Working with Windows Explorer

The average Windows user does not necessarily need to know how to work in DOS, BIOS or the Registry. However, To get much use out of a Windows OS (Operating System) You will need to work in the "Windows Explorer". This section will get you familiar with most of what you will be using and enable you to manage your files and folders.

Microsoft, in their infinite wisdom, liked the name "Explorer" and decided to use it often. I have found 3 so far. Windows Explorer, Internet Explorer and just plain Explorer. We are now only concerned with "windows explorer" found in, Start/Programs. This is where you will do most of your work with files and folders.

Select, Start/Programs/windows explorer. Note, there are two windows. The left window only contains folders and drives. Select the + next to a folder, you will expand that folder to show it's sub-folders. If the sub-folders have + marks, they too have sub-folders and so on until you get down to the lowest sub-folder. Any time that you select a drive, folder or sub-folder, you will display the contents in the right window. The right window can display files and folders.

The devider between the right and left window can be moved. Carefully place your cursor on the line and note that it turns into a double headed arrow. While it is a double headed arrow, hold down the left mouse button and drag the line right or left to change the size of each window. It can also be used at times on the top/bottom and sides and in the corners in many windows. This double headed arrow is also available in many places in windows based programs.

Up in the right corner of the window are three boxes. The first has a (-) sign in it, which is used to minimize that window. If it is a main window it will go to the "Task Bar" at the bottom. If the window is a sub window in another window it will "Minimize" to the bottom of the main window. Just remember that when minimized, that window or program is still running and using resources.

Select the (-) sign in the box and note that the window seems to rush down to the task bar as a button. Select that button and it pops back up as a full screen. If you are in a sub-window of a program and you select the (-) sign, it will not go down the task bar. Instead, it will go to the bottom of the main window as a name tag with the three boxes in it.

The middle box is the "Restore/Maximize" button. This button sets the window as full size (Maximize) or normal size (Restore). "Normal" means normal for that screen. Some windows are almost full sized when normal, while others may be half size.

Select the Middle box (Restore/Maximize). The button has either a small picture of a window or a picture of two small windows overlaying one another.

The X in the box on the right is to close the window if it is a sub-window or close the program if it is a main window. In this training program, I use the term: "X-Out" in referring to the "Close" box with the x in it.

Across the top you will see 7 pull down menus, labeled:

File - Edit - View - Go - Favorites - Tools - Help

Note that each has a letter underlined. This enables you to open and use each menu and options inside, using your keyboard alone. Hold down the "Alt" key while you hit the "F" key. This pulls down the "File" menu. Inside, the options also have a letter underlined. With the menu open, you do not need to hold down the Alt key to use your keyboard to select an item in the menu, just hit that key. This is also true if you pull down the menu using your mouse. You can select an option in the menu just by hitting the key of the underlined letter. This also works inside many programs in your system. The pull down menus are used extensively through many programs. You will also find that many of the options in each menu will be close to the same in each program. By "Right Clicking" a file or folder, you will get a "Pop-up" menu that have many of the same options that are found in the "Pull-down" menus. The pull-down menus apply to that folder or file that is highlighted, where a right click pop-up menu will usually have a combination of options from the "File" menu and the "Edit" pull-down menu. I have found it much easier to use the Right Click pop-up menu on the file or folder that I am directly working with. As you use each you will get comfortable with a method of your own since there are several ways to do almost any thing you do in a PC.

The "View" menu applies to how your windows explorer window looks and the items that it displays.

Select "View" pull-down menu. You can change each option one at a time to see what changes are made and set it to how you want it. All I can do for you here is to tell you what I use. Under "Toolbars" I have checked every option except: "Links".

"Status bar" is checked. In "Explorer bar" I use only "All Folders".

"As a Web Page", I see no advantage to it and I find it limits available space for useful information. Especially since I recommend "Details" in the next group of options.

You can "customize a folder" but do it on your own time.

"Arange Icons" and "Line up Icons" are used when you chose "Large or Small Icons"

"Refresh" is used after an alteration is made the does not show as soon as it is made. (I have never found a use for it) Just kidding, sometimes an alteration don't show unless you hit "Refresh".

You must be careful in "Folder Options" as you can do a lot of harm in here.

Select "Folder Options". Note the 3 tabs across the top of the window labeled:

"General", "View" and "File Types".

Select "View" tab. My only suggestion in here is to "Uncheck" the box next to: "Hide file extensions for known file types" Then under "Hidden Files" Check the box next to: "Show all files".

Select "File types" tab. Scroll and highlight each item in the window to display what file extension and what opens it. Some are opened so you can view them and others are opened for a program or your OS to use. A ".gif" may show that Internet Explorer or some other program is what opens it. Meaning that if you were to double click on a .gif file in windows explorer, it would automatically open Internet Explorer and display the gif file. The association of a file extension to a program can be set in here providing the program can read that particular extension. However, you should not attempt this until you study a more advanced training course. So, Keep your hands off of the 3 buttons to the right labeled: "New Type", "Remove" and "Edit".

The other pull down menus "Go", "Favorites", "Tools" and "Help" are self-explanatory. Meaning, "Go" is a list of shortcuts to take you elsewhere. "Favorites" is a list of Favorite URLs as listed in Internet Explorer. Tools, does have a useful item called "Find" which we cover in the section called: "Find Things". And finally, "Help" is as it suggests. Help for most items in Windows 98. Also under "Help" is "About Windows 98" which tells you who 98 is licensed to, how much memory your PC has and how much system resources are free at that particular moment.