Week 1: Computer BasicsLesson 9: Getting to Know Microsoft Windows

In the following lessons, we will learn how to manage files and folders, find files, and view details about them.

With the wide variety of files that can be stores on a computer, it is important to know where to find the one you need. Therefore, you need a way to organize your files. Windows Explorer allows you to groups files and folders much the same way that you would organize real files and folders in a filing cabinet.

Get to know Windows Explorer

Windows Explorer is a type of program that is called a file manager. It allows you to organize, move, delete, and copy files on your computer or on your network. Windows Explorer organizes folders and files always using the same structure. The file structure from the top down starts with the largest storage area, the drive, and ends with the smallest unit of storage, the file. (Other file managers work in a similar way).

Get to know Windows Explorer

A drive is the largest storage area. The C; drive is usually the hard drive, but you can have other drives on your school network, or on a separate device, like your CD drive or Flash drive.

A folder is a place to save a organize files, such as documents or pictures.

A file is a collection of data. Files can be text, graphics, or other types of media such as audio or video clips.

Get to know Windows Explorer

Let’s start by practicing organizing files. We will also display the file’s size, type, and date modified.

• Step 1: Click the start menu at the bottom left on the screen. Choose programs, choose accessories, and click Windows Explorer.

There is also an icon on the toolbar in Windows 7 that will take you directly to Windows Explorer.

Step 2: On your own screen, identify the items shown below. Your screen may look different depending on how you have your computer organized. Note: the Expand button (+, or a black arrow) becomes a Collapse button (-, or a white arrow) when clicked.

Step 3: Next to the Documents folder, click the Expand button (+, or black arrow). What are the contents of you’re my Documents folder?

Step 4: You can change the way the files and folders are displayed. Click the View menu, then choose Icons. The icons should now look similar to those below.

Step 5: Click the View menu and choose List to see another view.

Step 6: To see more information about a folder or file, click the View menu, then choose Details.

Step 7: Click the View menu, then choose Arrange icons by.

Step 8: Click the Name option. The screenshot below shows the files in all the folders arranged in alphabetical order by name.

Step 9: To see contents of a folder, click on it.

Step 10: Click the Collapse button (-) next to Documents to collapse the folder.