Help Desk: Organizing Your Computer: File Management

In Windows 8, what is the first image you see on your display?

A. The Start screen

What do the different letters like A: and C: seen when File Explorer is opened refer to?

A. These are drives, the first component of the hierarchical structure of drives, folders, subfolders, and files organized by Windows. The C drive is the hard drive.

If I have many files related to one topic, can they all have the same name?

B. No. Every file in the same folder or storage device must be uniquely identified.

How can you view the contents of your folder in Icons view, which shows the contents of folders as small images?

B. You can easily get an overview of your files and folders by using File Explorer.

Why are the letters at the end of file names (like .docx) needed?

C. The letters that follow the period at the end of a file name are the file's extension. This enables the computer to know what application it should use to read the file.

In Windows 8, what do you find on the Start screen?

On the Windows 8 Start screen, you will find tiles representing your most used applications.

JILL: Another thing: My friend says you can't get a file back once you've deleted it on a PC unless you have a special utility program. Is that true?

That's correct! Files deleted from the hard drive go to the Recycle Bin, where they stay until you permanently delete them. To restore files from the Recycle Bin, click Restore all items from the Task pane in the Recycle Bin dialog box.

JILL: Another question: How can I see more than one Windows 8 app on my screen at a time?

That's correct. If you right-click on a thumbnail on the Switch list and select Insert right (or Insert left), the app will be snapped into place on the corresponding side of the screen. Alternatively, you could display the Switch list click and drag the thumbnail of the second app you want to display to the left or right side of the screen.

JILL: Can you tell me, what's the best way for me to get an overview of what files and folders I have on my PC? HELPDESK: Sure. I'm sure there's something on our community forum discussion boards to help you understand this better.

That's right! If you use a Windows PC, File Explorer is the program that helps you manage your files and folders by showing the location and contents of every drive, folder, and file on your computer.

JILL: Do you have any other tips about what I should or shouldn't do when I name files?

That's right! Jill needs to remember to name her files so that no two files stored on the same device or folder share both the same file name and the same extension. The other options also offered good suggestions.

JILL: Are there different ways I can view and sort my files and folders? Right now I have them showing the file names and when I saved them, but a friend of mine had hers set up so all her photos came up as mini-photos. Can I do that on my computer?

That's right! Jill will want to use Large Icons view to show the contents of a folder as small images.

HELPDESK: Hi. How may I assist you? JILL: I need help. I just bought a computer that has Windows 8 installed and I can't find the desktop.

That's right! One way for Jill to access the Windows 8 desktop is by pressing the Windows key+D. She can also access the desktop via the Desktop tile on the Start screen.

JILL: Ok, I have File Explorer open, and I see my drives and folders. What does the one labeled C: drive mean?

That's right! The C drive is the hard drive, where most files are permanently stored. Jill may have additional drives depending on whether she has storage devices like a flash, CD, or DVD drive installed in her computer.

JILL: Why is it that the ends of all the files I work in end in .docx or .pptx or something?

That's right! The letters that follow the period at the end of a file name are the file's extension, which tells the computer what application it should use to read the file.

Can I get back an important file if I accidentally delete it?

This will depend on where the file was. If the deleted file was from your hard drive, it would go to the Recycle Bin. Files that are located in the Recycle Bin can be restored.