File Management Presented by the MCNPL Computer Lab

File Management Presented by the MC-NPL Computer Lab 1 Class Lesson Plans available at: www. mc-npl. org/class-resources

What is a File? • A collection of related information that the computer keeps together in one object. • Like a typed document you might find in a filing cabinet. • Examples: – Text documents (letters, tax forms) – Spreadsheets (finances) – Digital Photos (every picture you take is stored in a file) – Music (every song is stored in a file) 2

Different Kinds of Files • Files we Create – Word documents – Spreadsheets – Photographs • Program Files – Contains the computer code used to run a program (“exe” files) • Support Files 3 – Used by Program Files for displaying icons and playing sounds.

Where are Files stored? • Hard Drive – Located inside the computer – Main storage location – Contains files you create, program files, and support files • Removable Storage – Can be easily ejected from the computer – Examples include flash drives and CDs 4

Common Windows Folders 5

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Slide mechanism 8 Plug this into the side of the monitor

Open programs showing on the Taskbar 9

You can remove your flash drive. Make sure ALL windows are closed and try again! 10

Root of Flash Drive Personal Folder Business Folder 14

Tip: Deleting from the hard drive would offer two active options on the dropdown list (pictured below). The button proper would carry out whichever option is at the top of the list. In the case imaged below, the deleted item would be recycled because the “Recycle” option is at the top of the list. There is also an opportunity to activate a confirmation of recycling. In the image, the option to Show recycle confirmation has not been enabled. Clicking on that option would enable it. 15

Storage Sizes 1 byte or 1 B The smallest amount of measurable space. A single letter in a text file uses 1 byte of storage space. 1 kilobyte or 1 KB 210 bytes (1, 024 bytes) An email takes 10 -15 KB. 1 megabyte or 1 MB 220 bytes (1, 024 kilobytes) A song takes 4 -5 MB. A high resolution photo takes 4 -5 MB 1 gigabyte or 1 GB 230 bytes (1, 024 megabytes) Our flash drives hold 2 GB. A Blu-ray movie takes 25 -50 GB 1 terabyte or 1 TB 240 bytes (1, 024 gigabytes) Many new computers today come with hard drives that can hold 1 TB. 16