1. Managing Files In Windows XP My Computer Versus Windows Explorer

2. My Computer Vs. Windows Explorer 2 Access My Computer Double Click on the My Computer icon on the desktop Icon opens into My Computer Window

3. My Computer Vs. Windows Explorer 3 The My Computer Window Shows storage devices on your computer –May look different on your own computer Control panel controls other settings on your computer

4. My Computer Vs. Windows Explorer 4 My Computer Showing 1 Drive

5. My Computer Vs. Windows Explorer 5 Pros and Cons of Using My Computer Pros More intuitive than Windows Explorer Limits display to one drive or folder per My Computer window Easier to use if copying/moving files within same drive or between drives and folders Cons Less efficient if you have more than one My Computer window open –Open each folder in succession

6. My Computer Vs. Windows Explorer 6 Access Windows Explorer Right click once on the Start button on the Windows Desktop Point to Explore Left click once to open Windows Explorer

7. My Computer Vs. Windows Explorer 7 The Windows Explorer Window Left pane shows drives and/or folders Right pane shows folders and/or files

8. My Computer Vs. Windows Explorer 8 Interpreting Folder Icons +  Folder +  in left pane contains more subfolders not displayed until folder is selected

9. My Computer Vs. Windows Explorer 9 Interpreting Folder Icons -  Open folder -  in left pane –Subfolders in left pane –Subfolders and files appear in right pane

10. My Computer Vs. Windows Explorer 10 Interpreting Folder Icons  A closed folder  with no + or - indicates there are no subfolders present

11. My Computer Vs. Windows Explorer 11 Interpreting Folder Icons  An open folder  with no plus (+) or (-) to the left indicates no subfolders Files will appear in right pane if they exist in folder

12. My Computer Vs. Windows Explorer 12 Pros and Cons of Explorer Window Pros Left pane shows multiple drives or folders Hierarchical Easy to tell if a folder has subfolders Ultimately more flexible Cons More sophisticated Takes a while to learn