What is the purpose of Computer option on the Start menu?

The Computer option enables you to open the Explorer Computer window to view the drives on your computer and manipulate folders and files. The Explorer Computer window works much like the Personal folder. You can cut, copy, paste, rename, and delete folders and files. By selecting the Computer option, you can perform many of the functions you performed by using Windows Explorer in previous versions of the Windows operating system, such as Windows XP.
To access the Explorer Computer window:

1. Click the Start button. The Start menu appears.
2. Click Computer. Computer is located on the right side of the menu. Information about your computer becomes available to you.

Alternatively, you can open the Explorer Computer Window by holding down the Windows Logo key  while typing e (Windows-e).

What is stacking?

To show all the files with a particular property together, you use stacking. For example, you can group all the files by a particular author together.

1. Click the down-arrow next to the property by which you want to stack files. A context menu appears.
2. Click the Stack option at the bottom of the menu. Vista stacks together all the files that have the same property.
3. Click the Stack icon. Vista expands the stack so you can see the files.

What is filtering?

When you filter a folder, you see only the files that have the property for which you are looking. You can filter by any file property. For example, by using a filter, you can view all the files by selected authors. You can apply multiple filters to a single folder. To filter:

1. Click the down-arrow next to a Heading. A context menu appears.
2. Click the property by which you want to filter. For example, if you want to filter by author, click the author’s name. A check mark next to the filter indicates that the property is selected. Vista only displays the files that have the selected properties.
3. Click the down-arrow next to another Heading to filter by that Heading and then repeat step 2.

To remove a filter:

1. Click the down-arrow next to the filtered Heading.
2. Click to remove the check mark next to each filtered property.

What are file properties?

File properties are pieces of information that are associated with a file. For example, Vista automatically saves the date and time each time you modify a file. You can also associate properties with a file. For example, you can place all files associated with sales in a category called sales.

To see a list of the properties you can assign to a file:

1. Right-click a Heading. A list of properties appears.
2. Click More if you do not see the property for which you are looking. The Choose Details dialog box appears.
3. Click to select the properties you want to use. A check mark appears next to selected properties.

You can search for files by entering the property in the Instant Search box. When you click a filename, the file properties display at the bottom of the Explorer window in the Details pane. To change a property listed in the Details pane:

1. Click in the property’s field.
2. Type the property you want to assign.

Will you explain Explorer views?

Views control how Explorer windows display information in the File List. The Views option on the Explorer Command bar provides the following choices: Extra Large Icons, Large Icons, Medium Icons, Small Icons, List, Details, and Tiles.

• Tiles view and Icon views display icons to represent drives, folders, and the contents of folders. You can choose from icons that are large, small, or medium in size.
• List view displays all of the files and folders without displaying the properties.
• Details view displays the filename and associated properties you have selected to display.

To change the view:

1. Click the down-arrow next to Views on the Command bar. A menu appears.
2. Drag the slider to select the view you want.

How do I display the Menu bar?

By default, the Menu bar does not appear. To temporarily display the Menu bar, press the Alt key. To hide the Menu bar, press the Alt key again. You can also choose to display the Menu bar permanently.

1. Click Organize. A menu appears.
2. Click Layout. A submenu appears.
3. Click Menu Bar. A check mark appears next to Menu Bar. The check mark indicates Menu Bar is selected. When Menu bar is selected, the menu bar permanently displays.

Can I add folders and saved searches to the Navigation pane?

You can open the folders and execute the searches on the Navigation pane simply by clicking them. If you have a folder or search you access frequently, you may want to add it to the Navigation pane.

1. Locate the folder or search you want to add.
2. Click and drag the folder or search to the Navigation pane. You can now click the folder name or the search to open the folder.

If you use a saved search frequently, you can also add the search to the Navigation pane by clicking and dragging.

How does the Address bar work?

The Address bar is located in the upper-left corner of an Explorer window. You can use the Address bar to navigate through your folders. To open a folder:

1. Click the arrow next to the folder name. A list of the folders in that folder appears.
2. Click the folder you want to open.

You can move up and down the folder hierarchy (path) by clicking folder names.

Can I save a search?

You can save a search so you can use it again.

1. Create your search.
2. Click Save Search. The Save As dialog box appears.
3. Type the name you want to give your search.
4. Click Save. Vista saves the search in the Searches folder.

To run your search again:

1. Click Searches in the Navigation pane. The Searches folder appears.
2. Double-click the search you want to run. Vista runs the search.

Can I search for files and folders?

To search for a file or even for a word that is contained in a file, use the Instant Search box located in the upper-right corner of your Personal folder:

1. Type what you are searching for in the Instant Search box. As you type, Vista displays the results of the search in the File List.
2. Double-click a filename to open the file.