Creating a folder on desktop

1. Right-click on the desktop
2. Select New → Folder
3. Delete the folder name "New folder" and type your desired folder name

Creating a folder in another folder

1. Click on the folder icon at the toolbar on desktop 
2.  Browse to the folder you wish to create the new folder
3. Right-click in the folder
4. Select New → Folder
5. Delete the default folder name "New folder" and type your desired folder name

Figure: Folder icon

Figure: Desktop toolbar

NOTE FOR STEP 1:  If a folder is already opened, right-click on the folder icon at the toolbar on desktop and select "File Explorer"  

Deleting a folder

Method One

1. Select the folder by placing the mouse cursor on it
2. Press the delete key

Method Two

1. Right-click on the folder
2. Select Delete

Copying a folder

1. Select the folder by placing the mouse cursor on it
2. Press ctrl + c or right-click on the mouse and select copy
3. Browse to where you want to paste the folder
4. Right click in the folder
5. Select paste

NOTE: If the folder names are the same, you would be alerted and you can skip the pasting or replace the folder

Copying multiple folders

1. Select one of the folders by placing the mouse cursor on it
2. Press ctrl and at the same time select the other folders
3. Right-click the mouse and select copy or press ctrl + c

Repeat steps 3, 4 and 5 above

Copying all folders

1. Press ctrl + a to select all the folders

Repeat select 2, 3, 4 and 5 above

Differences between copying and cutting

With copying, the original folder or file remains at it's position and a copy is made to the new destination but for cutting, the folder or file is moved from its previous location to the new destination.

Cutting a folder

The steps for cutting a folder is similar to copying a folder except you choose cut instead of copy when you right-click the mouse after selecting the folder(s).

The shortcut key for cutting is ctrl + x. So pressing the control key(ctrl) and the x key cuts the folder(s).

You can then browse to the destination and paste the folder(s)

Copying a file to a folder

1. Browse to the folder the file is located
2. Select the file by placing the mouse on the file
3. Right-click on the mouse and choose copy or press ctrl + c
4. Browse to the destination folder
5. Right-click in that folder and select paste or press ctrl + v

Copying files at the same location to a folder

1. Browse to the folder the files is located
2. Select one of the files by placing the mouse on the file
3. Press ctrl and while being pressed, select the other files
4. Right-click on the mouse and choose copy or press ctrl + c
5. Browse to the destination folder
6. Right-click in that folder and select paste or press ctrl + v

Cutting file(s) to a folder

The step as the same as copying file(s) to folder except this time you choose cut instead of copy or press ctrl + x instead of ctrl + c

Opening a file

To open a file, you simply double click on the file. Thus clicking on the file twice.

The computer chooses a default software application that can be used to open your file. Sometimes the computer might even choose wrong application for a particular file.

To open a file with your desired software application follow the steps below:

1. Browse to the folder where the file is located
2. Right-click on the file
3. Select open with
4. In the drop down options that follows, select the appropriate software application to open your file.

Figure: Opening file with appropriate software application

Renaming a file

1. Browse to where the file is located
2. Right-click the file and choose rename
3. Delete the old name and type your desired new name

Deleting a file

Method One

1. Browse to where the file is located
2. Right-click on the file and choose delete

Method Two

1. Browse to where the file is located
2. Select the file and press the delete key

Restoring a deleted file/folder

1. Open the recycle bin on the desktop
2. Right-click on the file/folder you wish to restore
3. Select restore to restore the file/folder to the previous location before the deletion.

Figure: recycle bin

Figure: Restore deleted file/folder

Emptying a recycle bin

Method One

1. Right-click on the recycle bin on the desktop
2. Select Empty Recycle Bin

Figure: Emptying a recycle bin

Method Two

1. Open the recycle bin
2. Select all files/folders (Ctrl + a)
3. Delete all the selected files/folders

Figure: Emptying a recycle bin

Transferring folder/file to or from a storage device

1. Connect your external storage device to the computer
2. Identify the new drive at the left side panel or by clicking on This PC icon on the desktop or folder at the left side panel
3. Double click on the external storage device folder to open
4. Browse to the appropriate place you wish to copy the file from (either from the external storage to computer or computer to external)
5. Copy the file(s)/folder(s)
6. Browse to the destination folder you wish to paste the file(s)/folder(s) into (either into the external storage or computer)

Figure: This PC folders/drives without external storage device

Figure: This PC when USB flash drive connected (Removable Disk)

Figure: This PC when phone connected (ALE-L21)

NOTE

Sometimes the file explorer opens automatically when an external storage device is inserted so you can see the connected device.

If the file explorer doesn't open automatically, click on the folder icon at the desktop toolbar or right-click on the folder icon at the desktop toolbar and select File Explorer or open any folder on the computer to open the file explorer. You will then see the connected device.

The computer gives a sound notification when an external storage device is inserted.

You can as well see connected devices in the system tray.

For a phone storage device, you may have to enable file transfer on the phone before the content of the folder may be shown.

Figure: Phone connected as USB

The above figure was obtained when the notifications where displayed. In order to access files from the phone, the Files option must be clicked. If only photos will be accessed then the Photos option can be clicked. Once you choose the option, your phone storage content can be viewed on the computer.

Files can be transferred to the phone as well as copied from the phone.