Canceling file moves or renames

If you accidentally rename or move a file, click Undo from the Edit menu or press Alt + BackSpace.

Changing column widths in "Details" mode

The following works either in My Computer or Windows Explorer.

1. Click View on the menu bar
2. Click Details
3. You can now readily change the column widths that are displayed:

"My Computer's" Single Window Option

By default, when browsing folders from "My Computer" multiple separate windows will open for each folder. This can be changed to a Single window that changes as you open each folder. Open "My Computer", View|Options|Folders.

Sometimes there'll be times when you'll prefer having a multiple window open (when dragging files/folders, etc.). This can be easily done by holding the CTRL key down when selecting a Folder/Drive.

Closing several Explorer windows at once:

When using "multiple window browse mode" in Explorer, you can close all open Explorer windows by holding down the Shift key while clicking on any available Close ("X" in upper right hand corner of the window) button.

Creating a new folder while saving a file:

1. Click on File, then click on Save AS
2. Click on the Create New Folder icon OR
   Right-click dialog box, point to New, click Folder
3. Name the new folder
4. Double-click the new folder (opens it)
5. Save your file

Custom Folders:

It is possible to put the contents of the Control Panel folder, the Dial Up Networking folder, and the Printers folder on your Start Menu (or any folder of your choosing).

Placing a Shortcut on your Desktop:

1. Click an object (file, folder, program, etc.)
2. Right-click and select Create Shortcut
3. Drag the shortcut icon onto the Desktop (or to a folder)

You can change a variety of settings for the shortcut by right-clicking on it and selecting Properties. You can delete a shortcut by dragging and dropping it on the Recycle Bin. The shortcut will be deleted, but not the object that it was pointing to.

Immediately Delete Files/Folders

You can immediately delete Files/Folders by holding down the Shift key while pressing  the Del key, or by holding down the Shift key while dragging the file/folder to the Recycle Bin.

Consolidate Your Files & Folders

Consolidating your files into a single folder (with plenty of "child" folders) not only makes it easier to locate your date, but also makes backups much easier.

1. Create a new folder at the root of your C: drive called "Data."
2. Create subfolders within Data structured in a way that corresponds logically to a way that will facilitate you retrieving your data (ie. "Home," "Financial," & "Business").
3. Move your data files into your newly created folders.

Total file size of a group

1. Highlight the desired files & folders
2. Right-click and select Properties

Deleting applications

Do NOT simply delete the files associated with an application.  You should always check the Add/Remove Programs applet (in Control Panels) first, and attempt to Uninstall the program if it is listed there.

Failure to do this may cause problems because the Registry will not get properly cleaned up.  You may have to reinstall the application and then uninstall it if you appear to have related problems.

Your Webmaster is  Dave Dockery aka Doc
This page was last edited on 02/03/00