How to use Windows Explorer
Windows Explorer is an application built into Windows which allows one to manage and browse the contents of their computer.  Typically, Windows Explorer looks like this…

… and can be accessed by looking under Start > Programs > Accessories.

Taking a look at the appearance of Windows Explorer, we see that it is composed of two panels, one on the left and one on the right.  The left panel, which is also know as the Folder Bar, shows all accessible disks and drives and displays them like branches on a tree.  By expanding a folder in the left pane it will cause a sub list (of any subfolders) to appear and become accessible also.  This is demonstrated in the image below.

Note that the only real difference between opening Windows Explorer rather than simply My Documents or My Computer is the default appearance of Windows Explorer, which is much more detailed. Also, keep in mind that the majority of the mini-tutorials demonstrated in this article will recommend using Windows Explorer, thought the same effect can be achieved in any file / folder browsing application (such as My Documents).

Windows also has a variety of different option concerning how files and folders are displayed.  There are pros and cons each one, and in most cases, the display mode is strictly personal preference.  One may change this settings by clicking on the View button at the top of the window or Right-Clicking on an area of empty space within the window.  By doing so, a new menu will appear with the ‘View’ options.  Of the various view modes, all display the file / folder name and are represented with a icon, which corresponds to the type of file (such as the Microsoft Word icon for Word Documents).  Here’s a synopsis of the five view modes of Windows XP:

• Thumbnails:  This options displays all files and folders with a large preview icon.  This can be helpful when browsing through pictures but won’t help much if there is no image to display.  Of all the display options, this one is by far the slowest because the computer has to retrieve and develop each individual thumbnail.


• Tiles:  This option displays all the files and folders with a medium sized icon, and the name of the file / folder.  For images and music files, other information such as the resolution or record name are also shown.


• Icon:  This option displays a medium sized icon and the name of the file / folder.


• List:  This option displays a small icon and the file or folder name.  Of all the view modes, this is quickest and my personal favourite.


• Details:  Like its name implies, this option display a small icon, the file name, the size of the file, the type of file, and much more.  One may also customize the various details which are shown by clicking anywhere along the ‘details’ bar and placing check marks next to the properties you wish to view.

While browsing files and folders in Windows Explorer it may be convenient to change the order in which the objects are displayed.  In Windows XP, this is referred as how the icons are arranged and there are four ways of displaying icons: by name (alphabetically), by size, by type, and by the date modified.  These options can be accessed in this manner: Right-Click in an area of empty space. On the pop up menu, click on Arrange Icons By and allow the sub menu to appear. Choose the mode in which you want the files and folders to be displayed. The mode that is currently selected will be represented with a black dot beside it. If you choose to arrange the icons by clicking on the option which is already chosen it will reverse the order in which the icons are displayed.  For example, if the icons are displayed by Name from A to Z and you choose to display them by name again, they will appear in reverse order (from Z to A).