Introduction to Windows Navigation

- Windows provides various methods for navigating through the operating system, accessing
different features, and managing files and settings. Here are some essential aspects of Windows
navigation:
Start Menu:
- The Start menu is a central hub for accessing programs, files, and settings on Windows.
- Click on the Start button located at the bottom left corner of the taskbar, or press the Windows key
on your keyboard, to open the Start menu.
- The Start menu contains a search bar, frequently used apps, recently added apps, and shortcuts to
various system locations.
Taskbar:
- The taskbar is a horizontal bar typically located at the bottom of the screen.
- It provides quick access to commonly used apps, the Start button, the system tray (notification
area), and the clock.
- You can pin your favorite apps to the taskbar for easy access.
File Explorer:
- File Explorer is the file management tool in Windows, allowing you to browse, open, and manage
files and folders.
- Open File Explorer by clicking on the folder icon on the taskbar or pressing the Windows key + E
on your keyboard.
- File Explorer provides a hierarchical view of your computer's file system, including drives, folders,
and files.
Desktop:
- The desktop is the main screen area where you can place icons, shortcuts, and widgets for easy
access.
- You can customize the desktop background, arrange icons, and pin frequently used files or folders
to it.
- To access the desktop, either minimize all open windows or press the Show Desktop button located
at the right end of the taskbar.
Task View:
- Task View is a feature that allows you to manage and switch between open windows and virtual
desktops.
- Access Task View by clicking on the Task View button located on the taskbar (it looks like two
overlapping rectangles) or pressing the Windows key + Tab on your keyboard.
- Task View displays thumbnails of all open windows and provides options to switch between them
or create and manage virtual desktops.
System Tray and Action Center:
- The system tray, also known as the notification area, is located at the right end of the taskbar.
- It displays system icons, such as Wi-Fi, volume, battery, and notifications from various apps.
 - Clicking on the system tray icons allows you to access and manage related settings and functions.
- The Action Center, accessible by clicking on the Notification icon in the system tray or pressing
Windows key + A, provides quick access to notifications, settings, and system actions.
The Desktop
- The desktop is the main screen area of your Windows operating system. It serves as a workspace
where you can place icons, shortcuts, and widgets for easy access to files, folders, and applications.
Understanding the desktop and its features is essential for efficient navigation and organization.
Here's an overview of the desktop:
Icons and Shortcuts:
- Icons are small graphical representations of files, folders, or applications.
- By default, Windows places icons on the desktop for important system folders like Recycle Bin and
This PC.
- You can create shortcuts to frequently used files, folders, or applications on the desktop for quick
access.
- To create a shortcut, right-click on the file, folder, or application and select "Create shortcut." Then,
drag the shortcut to the desktop.
Taskbar:
- The taskbar is a horizontal bar located at the bottom of the screen.
- It displays the Start button, running applications, system icons, and the notification area.
- The taskbar provides quick access to the Start menu, taskbar icons, and running programs.
Wallpaper and Personalization:
- The desktop can be customized with a background image called wallpaper.
- Right-click on an empty area of the desktop and select "Personalize" to access settings for
customizing the wallpaper, color schemes, and other visual aspects of the desktop.
Context Menu:
- Right-clicking on an empty area of the desktop opens a context menu with various options.
- The context menu allows you to create new folders, shortcuts, and files, change the view options,
personalize the desktop, and perform other actions.
Show Desktop:
- The "Show Desktop" button is located at the right end of the taskbar.
- Clicking on this button minimizes all open windows and displays the desktop.
- It provides quick access to icons and shortcuts on the desktop.
Gadgets and Widgets (Windows 7 and earlier):
- In older versions of Windows (such as Windows 7), desktop gadgets or widgets were available.
- These small applications provided information like weather updates, calendars, or system
monitoring.
- However, in newer versions of Windows, such as Windows 10, gadgets and widgets are no longer
supported.
The Start Menu
- The Start menu is a central feature of the Windows operating system, providing access to various
applications, settings, and files. It serves as a launching point for accessing programs, searching for
files, and performing system functions. Understanding the Start menu and its features is essential
for efficient navigation and accessing the resources on your computer. Here's an overview of the
Start menu:
Opening the Start Menu:
- Click on the Start button located at the bottom left corner of the taskbar.
- Alternatively, press the Windows key on your keyboard to open the Start menu.
Start Menu Layout:
- The Start menu has a two-column layout, with the left side containing pinned tiles and a list of
frequently used apps.
- The right side displays system folders, power options, and user account settings.
Live Tiles:
- The Start menu features live tiles, which are interactive icons representing specific apps.
- Live tiles can display real-time information and updates, such as weather updates, news headlines,
or calendar events.
- You can resize, rearrange, or remove live tiles according to your preference.
All Apps:
- Clicking on the "All Apps" button displays a list of all installed applications on your computer.
- This provides a comprehensive view of the software available on your system.
Search Bar:
- The Start menu includes a search bar at the bottom, allowing you to quickly search for apps, files,
settings, and even web content.
- Simply type in the search bar, and Windows will display relevant results in real-time.
Power Options and User Account Settings:
- On the right side of the Start menu, you'll find options to power off or restart your computer.
- It also provides access to user account settings, such as account information, lock, sign out, or
switch user.
Customizing the Start Menu:
- You can customize the Start menu to suit your preferences and workflow.
- Right-click on the Start button and select "Settings" to access the Start menu settings.
- From there, you can choose to show or hide recently added apps, customize the appearance of the
Start menu, and more.
Introduction to File Explorer
- File Explorer is an essential component of the Windows operating system that allows users to
navigate, manage, and access files and folders stored on their computer. It provides a graphical user
interface (GUI) for exploring the file system and performing various file-related tasks.
Accessing File Explorer: To open File Explorer in Windows, you can do any of the following:
- Click on the File Explorer icon in the taskbar (it resembles a folder).
- Press the Windows key + E on your keyboard.
- Right-click on the Start button and select "File Explorer" from the context menu.
Understanding the File Explorer Interface:
- Once you open File Explorer, you will be presented with a user-friendly interface that consists of
several key elements:
Navigation Pane:
- Located on the left side of the window, the navigation pane provides quick access to frequently
used folders, such as Quick Access, This PC (formerly My Computer), Libraries, and Network. It
allows you to easily browse through drives, folders, and subfolders.
Address Bar:
- The address bar displays the path of the currently selected folder or file. You can enter a specific
path or use it for navigation by clicking on the folders in the address bar.
File and Folder View:
- The main area of the File Explorer window displays the contents of the selected folder. You can
view files and folders as icons, a list, details, or thumbnails, depending on your preference.
Ribbon:
- Introduced in newer versions of Windows, the Ribbon is a toolbar located at the top of the File
Explorer window. It provides access to various file management functions, such as copying,
moving, renaming, deleting, and more.
File Operations:
- File Explorer enables users to perform a range of operations on files and folders, including
copying, moving, renaming, deleting, compressing, extracting, creating shortcuts, and changing file
properties.
Search Box:
- Located in the top-right corner of the window, the search box allows you to quickly find files and
folders by entering their names or specific keywords.
Quick Access:
- Quick Access is a feature that provides shortcuts to frequently accessed folders and recently used
files, making it convenient to navigate to your most used locations.
Basic File Operations
- File Explorer provides several fundamental file operations that allow you to manage files and
folders efficiently. These operations include:
Selecting Files and Folders:
- To select a single file or folder, click on it.
- To select multiple files or folders, hold down the Ctrl key and click on each item, or use Shift +
click to select a range of items.
- To select all files and folders within a particular location, use Ctrl + A.
Copying Files and Folders:
- Select the file(s) or folder(s) you want to copy.
- Right-click on the selected item(s) and choose "Copy" from the context menu.
- Navigate to the destination folder where you want to paste the copied item(s).
- Right-click on an empty space in the destination folder and choose "Paste" from the context menu.
- Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + C to copy and Ctrl + V to paste.
Moving Files and Folders:
- Select the file(s) or folder(s) you want to move.
- Right-click on the selected item(s) and choose "Cut" from the context menu.
- Navigate to the destination folder where you want to move the item(s).
- Right-click on an empty space in the destination folder and choose "Paste" from the context menu.
- Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + X to cut and Ctrl + V to paste.
Renaming Files and Folders:
- Select the file or folder you want to rename.
- Right-click on the selected item and choose "Rename" from the context menu.
- Alternatively, you can click on the item once to select it and then press the F2 key on your
keyboard.
- Enter the new name and press Enter to save the changes.
Deleting Files and Folders:
- Select the file(s) or folder(s) you want to delete.
- Press the Delete key on your keyboard or right-click on the selected item(s) and choose "Delete"
from the context menu.
- A confirmation dialog will appear; click "Yes" to proceed with the deletion.
- Deleted files are moved to the Recycle Bin, allowing you to restore them if needed.
Restoring Deleted Files from the Recycle Bin:
- Double-click on the Recycle Bin icon on the desktop to open it.
- Locate the file(s) or folder(s) you want to restore.
- Right-click on the item(s) and choose "Restore" from the context menu.
- The file(s) or folder(s) will be restored to their original location.
Sorting and Filtering Files and Folders
- In File Explorer, you can sort and filter files and folders to quickly locate specific items or organize
them based on various criteria. These features help you manage your files more efficiently. Here's
how you can sort and filter files and folders:
Sorting Files and Folders:
- Open File Explorer and navigate to the folder you want to sort.
- Click on the column header of the attribute you want to sort by (e.g., Name, Date modified, Size).
- Clicking once will sort the items in ascending order based on that attribute. Clicking again will sort
them in descending order.
- For example, if you click on the "Date modified" column header, the files and folders will be sorted
with the most recently modified items appearing at the top.
Filtering Files and Folders:
- Open File Explorer and navigate to the folder you want to filter.
- Locate the search box at the top-right corner of the window.
- Enter the search query or keyword you want to filter by. As you type, File Explorer will display the
matching results in real-time.
- File Explorer provides various filtering options that appear below the search box. You can filter by:
File name:
- Enter the name or part of the name of the file or folder you're looking for.
File type:
- Specify the file extension (e.g., .txt, .docx, .jpg) to display files of a specific type.
Date modified:
- Choose a specific date or a time range to display files modified within that period.
Size:
- Select a file size range to display files falling within that size range.
Other attributes:
- Depending on your Windows version, you may have additional filter options, such as author, tags,
or file contents.
Customizing Folder Views:
- Open File Explorer and navigate to the folder you want to customize the view for.
- Click on the "View" tab in the File Explorer ribbon.
- In the "Layout" section, you can choose different views, such as "Extra large icons," "Large icons,"
"Content," "Details," and more, to determine how files and folders are displayed.
- You can also adjust the icon size using the "Zoom" slider or enable additional panes like "Preview
pane" or "Navigation pane" for more information and functionality.
Creating and Managing Folders
- Creating and managing folders in File Explorer allows you to organize your files and maintain a
structured file system. Here's how you can create and manage folders:
Creating a New Folder:
- Open File Explorer and navigate to the location where you want to create a new folder.
- Right-click on an empty space within the folder or on the folder where you want to create the new
folder.
- From the context menu, select "New" and then "Folder".
- A new folder will be created with the default name "New Folder." Immediately, the name will be
editable, allowing you to rename it to something meaningful.
- Type the desired name for the folder and press Enter to save the changes.
Managing Folders:
Renaming a Folder:
- Right-click on the folder you want to rename.
- From the context menu, select "Rename" or click on the folder once and press the F2 key on your
keyboard.
- Enter the new name for the folder and press Enter to save the changes.
Deleting a Folder:
- Select the folder you want to delete.
- Right-click on the folder and choose "Delete" from the context menu.
- Alternatively, you can press the Delete key on your keyboard.
- A confirmation dialog will appear; click "Yes" to proceed with the deletion.
- Note that deleting a folder will also delete all the files and subfolders contained within it. Exercise
caution while deleting folders.
Moving and Copying Folders:
- Select the folder(s) you want to move or copy.
- Right-click on the selected folder(s) and choose either "Cut" or "Copy" from the context menu.
- Navigate to the destination folder where you want to move or copy the folder(s).
- Right-click on an empty space within the destination folder and choose "Paste" from the context
menu.
- Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcuts: Ctrl + X to cut, Ctrl + C to copy, and Ctrl + V to
paste.
Changing Folder Icons and Attributes:
- Right-click on the folder you want to customize.
- From the context menu, select "Properties."
- In the "Properties" dialog box, you can customize the folder's attributes, such as read-only, hidden,
or archived.
- To change the folder icon, click on the "Customize" tab and then click on the "Change Icon" button.
Select an icon from the available options or browse for an icon file on your computer.
Using Libraries and Quick Access
- Libraries and Quick Access are two features in File Explorer that help you conveniently access and
manage frequently used folders and recently accessed files. Here's how you can utilize Libraries
and Quick Access:
Libraries:
Understanding Libraries:
- Libraries are virtual folders that allow you to organize and access files from multiple locations in a
unified view.
- By default, Windows includes four Libraries: Documents, Pictures, Music, and Videos. However,
you can create custom Libraries based on your needs.
Creating a Custom Library:
- Open File Explorer and navigate to the "Libraries" section in the navigation pane.
- Right-click within the Libraries area and select "New" and then "Library."
- A new Library will be created with the default name "New Library." Immediately, the name will be
editable, allowing you to rename it to something descriptive.
- Right-click on the newly created Library and select "Properties." In the Properties dialog box, you
can add or remove folders to include in the Library.
Adding Folders to a Library:
- Right-click on the Library to which you want to add folders.
- Select "Properties" from the context menu.
- In the Library Properties dialog box, click on the "Add" button and browse to the desired folder
location.
- Select the folder and click "Include folder" to add it to the Library.
Accessing and Managing Files in Libraries:
- Open File Explorer and navigate to the Libraries section.
- Click on the Library you want to access. It will display files and folders from all the locations
included in the Library.
- You can perform file operations, such as copying, moving, renaming, and deleting, directly within
the Library. Any changes made will affect the original file location.
Quick Access:
Understanding Quick Access:
- Quick Access is a section in File Explorer that provides shortcuts to frequently used folders and
recently accessed files.
- It helps you quickly navigate to important folders without having to manually search for them.
Adding Folders to Quick Access:
- Right-click on the folder you want to add to Quick Access.
- From the context menu, select "Pin to Quick Access."
- The folder will now appear in the Quick Access section of File Explorer.
Managing Quick Access Items:
- To remove a folder from Quick Access, right-click on it and select "Unpin from Quick Access."
- You can also drag and drop folders within the Quick Access section to reorder them according to
your preference.
Compressing and Extracting Files and Folders
- File compression is the process of reducing the size of one or more files into a single compressed
file, making it easier to store and transfer them. File extraction, on the other hand, involves
unpacking the contents of a compressed file back into their original form. In File Explorer, you can
compress and extract files and folders using the following methods:
Compressing Files and Folders:
- Select the file(s) or folder(s) you want to compress.
- Right-click on the selected item(s) and choose "Send to" from the context menu.
- In the submenu, select "Compressed (zipped) folder."
- A new compressed folder will be created with the same name as the selected item(s), followed by
the .zip extension.
- You can rename the compressed folder if desired.
Extracting Files and Folders:
- Locate the compressed file (.zip) that you want to extract.
- Right-click on the compressed file and choose "Extract All" from the context menu.
- In the "Extract Compressed (Zipped) Folders" dialog box, specify the destination where you want to
extract the files.
- Click the "Extract" button to begin the extraction process.
- The contents of the compressed file will be extracted to the specified destination folder.
Alternative Method for Extracting Files:
- Double-click on the compressed file (.zip) to open it in File Explorer.
- In the compressed file window, click on the "Extract" tab in the File Explorer ribbon.
- Click on the "Extract All" button.
- In the "Extract Compressed (Zipped) Folders" dialog box, specify the destination folder.
- Click the "Extract" button to start the extraction process.
Additional Notes:
- Compressed files can be easily shared and transferred, as they occupy less space compared to the
original files.
- When you compress multiple files or folders into a single compressed folder, the resulting
compressed file will have the .zip extension.
- You can compress files and folders to formats other than .zip using third-party software or tools
specifically designed for those formats (e.g., .rar, .7z).