)• Removable “E” or other (Flash drives or memory

sticks) • You have to tell the computer where you want to

save the document or file.

What folder is it in?Instructional information…

1. Once you've chosen the drive, you must then select the folder. 

2. You can put it in any folder you want. 

3. Better you should choose the folder than the computer!

What is the Name of the File?

1. You can call your document (or file) anything you like.

2. The name should reflect what the file is about.

3. For consistency, use all lowercase letters in file names. 

4. Then you never have to wonder, “Did I capitalize the name of that file?"

Save Dialogue box• When you have answered all of the

questions below in the Save As dialog box you are ready to click Save to save your file:

• What drive is it on?

• What folder is it in? 

• What is the of the name of the file? 

Let’s Try It!• Restore the Word Document you opened and

typed “this is a test” earlier in this tutorial• Insert your project disk in the appropriate drive• From the File menu select Save As

Choose the Drive (from the “Save In” box)

On the DriveDouble Click “School” Folder

Naming a Document (file)

• Name the document “test”– Type test in the “File name” box

• Click the Save button• The document (file) is

saved in the folder and drive you selected

• Double click the folder to check if the document is there