Files on a computer can be viewed using Windows Explorer. The file system is similar to an outline. The storage is comprised of folders. Each folder is created inside another folder. A folder can contain additional folders or files. The root folder is My Computer. Each disk drive is assigned a letter. The first four letters are usually reserved for the same type of drive on any computer. The other letters are assigned dynamically when first connecting to the drive. Letters from E..Z may be a removable drive, or a drive on your local network.
- A: the 3.5 inch floppy drive [no longer commonly found, but USB versions exist]
- B: the 5.25 inch floppy drive [now obsolete]
- C: the first hard drive where operating system and applications are stored
- D: Normally the CD or DVD drive [found on most computers]
- E: Normally the first removable drive [USB}
- F: Normally the next removable drive [USB]
- Drive letters can be any of the 26 characters in the alphabet
File Types
Each file in a windows computer normally contains a suffix (usually three letters) that lets the operating system know the type of file, e.g. which program should be used to open the file. Each file is shown with an icon that shows the type of file. There are a huge number of suffixes. Some programs use many different file types.
A few file types can be opened by many different programs. One example is a picture [.jpg suffix]. While only a few programs are used to create or modify a picture, most programs can use a picture. A picture can be inserted into a web file, word document, a powerpoint presentation are a few examples.
Some typical files. When these files are on a web server, you can either view them using the appropriate program, or save a copy to your computer. If you view the file using a program, it is temporarily saved in a temporary folder [obscure path].
- text file Can be viewed by a browser.
- Bob Hope Word or Wordpad
- new powerpoint document Powerpoint presentation
- new excel document Excel workbook
- new compressed folder (zip file) Windows Explorer or WinZip
- PDF Document Adobe portable document.
Navigating the Folder and Files
You can see the files and folders on your computer using several different objects.
Desktop
The desktop is the screen when no other windows are open. The desktop on most computers contains an icon called My Computer. This icon is not available on the library computers, but icons to available drives have been added to the desktop.
Windows Explorer
- Double-click My Computer and a program named Windows Explorer opens a new window and displays the disk drives on the computer. On the Library computers, double-click the floppy drive icon, CD drive icon, or the E: F: or G: drive icons.
- Double-click any of these drives, and the contents of the window changes to show the folders and files on the disk drive.
- The standard button toolbar is at the top of each window.
Move back to previous folder. Move forward if not grayed.
Opens second attached window to show tree view of folder.
Change view to parent folder
Removes selected object (folder or file). When folder or file is on a removable disk,
the object may not be able to be retrieved. When folder or file is on the C: drive,
it is moved to the Recycle Bin. May be able to be restored. However, the Library
computers do not allow access to the C: drive, so the delete button effectively
removes the file or folder and it cannot be restored. Use this button with care.
Save As... Button in Program (or Application)
When you save a file from an application, a temporary window opens with similar features
to a Windows Explorer window. The purpose of this window is to allow you to point to a new or existing
folder and give the file a name. The Up to Previous Folder button along with the
show files button allows you to navigate the entire computer file system.
opens a temporary window to show a tree view of files.
creates a new folder that can then be used to save the file.
Start Button
The Start button is found at the lower left of the screen. The contents of this button are restricted on library computers. The remaining items are essentially the same as the buttons on the desktop.