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3Click a file or program to open it.
Help and 
SupportFor more information about the Windows XP Start menu, 
click Start, then click Help and Support.
Type the keyword Windows Start menu in the HelpSpot 
Search box  , then click the arrow. 
						

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Using the desktop
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Adding icons to the desktop
You may want to add an icon (shortcut) to the desktop for a program that you 
use frequently.
To add icons to the desktop:
1Click Start, then click All Programs.
2Right-click (press the right touchpad button) the program that you want 
to add to the desktop.
3Click Send To, then click Desktop (create shortcut). A shortcut icon for that 
program appears on the desktop.
Help and 
SupportFor more information about desktop icons in Windows XP, 
click Start, then click Help and Support.
Type the keyword desktop icons in the HelpSpot Search 
box  , then click the arrow. 
						

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Identifying window items
When you double-click the icon for a drive, folder, file, or program, a window 
opens on the desktop. This example shows the Local Disk (C:) window, which 
opens after you double-click the 
Local Disk (C:) icon in the My Computer window.
Minimize MaximizeClose Title bar
Menu bar 
						

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Identifying window items
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Every program window looks a little different because each has its own menus, 
icons, and controls. Most windows include these items:
Window item Description
The title bar is the horizontal bar at the top 
of a window that shows the window title.
Clicking the minimize button reduces the 
active window to a button on the taskbar. 
Clicking the program button in the taskbar 
opens the window again.
Clicking the maximize button expands the 
active window to fit the entire computer 
display. Clicking the maximize button again 
restores the window to its former size.
Clicking the close button closes the active 
window or program.
Clicking an item on the menu bar starts an 
action such as Print or Save.
Help and 
SupportFor more information about windows in Windows XP, click 
Start, then click Help and Support.
Type the keyword window in the HelpSpot Search box 
, then click the arrow. 
						

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Working with files and folders
You can organize your files and programs to suit your preferences much like 
you would store information in a file cabinet. You can store these files in folders 
and copy, move, and delete the information just as you would reorganize and 
throw away information in a file cabinet.
Viewing drives
Drives are like file cabinets because they hold files and folders. A computer 
almost always has more than one drive. Each drive has a letter, usually Local 
Disk (C:) for the hard drive and 3½ Floppy (A:) for the diskette drive. You may 
also have more drives such as a DVD or recordable CD drive.
To view the drives on your computer:

In Windows XP, click Start, then click My Computer on the Start menu.
- OR -
In Windows 2000, double-click the 
My Computer icon on the desktop.
Drives 
						

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Working with files and folders
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To see the files and folders on a drive:

Double-click the drive icon. If you do not see the contents of a drive after 
you double-click its icon, click 
Show the contents of this drive.
Creating folders
Folders are much like the folders in a file cabinet. They can contain files and 
other folders.
Files are much like paper documents—letters, spreadsheets, and pictures—that 
you keep on your computer. In fact, all information on a computer is stored 
in files.
Help and 
SupportFor more information about files and folders in 
Windows XP, click Start, then click Help and Support.
Type the keyword files and folders in the HelpSpot 
Search box  , then click the arrow.
Folders
Files 
						

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To create a folder:
1In Windows XP, click Start, then click My Computer on the Start menu.
- OR -
In Windows 2000, double-click the 
My Computer icon on the desktop.
2Double-click the drive where you want to put the new folder. Typically, 
Local Disk (C:) is your hard drive and 3½ Floppy (A:) is your diskette drive. 
If you do not see the contents of the drive, click 
Show the contents of this 
drive
.
3If you want to create a new folder inside an existing folder, double-click 
the existing folder. If you do not see the contents of the folder, click 
Show 
the contents of this drive
 or Show the contents of this folder.
4Click File, New, then click Folder. The new folder is created.
5Type a name for the folder, then press ENTER. The new folder name appears 
by the folder icon.
For information about renaming folders, see “Shortcuts” on page 79.
Help and 
SupportFor more information about creating files and folders in 
Windows XP, click Start, then click Help and Support.
Type the keyword creating files and folders in the 
HelpSpot Search box  , then click 
the arrow. 
						

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Working with files and folders
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Copying and moving files and folders
The skills you need to copy and move files are called copying, cutting, and pasting.
When you copy and paste a file or folder, you place a copy of the file or folder 
on the Windows clipboard, which temporarily stores it. Then, when you decide 
w h a t  f o l d e r  y o u  w a n t  t h e  c o p y  to  g o  i n  ( t h e  destination folder), you paste it there.
When you cut and paste a file or folder, you remove the file or folder from its 
original location and place the file or folder on the Windows clipboard. When 
you decide where you want the file or folder to go, you paste it there.
To copy a file or folder to another folder:
1Locate the file or folder you want to copy. For more information, see 
“Viewing drives” on page 64 and “Searching for files” on page 72.
2Right-click (press the right touchpad button) the file or folder that you 
want to copy. A pop-up menu opens on the desktop.
3Click Copy on the pop-up menu.
4Open the destination folder.
5With the pointer inside the destination folder, right-click.
6Click Paste. A copy of the file or folder appears in the new location.
ImportantThe clipboard stores whatever you cut or copy until you cut 
or copy again. Then the clipboard contains the new 
information only. Therefore, you can paste copies of a file 
or folder into more than one place, but as soon as you copy 
or cut a different file or folder, the original file or folder is 
deleted from the clipboard. 
						

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To move a file or folder to another folder:
1Locate the file or folder you want to move. For more information, see 
“Viewing drives” on page 64 and “Searching for files” on page 72.
2Right-click (press the right touchpad button) the file or folder that you 
want to move. A pop-up menu opens on the desktop.
3Click Cut on the pop-up menu.
4Open the destination folder.
5With the pointer inside the destination folder, right-click.
6Click Paste. The file or folder you moved appears in its new location and 
is removed from its old location.
Help and 
SupportFor more information about copying files and folders or 
moving files and folders in Windows XP, click Start, then 
click Help and Support.
Type the keyword copying files and folders or moving 
files and folders in the HelpSpot Search box 
, then click the arrow. 
						

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Working with files and folders
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Deleting files and folders
When you throw away paper files and folders, you take them from the file 
cabinet and put them in a trash can. Eventually the trash can is emptied.
In Windows, you throw away files and folders by first moving them to the 
Windows trash can, called the Recycle Bin, where they remain until you decide 
to empty the bin.
You can recover any file in the Recycle Bin as long as the bin has not been 
emptied.
To delete files or folders:
1In My Computer or Windows Explorer, click the files or folders that you 
want to delete. For instructions on how to select multiple files and folders, 
see “Shortcuts” on page 79.
If you cannot find the file you want to delete, see “Searching for files” on 
page 72.
2Click File, then click Delete. Windows moves the files and folders to the 
Recycle Bin.
To recover files or folders from the Recycle Bin:
1Double-click the Recycle Bin icon. The Recycle Bin window opens and lists 
the files and folders you have thrown away since you last emptied it.
2Click the files or folders that you want to restore. For instructions on how 
to select multiple files and folders, see “Shortcuts” on page 79.
3Click File, then click Restore. Windows returns the deleted files or folders 
to their original locations.
Help and 
SupportFor more information about deleting files and folders in 
Windows XP, click Start, then click Help and Support.
Type the keyword deleting files and folders in the 
HelpSpot Search box  , then click 
the arrow.