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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 63.
If you cannot find the file you want to delete, see “Searching for files” on 
page 56.
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 63.
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. 
						

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To empty the Recycle Bin:
1Double-click the Recycle Bin icon on the desktop. The Recycle Bin window 
opens.
2Click File, then click Empty Recycle Bin. Windows asks you if you are sure 
that you want to empty the bin.
3Click Ye s. Windows permanently deletes all files in the Recycle Bin.
Browsing for files and folders
A file or folder that you need is rarely right on top of your Windows desktop. 
It is usually on a drive inside a folder that may be inside yet another folder, 
and so on.
Windows drives, folders, and files are organized in the same way as a real file 
cabinet in that they may have many levels (usually many more levels than a 
file cabinet, in fact). So you usually will have to search through levels of folders 
to find the file or folder that you need. This is called browsing.
To browse for a file:
1In Windows XP, click Start, then click My Computer. The My Computer 
window opens.
- OR -
In Windows 2000, double-click the 
My Computer icon on the desktop. The 
My Computer window opens.
CautionEmptying the Recycle Bin permanently erases any files or 
folders in the bin. These files cannot be restored.
Help and 
SupportFor more information about emptying the Recycle Bin in 
Windows XP, click Start, then click Help and Support.
Type the keyword emptying Recycle Bin in the HelpSpot 
Search box  , then click the arrow. 
						

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2Double-click the drive or folder that you think contains the file or folder 
that you want to find. If you do not see the contents of a folder, click 
Show 
the contents of this drive
 or Show the contents of this folder.
3Continue double-clicking folders and their subfolders until you find the 
file or folder you want.
Help and 
SupportFor more information about browsing for 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. 
						

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Searching for files
If you are looking for a particular file or folder or a set of files or folders that 
have characteristics in common, but you do not remember where they are 
stored on your hard drive, you can use the Search utility to search by:
■Name or part of a name
■Creation date
■Modification date
■File type
■Text contained in the file
■Time period in which it was created or modified
You can also combine search criteria to refine searches.
Files and folders found using this utility can be opened, copied, cut, renamed, 
or deleted directly from the list in the results window. 
						

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Searching for files
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Using the Windows Search utility
To find files and folders using the Search utility:
1In Windows XP, click Start, then click Search. The Search Results window 
opens. Click 
All files and folders.
- OR -
In Windows 2000, click 
Start, Search, then click For Files or Folders. The 
Search Results window opens.
2If you want to search by file or folder name, type in all or part of the file 
or folder name in the name box in the left pane of the window.
■If you type all of the name, Search will list all files and folders of that 
name.
■If you type part of the name, Search will list all of the file and folder 
names containing the letters you typed. 
						

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3Click Search or Search Now. When the search is completed, Windows lists 
the files and folders whose names contain the text that you searched for.
4Open a file, folder, or program by double-clicking the name in the list.
Using advanced search options
Search can find files meeting more criteria than file name. You can narrow your 
search by selecting the search options that you want. You can search by the:
■Date the file was created or modified.
■Size of the file.
■Type of file, such as a program or a text document.
Help and 
SupportFor more information about searching for files and folders 
in Windows XP, click Start, then click Help and Support.
Type the keyword searching in the HelpSpot Search box 
, then click the arrow. 
						

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Working with documents
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Working with documents
Computer documents include word processing files, spreadsheet files, or other 
similar files. The basic methods of creating, saving, opening, and printing a 
document apply to most of these types of files.
The following examples show how to create, save, open, and print a document 
using Microsoft
® WordPad. Similar procedures apply to other programs such 
as WordPerfect, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft Excel.
For more information about using a program, click 
Help on its menu bar.
Creating a new document
To create a new document:
1Click Start, All Programs, Accessories, then click WordPad. Microsoft 
WordPad starts and a blank document opens.
2Begin composing your document. Use the menus and toolbar buttons at 
the top of the window to format the document. 
						

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Saving a document
After you create a document, you need to save it if you want to use it later.
To save a document:
1Click File, then click Save. The Save As dialog box opens.
2Click the arrow button to open the Save in list, then click the folder where 
you want to save the file. If you do not see the folder you want, browse 
through the folders listed below the Save in list.
3Type a new file name in the File name box.
4Click Save.
Help and 
SupportFor more information about saving documents in 
Windows XP, click Start, then click Help and Support.
Type the keyword saving in the HelpSpot Search box 
, then click the arrow.
Save in
list
File
name 
						

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Opening a document
To view, revise, or print an existing document, first you need to open it. Open 
the document in the program that it was created in.
To open a document:
1Start the program.
2Click File, then click Open.
3Click the arrow button to open the Look in list, then click the folder you 
want to open. If you do not see the folder you want, browse through the 
folders listed below the Look in list.
4Double-click the document file name. The document opens.
Help and 
SupportFor more information about opening documents in 
Windows XP, click Start, then click Help and Support.
Type the keyword opening files in the HelpSpot Search 
box  , then click the arrow.
Look in
list 
						

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Printing a document
To print a document, you must have a printer connected to your computer or 
have access to a network printer. For more information about installing or using 
your printer, see the printer documentation.
To print a document:
1Make sure that the printer is turned on and loaded with paper.
2Start the program and open the document.
3Click File, then click Print. The Print dialog box opens.
4Set the print options, then click OK. The document prints.
Help and 
SupportFor more information about printing documents in 
Windows XP, click Start, then click Help and Support.
Type the keyword printing in the HelpSpot Search box 
, then click the arrow.