Common Windows Tasks
Copying, Cutting and Pasting
- Copy file or folder: ctrl + c
- Cut file or folder: ctrl + x
- Paste: ctrl + v
Selecting Many Files
- Hold down the ctrl key, and use the arrow keys to find the files you want to select.
- Press the space bar to select or deselect a file. Remember that the file that was under the cursor
- when you press the ctrl key will also be selected!
Renaming
Renaming One File
- Select the file and press f2, or use the File menu or Application key and choose the “Rename” menu item.
- Type a new name and press “Enter.”
Renaming Many Files
- Select the files, then press f2, or use the File menu or Application key and choose the “Rename” menu item.
- Type a new name and press “Enter.” This name will be used to rename all the files you selected. The first file in the list will be given the name you typed, and the others will have the same name, but with a number in parentheses after it. For example, hello.doc, hello(1).doc, hello(2).doc, and so on.
Deleting
Deleting One File
Select the file and do one of the following:
- press the Delete key or…
- press the Context Menu button, use Up Arrow and Down Arrow to choose the “Delete” menu item, and press Enter.
Deleting Many Files
Select the files and press Delete. The files will be sent to the recycle bin (or you can use the Context Menu key as shown above).
Deleting One File Permanently
Select the file and press Shift + Delete. The file will not be sent to the recycle bin, but permanently deleted from the hard drive.
Deleting Many Files Permanently
Select the files and press Shift + Delete. The files will not be sent to the recycle bin, but permanently deleted from the hard drive.
The Recycle Bin
The recycle bin contains all the files you deleted (unless you press shift + delete). It can occupy 10% of your total hard drive space, before its contents will be automatically deleted.
Emptying the Recycle Bin
- Move to the desktop.
- Find the “Recycle Bin” item.
- Press the application key, and press down arrow until you find the “empty recycle bin” menu item.
- Press enter, and answer “yes” when you are asked whether or not you want to empty the recycle bin.
Restoring a deleted file
- Move to the Desktop.
- Find the “Recycle Bin” item.
- Press enter to open the recycle bin.
- Now you can use the arrow keys to move up and down through the list of deleted files.
- When you find the file you want to restore, press the application key, and find the “restore file” menu item.
- Now press enter, and the file will be restored to where it was when you deleted it.
Go back to the Course Notes page.
