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COPYING FILES FROM ONE PART OF THE COMPUTER SYSTEM TO ANOTHER |
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Finding the files you want to move and the place to put them Moving/ copying the files once both windows are open Click with the mouse and cut or copy by dragging the mouse. Copy/move one file Copy/move several files Copy/move all files Copy/move almost all files |
Click with the mouse and cut or copy using the drop down menu Copy/move one file Copy/move several files Copy/move all files Copy/move almost all files
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At times, you may want to copy files for several reasons. You may want to: make a copy to give some files (information/ music/ pictures) to someone else on a floppy disk. copy files so you have a backup in case your hard drive fails. copy files from a disk someone gave you to your hard drive. copy files from an external source such as a camera. |
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Finding the files you want to move and the place to put them |
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The easiest way to do so is to have two windows open at the same time and do the work while looking at both of them side by side. I would suggest first opening the window where you want your information to be stored. See Creating Folders if you don't know how. The place where you are going to put your information may be within a folder on your computer called "MY DOCUMENTS." Within that folder are subfolders for files, pictures, music, etc. Or you may want to put it somewhere else. If you don't know where you want it to go or where it is at now, start out by double clicking on "MY COMPUTER." From there you will see a list of drives and folders. If you are looking for a floppy, you will usually see that listed as Floppy A. If you are looking for a camera that is plugged in, that will normally be either "MY DIGITAL CAMERA" or "REMOVABLE DISK." Double click on one and see if there are any subfolders. Many times there are several subfolders that you will need to go through until you find what you are looking for. Just keep looking until you find it. When you do, leave it open so you can see the files you want to copy. This is a good time to adjust the size of your window so it uses up either the left or right half of the screen. See Adjusting the size of your window if you don't know how. Now do the same thing looking for the place that the files you want to copy are located. Once you have both windows located pretty much side by side, determine which files or folders you want to move. You can move them several different ways. Choose the way that seems easiest to you.
NOTE: If you are moving files within one disk drive the files will normally move from one place to another. They will no longer be in the original place. If you are going between drives it will copy the files. If you are concerned about moving things by accident that you only meant to copy, click here for the failsafe instructions. After you understand your computer better, you will find the other methods below easier. |
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Moving/ copying the files once both windows are open (There are 2 basic ways of doing this. One is by dragging the mouse, and the other is by using the drop down menu.) |
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| Copy/move one file | |
| The most efficient way is to "grab then with the mouse. Usually you can either right or left click on it (only once) and drag it to the place you want it to go and let go of the mouse button. | |
| Copy/move several files | |
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If you are moving several files you can grab them as a group by clicking the mouse at the bottom right of one of the files you want to copy/move and dragging the mouse upward and then to the left until you see them highlight. Try it a few times until you get the hang of where you need to start. Then drag them to where you want them to go. Another way to grab files is to click on one with your mouse and then hold down the "CONTROL" key while you click on other files you want to move or copy. |
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| Copy/move all files | |
| If you want to move/copy all the files in a folder, then first click on "EDIT" on the upper left, then click "SELECT ALL." That will highlight all the folders and files in that window. You can then grab them all by clicking and holding down your mouse button on any of the highlighted files and then drag them all to the other window. Another way to grab files is to click on one with your mouse and then hold down the "CONTROL" key while you click on other files you want to move or copy. If you want to move all but one or two files... | |
| Copy/move almost all files | |
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If you want to move/copy almost all the files in a folder, then first click on "EDIT" on the upper left, then click "SELECT ALL." That will highlight all the folders and files in that window. Hold down the Ctrl key. Then click with your mouse on the ones you do not want copied/moved. You will see that they are no longer highlighted. You can then grab the ones you want by clicking and holding down your mouse button on any of the highlighted files and then drag them all to the other window. |
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Click with the mouse and cut or copy using the drop down menu |
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| Copy/move one file | |
| Another way yet is to right click on the file you want to copy. Then click on copy to copy it or cut to move it. Move the mouse to the place where you want the files to go and right click again. Click on paste. | |
| Copy/move several files | |
| If you want to move/copy several of the files in a folder, click on one of them, hold down the Ctrl Key and keep clicking on the ones you want to move until all the ones you want to move are highlighted. Then right click on any of the files. Then click on copy to copy it or cut to move it. Move the mouse to the place where you want the files to go and right click again. Click on paste. | |
| Copy/move all files | |
| If you want to move/copy all the files in a folder, then first click on "EDIT" on the upper left, then click "SELECT ALL." That will highlight all the folders and files in that window. Then right click on any of the files. Then click on copy to copy it or cut to move it. Move the mouse to the place where you want the files to go and right click again. Click on paste. | |
| Copy/move almost all files | |
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If you want to move/copy almost all the files in a folder, then first click on "EDIT" on the upper left, then click "SELECT ALL." That will highlight all the folders and files in that window. Hold down the Ctrl key. Then click with your mouse on the ones you do not want copied/moved. You will see that they are no longer highlighted. Then right click on any of the highlighted files. Then click on copy to copy it or cut to move it. Move the mouse to the place where you want the files to go and right click again. Click on paste. |
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