Category: Working with Files and Folders

The process of decompressing a file is actually an extraction process. That’s because you extract the original file(s) from the compressed folder. In Windows XP, this process is eased by the use of the Extraction Wizard. TIP Zipper Icon Compressed folders are distinguished by the little zipper on the folder icon.

Really big files can be difficult to copy or share. Fortunately, Windows XP lets you create compressed folders, which take big files and compress them down in size. After the file has been transferred, you can then uncompress the file back to its original state. NOTE Zip Files> The compressed folder is actually a file with a .zip extension,…

By default, the deleted files in the Recycle Bin can occupy 10% of your hard disk space. When you ve deleted enough files to exceed this 10%, the oldest files in the Recycle Bin are automatically and permanently deleted from your hard disk. You can also manually empty the Recycle Bin, and thus free up…

Have you ever accidentally deleted the wrong file? If so, you’re in luck. Windows stores the files you delete in the Recycle Bin, which is actually a special folder on your hard disk. For a short period of time, you can “undelete” files from the Recycle Bin back to their original locations.

Too many files eat up too much hard disk space which is a bad thing. Because you don’t want to waste disk space, you should periodically delete those files (and folders) you no longer need. When you delete a file, you send it to the Windows Recycle Bin, which is kind of a trash can…

Moving a file (or folder) is different from copying it. Moving cuts the item from its previous location and places it in a new location. Copying leaves the original item where it was and creates a copy of the item elsewhere. TIP Move to a New Folder If you want to move the item to a new…

There are many ways to copy a file in Windows XP. The easiest method is to use the Task pane in the My Documents folder. TIP Copy to a New Folder If you want to copy the item to a new folder, click the New Folder button before you click the Copy button.

When you create a new file or folder, it helps to give it a name that describes its contents. Sometimes, however, you might need to change a file’s name. Fortunately, Windows makes renaming an item relatively easy. CAUTION Don’t Change the Extension The one part of the filename you should never change is the extension…

The more files you create, the harder it is to organize and find things on your hard disk. When the number of files you have becomes unmanageable, you need to create more folders and subfolders to better categorize your files. CAUTION Illegal Characters Folder names and filenames can include up to 255 characters; including many…

Another way to navigate your files and folders is to use the Folders pane, which displays a hierarchical folder tree. NOTE Windows Explorer Windows XP’s Folders pane is similar to the Windows Explorer utility found in previous versions of Windows.