INTERMEDIATE COMPUTER BASICS Maldives Business School

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Learn about File Explorer (Windows Explorer)
Learn how to access, rename, move or delete your
files
Learn how to access & navigate folders in File
Explorer
Learn the functions of Start Menu & Control Panel
WINDOWS EXPLORER – FILE EXPLORER
It’s called File Explorer in Windows 10.
There are 3 ways to open it.
Select the Start button and find it on the Start menu.
Press the Windows logo key + E.
Select the folder icon on the taskbar.
WHAT IS FILE EXPLORER?
File Explorer is the file management application used by Windows operating systems
to browse folders and files.
It provides a graphical interface for the user to navigate and access the files stored
in the computer.
 FILE EXPLORER
The main way to access the File Explorer is by clicking the folder icon in the Taskbar. After
clicking the icon, the File Explorer window will open. The initial File Explorer window is
comprised of the following sections −
The File Explorer ribbon, which resembles the ribbon
featured in Microsoft Office. The ribbon contains buttons for
common tasks to perform with your files and folders.

The Navigation Pane gives you access to your libraries of

documents and pictures, as well as your storage devices. It
also features frequently used folders and network devices.

The Frequent folders section on the right features the folders

you’ve worked with recently to allow for quick access to
them.

The Recent files section in the lower part of the window

features files and documents that you’ve opened recently.
FILE EXPLORER WINDOW - DIAGRAM
1. Navigation Pane
2. Forward and Back buttons
3. Ribbon
4. Address bar
5. Column headings
6. Search box
7. File and folder listing
8. Preview/Details pane
9. Status Bar
 FILE EXPLORER - EXPLAINED
1. Navigation Pane - In the Navigation pane is the Quick access area; from the Quick access area, you can quickly and easily navigate to folders
you use regularly. To add (“pin”) a folder to the Quick access area, right-click on the folder name and then select Pin to Quick access from the drop-
down menu.
2. Forward and Back buttons - Enables you to go to folders you’ve already opened. If you go to a different folder, you can choose the
Back button to return to the last folder you accessed.
3. Ribbon - Enables you to perform layout, formatting, and sharing tasks, as well as how File Explorer displays your files and folders. Tasks
available to you might differ depending on what folder you select (e.g., Documents vs Pictures).
4. Address bar - Enables you to go to a different folder in the same Explorer window.
5. Column headings - Titles of each of the columns displayed in the file and folder list. You can choose which columns you want to display
by adding a column heading or removing a column heading, as well as changing the order in which those columns are displayed. Click on
a column heading to sort your files and folders by that column (e.g., date modified).
6. Search box - Allows you to search for subfolders, documents, images, programs, Web pages, and bookmarks in the current folder.
7. File and folder listing - Shows you the files and folders in the current folder (the folder you selected in the Navigation pane).
8. Preview/Details pane - Enables you to quickly preview an item, such as a photo, without having to open that item. To open the Preview
pane (it isn’t open by default), click on the View menu at the top of File Explorer, then click on the Preview pane button located at the
left-hand side of the Ribbon in the Navigation pane area.
9. Status Bar - Displays information about a selected folder and its contents, such as the total number of items in the folder, the number of
items selected and total file size. Contains buttons that enable you to quickly switch between thumbnail and detail views for the items
displayed in the current folder.
 THE FILE EXPLORER RIBBON
In Windows 10, the File Explorer features a new ribbon toolbar, similar to the one
featured in the recent versions of Microsoft Office. This ribbon contains buttons and
commands for the most common tasks.
TASKS YOU CAN PERFORM ON HOME TAB
Copying and pasting files and folders from one place to another.
Moving files and folders to another location.
Copying files and folders to another location.
Deleting a file or folder permanently or sending it to the Recycle Bin.
Renaming a file or folder.
Creating a new folder or other new items.
Verifying or modifying the Properties of a document or folder.
Opening a file or folder.
Different options to select one or various files and folders.
 TASKS YOU CAN PERFORM ON SHARE RIBBON
The Share ribbon gives you different options to share your files and folders. For
example −
E-mailing or messaging a file.
Compressing (“Zip”) a folder to take less space.
Printing or faxing documents.
Sharing with other users or networks.
 TASKS YOU CAN PERFORM ON VIEW RIBBON
The View ribbon allows you to change the way Windows displays your files and
folders. Some of the changes you can make here are −

Adding additional panes to show a preview or details of your files.

Changing the layout of the files and folders from icons to list, and others.
Sorting and arranging the contents of your folder.
Hiding selected folders or files.
 TASKS YOU CAN PERFORM ON FILE TAB
Opening an additional File Explorer window.
Opening command windows for advanced users.
Changing or configuring options about how File Explorer behaves.
 ACCESSING YOUR FILES AND FOLDERS IN FILE
EXPLORER
There are number of ways you can navigate to your files and folders in File Explorer:
 Address bar:

Forward and Backward buttons:

Using the Search function:

 FOLDERS
Windows uses folders to help you organize files.
You can put files inside a folder, just like you would put documents inside a real folder. In the image
below, you can see some folders on the desktop.
 TO MOVE A FILE:
It's easy to move a file from one location to another. For example, you might have a file on the desktop that you want
to move to your Documents folder.

Note: You can use

this same technique
to move an entire
folder. Note that
moving a folder
will also move all
of the files within
that folder.
TO CREATE A NEW FOLDER:
 TO RENAME A FILE OR FOLDER:
You can change the name of any file or folder. A unique name will make it easier to remember what
type of information is saved in the file or folder.
 TO DELETE A FILE OR FOLDER:
If you no longer need to use a file, you can delete it. When you delete a file, it is moved to the Recycle Bin.
If you change your mind, you can move the file from the Recycle Bin back to its original location.
If you're sure you want to permanently delete the file, you will need to empty the Recycle Bin.

*Note: Deleting a folder will also delete all of the files within that folder.
 REFRESHING MEMORY!
1. How can you access files & folders in File Explorer? 2 ways.
2. Name 5 things you can see on a File Explorer Window?
3. Which part of File Explorer Window displays information about a selected folder
and its contents?
4. Which part of File Explorer Window enables you to go to folders you’ve already
opened?
5. “By right-clicking a file and deleting it – the file is permanently deleted.” Is this
statement true?
 START MENU
The Start Menu is the main point of access to your applications. There are two main ways to open it.
 START MENU- CONTINUED
The Windows 10 Start Menu features two panes.
The left pane resembles the traditional Start Menu
from Windows 7 and earlier, while the right pane
features live tiles that were used in Windows 8.
START MENU – LEFT PANE
Among the things you can do in the left pane are −

• Click the username icon at the left side of the menu to change
account settings or log in with another user.

• Access the applications you use more frequently.

• A small arrow next to an application will open a sub-menu with a list

of recent documents opened with that application.

• Open the “File Explorer” to navigate your folders and files.

• Change the settings of your computer like your Internet connection or

changing your background.

• See different options to shut down your computer.

 START MENU - SEARCH BOX
The “Search box” on the Taskbar will allow you to search within your
documents and files or on the Web for anything you write.
The initial results will appear within the Start Menu itself.
The results will be grouped according to the closest match (or matches)
labeled “Best match” at the top of the list.
 RIGHT PANE
The right pane features a varied array of tiles,
similar to the ones that were seen on the Start
Screen of Windows 8.
These tiles can be moved and dragged to
different places by holding the mouse button.
You can also configure them by right-clicking
on them to see options to resize them or “unpin”
them (remove them) from the Menu.
*The whole Start Menu can also be resized by
dragging the borders with the mouse to the
desired size.
 MANAGING MY COMPUTER – CONTROL PANEL
The Control Panel in Microsoft Windows enables a user to change various computer hardware and software features.
Settings for the mouse, display, sound, network, and keyboard represent a few examples of what may be modified in
the Control Panel.
In Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10, you can use the search box in the top-right corner of the Control Panel
window to find the area you're looking to adjust.
For example, type firewall to search for the Firewall settings in the Control Panel.

*Note: A Mac computer and Chromebook do not have a Control Panel. The closest equivalent is System Preferences on
a Mac and Settings on a Chromebook.
 SECTIONS OF THE WINDOWS CONTROL PANEL
There are eight main areas on the Control Panel, containing different tools designed to optimize your computer.
1. System and Security - A section to check your computer's status, backup and restore, and others.
2. Network and Internet - View network status.
3. Hardware and Sound - View which devices are on your computer and add devices.
4. Programs - Uninstall programs.
5. User Accounts - Change user accessibility.
6. Appearance and Personalization - Change desktop options, like fonts and screen readers.
7. Clock and Region - Change date and time.
8. Ease of access - Optimize your display settings.
 REFRESHING MEMORY!
1. What is Start Menu?
2. What are the 2 ways to open Start Menu?
3. What is the function of Control Panel?
4. List down 5 areas that you find in Control Panel?
5. Which area would you have to select from Control Panel if you wanted to uninstall
a program?
 END OF SLIDES!
Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am
changing myself. – Rumi