An Introduction to Windows Explorer

Windows Explorer is essentially the graphical interface that makes Windows computers easy to use

. For example, the desktop and taskbar containing icons are part of the graphic interface. In fact, when the desktop or taskbar go missing, restoring them is often a simple matter of restarting the explore.exe process. Where Internet Explorer allows you to browse the Web, Windows Explorer allows you to browse Windows without having to type in DOS-like commands. While Windows Explorer provides the overall user interface, another smaller component of it is also called Windows Explorer. This smaller component is Windows Explorers file manager. It allows you to explore your computers hard drive and file system. You can launch Windows Explorer in several ways including: Click Start > My Computer (or Computer) Right-click Start > Explore (or Open Windows Explorer) Depending on your version of Windows, Windows Explorer will have different features such as the Task Pane or Search Companion. In general, Windows Explorer lists the various storage devices found on your computer such as the hard drive, external hard drive, network drives, and any portable storage devices that you might have connected like USB thumb drives, memory sticks, or digital cameras. When you click on a storage device, youll then see a list of folders. When you click a folder, youll see a list of the folders contents such as sub-folders and files. Along the top of Windows Explorer is an address bar where you can enter specific paths. Below that is a menu bar containing a variety of menu lists which vary dramatically between the different versions of Windows. A small search box is usually found in the upper right corner of the menu bar. The main display is usually divided into a task pane and a main pane. The layout varies by operating system as well as user preferences as it has been changed over the years and can be customized per user. Despite its many incarnations, Windows Explorer remains a useful tool for finding and managing files and folders. Among its many uses are: Searching for specific files Searching for all files of a certain type Dragging and dropping files from one location to another Finding more information (properties) about a file or folder Creating desktop shortcuts Managing files and folders (organizing, deleting, renaming, sharing, and so on) Not only can you open Windows Explorer and manage your computers folders and files more easily, you can also open two (or more) instances of it. With two windows open, you can then drag and drop files from one location to another quickly and easily. Ideally, youll position each window side by side so that you can see what you are doing. For example, if you want to move some of your files from My Documents into a folder named Old Documents, open two windows of Windows Explorer, position them side by side, and open the My Documents folder on the left and open the Old Documents folder on the right. Finally, drag and drop the files from My Documents to Old Documents. If you use Windows, an understanding of Windows Explorer will help you better manage your documents, files, and folders. Take some time to explore this useful utility.

An Introduction to Windows Explorer

By: Celeste Stewart, Filetonic Tech Jock

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