Computer Basics

File Management
FILES vs. FOLDERS

Files are individual documents that a user makes and saves.

Folders are storage places for files.

CREATING FOLDERS
Right click where you want to make the folder (on desktop, in another folder, etc.).
Choose New > New Folder.

Type a name, then press Enter.

Right click and choose Rename to rename.

COPYING & MOVING FILES & FOLDERS

Copy vs. Move
Copy - copy files and folders when you want to keep it in the original location, and add a
copy in another location
Move – move files when you want them in a new location, and you no longer need them
in the old location

Copying Files
Right click on the file or folder.
Choose Copy.
Open the window where you want to put the file or folder.
Right click in a blank area and choose Paste.

1 © D. Rich, 2004 – updated 2008

Moving Files
Open the folder where the original file or folder is located.
Open the folder where you want the file or folder to be.
Drag from one window to the other.

SAVING LOCATIONS
By default, Microsoft Office programs save in My Documents. You can save a
document wherever you want by navigating to a new location during the Save process.

To save a file in an existing folder in My Documents, double click the folder.

To save a file in a location other than My Documents, use the Save In drop down menu
at the top of the screen, or the links on the left hand side, and browse to a new location.

2 © D. Rich, 2004 – updated 2008

RENAMING FILES AND FOLDERS
Right click on the file or folder and choose Rename.

Type the new name, then press Enter.

Note: A computer will not allow two files in the same location to have the same name.

Caution: When renaming a file whose file extension is displayed (the letters after the
dot), do not disturb the dot or the letters following the dot. Change only the name of the
file – the part to the left of the dot.

DELETING
When a file is deleted, it goes to the recycle bin. However, it is still in your computer,
taking up space. To completely delete a document, you need to empty the Recycle Bin.

Emptying the Recycle Bin

Open the Recycle Bin and choose File > Empty Recycle Bin.

Restoring From the Recycle Bin

Open the Recycle Bin.
Right click on the file or folder you want to restore, and choose Restore. It will re-
appear in the folder from which it was deleted.

Bypass Recycle Bin

To delete a file without having it go to the Recycle Bin, select the file or folder you wish
to delete. Hold the SHIFT key and the press the Delete key.

3 © D. Rich, 2004 – updated 2008