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Managing Files

  • Dec 25, 2006
This chapter is from the book

This chapter is from the book

Absolute Beginner's Guide to Microsoft Windows VistaAbsolute Beginner's Guide to Microsoft Windows Vista

Learn More Buy

This chapter is from the book

This chapter is from the book

Absolute Beginner's Guide to Microsoft Windows VistaAbsolute Beginner's Guide to Microsoft Windows Vista

Learn More Buy

Copying Folders and Files

In addition to moving folders and files, you can also copy files or folders. You might want to keep an extra copy of files or folders. Rather than use a backup program (covered in Chapter 17), many users simply copy files or folders to create a backup copy. As another example, you might copy files to a floppy disk or a CD, for instance, to share with others or to bring home from your office.

Windows Vista provides several methods for copying files and folders. If you want to copy folders to other folders, consider using the Copy command. If you want to copy files or folders to another drive, consider using the Send To command, both covered in this section.

Copying with the Copy Command

To copy a file or folder, follow these steps:

  1. Right-click the file(s) you want to copy and click Copy.
  2. Navigate to the folder where you want to place the copy.
  3. Right-click a blank area of the window and click Paste.
  4. The file is copied to the new location.

CAUTION

Because reading files from an optical drive is slower, don't use this as a primary storage device. However, use it for big files you want to keep. It's a great way to make a backup copy of important files. Also, note that some audio discs created on CD-RW drives can't be read in some conventional CD players. The same is true of recordable DVDs and conventional set-top DVD players.

Copying Files to a CD or DVD

Virtually all new and recent computers include a writable CD or DVD drive. Because these drives can hold lots of information (DVDs hold over six times as much data as a CD), it makes a good medium for making a copy of files you want to save. Copying files to a CD or DVD is often called "burning." To burn to one of these optical disc drives you need a disc of the appropriate type. Disc types you're likely to encounter include:

  • CD-R (a recordable disc that you can only write data to once)
  • CD-RW (a rewritable disc that you can erase and burn again)
  • DVD-R and DVD+R
  • DVD-RW and DVD+RW

TIP

You can use this same process to copy a file to a floppy disk or any of the folders or drives listed on the Send To menu.

If you have a read-only (ROM) CD or DVD, you can read only information from the drive; you cannot record information.

To copy files or folders to a disc, follow these steps:

  1. Select the file(s) or folder you want to copy.
  2. Right-click the selected item(s), select Send To, and then select your CD or DVD drive from the submenu.
  3. When prompted, type a title for this disc and then click Next. The files are copied to the media.

TIP

Drives can often read and write at different speeds. If you find that your discs are not burning properly, you can display the Recording speed drop-down list and select a slower speed to try and overcome the problem.

The Absolute Minimum

This chapter provides the basics of file management, including the following concepts:

  • You have at least one hard drive on your system, and this is the C: drive. You might have additional drives, lettered consecutively.
  • To view the drives, folders, and files on your computer, open the Computer icon. You can then navigate and open any of the drives and folders on your system.
  • You can open the preset folders that Windows creates including the Documents, Pictures, and Music folders.
  • To keep your files organized, you can create folders. You can create new folders as needed.
  • When you want to perform an action on a file (such as delete it), you select it. You can select a single file, multiple files, or all files within a window.
  • Delete files you no longer need. If you delete a file by accident or find that you really do need it, you can undo the deletion by retrieving the item from the Recycle Bin.
  • If you did not use a descriptive name for a file or a folder, you can rename it.
  • If you need to change the location where a file or folder is stored, you can move the file(s) or folder.
  • You can copy your folders or files to keep an extra copy, or to move a copy of a file(s) or folder to another location.

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