Windows Explorer / File Management / Right Clicking

Windows Explorer
To open Windows Explorer, click Start/Programs/Accessories/Windows Explorer
A '+' symbol indicates that you can expand that drive or folder.
In Windows XP, 'My Documents' is actually a shortcut to "Documents and Settings\[user name]\My Documents"

In Windows Explorer, click View and make sure 'Status Bar' is checked.

This will enable a status bar at the bottom of the window that provide information about file type, date modified, and size.

Clicking Tools/Folder Options in Windows Explorer allows you to configure how files and folders are viewed and opened.  Click the View tab.  I suggest that you make the following changes.
  • Display filesize information (check)
  • Hide extensions (UNchecked)


Click the 'File Types' tab.  This is where you can change the programs associated with different file types. To do so, click on a file type and click 'Change'.  Then, select the program you want to use to open that kind of file.  If it is not listed, you can click browse and find the programs executable file (most likely in the 'Program Files' folder).

Right Clicking - 'When in doubt, Right Click!'

Using the right mouse generally provides you with a list of options that are available for  a given situation.  If you click in 'blank' space and select new, you can choose which kind of new file to create.

If you select 'Arrange Icons', you can choose how you would like to sort folders or files being viewed.  If you click 'View', you can choose different ways to display files and folders (i.e. icons, details, list, etc.)

Right clicking when using a broswer provides you with a number of different options depending whether you click on an image, a link, or regular text. The wording of options will vary depending on which broswer you are using.

When right clicking on a link, you will see..


When Right Clicking a linked image you will see...


and when clicking regular text , you might  see options like these...