Copy information between files
You can copy or move information (such as text and pictures) between files and programs using a temporary storage space called the Clipboard. The Clipboard isn't visible, so even though you use it to copy and paste information, you never actually see the Clipboard when you do this.

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Move and copy files using drag and drop
A common way to move or copy a file or folder is to select it and drag it to another location. For example, you can drag a file to the Recycle Bin to delete the file, or to a folder to copy or move it to that location.

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What are flicks?
If you have a Tablet PC or touchscreen, you can make gestures called flicks with your tablet pen or finger to quickly navigate and perform shortcuts. There are two types of flicks: navigational (which include drag up, drag down, move back, and move forward) and editing (which include copy, paste, undo, and delete). For example, you can drag up or down on a page, move back or forward in a browser window, or paste an item into a document-all with a flick of your pen or finger.

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Open a file or folder
You can open a file or folder in Windows to perform a variety of tasks, such as editing the information in a file or making a copy of a file or folder. To open a file, you must have a program that is associated with it. Typically, this is the same program that was used to create the file.

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Practice using flicks
If you have a Tablet PC or touchscreen, you can easily perform navigational and editing shortcuts-such as copy, paste, undo, and delete-with a simple flick of your tablet pen or finger. To practice using flicks, complete the Flicks Training.

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How to Manually Sync Your Offline
When you make a network file, or all files in a network folder, available offline, Windows creates a copy of the file or folder on your computer. This is called an offline file. The next time you disconnect from the network, you'll still be able to open, modify, and save the file the same way you would if you were still connected. And when you do connect to the network again, Windows will automatically sync the offline file on your computer with the corresponding file on the network for the latest changes.

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Rip music from a CD
You can use Windows Media Player to copy songs from audio CDs to your computer. This process is called ripping. During the ripping process, the Player makes a copy of each song, stores it on your hard disk as a Windows Media Audio (WMA), MP3, or WAV file, and then adds it to your Player Library.

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Enable or Disable the Use Of Offline Files
If you work with files on a network, you can make the files available offline so you can access them even when your computer is not connected to the network. This is especially useful if you use a laptop to connect to a workplace network. When you make a network file, or all files in a network folder, available offline, Windows creates a copy of the file or folder on your computer. This is called an offline file. The next time you disconnect from the network, you'll still be able to open, modify, and save the file the same way you would if you were still connected. And when you do connect to the network again, Windows will automatically sync the offline file on your computer with the corresponding file on the network to update it.

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Enable or Disable Copy to Clipboard feature in Command Prompt
Command Prompt in Windows 7 allows you to copy text from it to the Clipboard (temporary storage area). The Quick Edit Mode allows you to highlight the text with the help of mouse and then copy the text.

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Why can't I open or copy files from the web?
It's probably because the site that the file comes from has been identified by Windows as potentially dangerous. Windows uses security zones to determine whether or not a site is trusted.

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Burn a CD or DVD in Windows Explorer
If your computer has a CD or DVD burner, you can copy files to a writable disc. This process is called burning a disc. Windows burns discs in the Live File System format or in the Mastered format, depending on which disc format you choose.

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What is genuine Windows?
Genuine Windows is a copy of Windows that's licensed and published by Microsoft. With a genuine copy of Windows, you're eligible to receive the latest updates from Microsoft.

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What is a hidden file?
Although you usually can't see a hidden file, it's an ordinary file in all other respects. You can choose whether a file is hidden or visible by changing its properties. Here's how to do this:

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How do I prevent a file from syncing to a device in Windows Media Player?
If your device syncs automatically with Windows Media Player and you want to exclude a particular file from syncing to the device, you can choose to skip the file. You have several options for skipping files: deleting the file from the device, removing the file from a playlist that automatically syncs to the device, and removing a file that has an error condition.

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Rename a file
One way to rename a file is to open the program that was used to create the file, open the file, and then save it with a different name. However, there's a quicker way:

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Change the properties for a file
File properties are details about a file, such as author names, tags, or the date when a file was last modified. Properties make your files easier to find and organize. For example, you can search for a file by one of its properties. You can also use libraries to arrange files by a property. If you're browsing the Documents library, for example, and you want to see the most recently changed files first, you can arrange the files by the Date modified property.

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Change a picture's file type (file format) using Paint
Although digital pictures come in a variety of file formats, many of the pictures on your computer probably use the common JPEG format. This is the file format most digital cameras use to save good-quality images without creating large files. In addition, many programs can open pictures that are saved in the JPEG format. However, you might have pictures (or drawings) that you want to convert and save as a different type of picture file. When you save a picture in a different format, the original picture isn't replaced; instead, a new picture file is created and saved.

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Windows Media Player sync: frequently asked questions
Here are answers to some common questions about syncing a device in Windows Media Player. What devices can I sync to? What kinds of files can I sync? How do I know which files will sync to my device with automatic sync? Can I copy a file from my device to my computer? What happens if I delete files from my Player Library or the device? Can I stop the Player from starting to sync when I connect my device?

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Codecs: frequently asked questions
Here are answers to some common questions about codecs. What is a codec? Which codecs are included with the Player? Why do I get a message that says my computer is missing a codec? How do I find a codec? What is a DVD decoder? Why can't I play a file at work that I can play at home? I installed a missing codec, but I still can't play the file. Why? How do I tell which codecs are installed on my computer? How do I tell which codec was used to compress a file and what format a file is in? Are codecs and file formats the same?

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Working with files and folders
A file is an item that contains information-for example, text or images or music. When opened, a file can look very much like a text document or a picture that you might find on someone's desk or in a filing cabinet. On your computer, files are represented with icons; this makes it easy to recognize a type of file by looking at its icon.

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Why can't I delete a file or folder?
Here are answers to some common questions about problems you might encounter when deleting files and folders. What might prevent me from deleting a file or folder? What does it mean if I try to delete a file and I see an error that the file is in use? Sometimes after I delete all the files in a folder, the folder still remains. How do I delete the folder?

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Print a document or file
The quickest way to print a document or file is to print using Windows. You don't have to open any programs or change any settings. Watch this video to learn how to print a document or file.

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Find a file or folder
Windows provides several ways to find files and folders. There isn't one best way to search you can use different methods for different situations. Learn: To find a program or file by using the search box on the Start menu; To find a file or folder by using the search box in a folder or library; To find a file by using search filters; To expand a search beyond a specific library or folder.

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Save a file
While you're working with a file in a program, you should save it frequently to avoid losing data unexpectedly due to a power failure or other problems.

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Convert a hard disk or partition to NTFS format
The NTFS file system provides better performance and security for data on hard disks and partitions or volumes than the FAT file system used in some earlier versions of Windows. If you have a partition that uses the earlier FAT16 or FAT32 file system, you can convert it to NTFS.

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Take a screen capture (print your screen)
Sometimes it's easier to show someone what you're seeing on your computer screen instead of explaining it. In Windows, one easy solution is the PrtScn key. When you press it, an image of your screen is copied to the Clipboard. This is called a screen capture or screen shot. To print the screen capture or send it to someone in an e-mail, you'll first have to paste it into Paint or some other image-editing program and save it. Watch this video to learn how to print your screen.

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Prevent changes to a file by setting it to read-only
Setting your important or personal files to read-only can help protect them from unintentional or unauthorized changes. When a file is set to read-only, it can't be changed.

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File and printer sharing: frequently asked questions
Here are answers to some common questions about file and printer sharing in Windows 7. What are the different file sharing options in Windows? How do I share files stored in individual folders? How do I share files stored in the Public folder? How do I share files using a homegroup? What is printer sharing and how do I do it?

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Working with the navigation pane
You can use the navigation pane (the left pane) to find files and folders. You can also move or copy items directly to a destination in the navigation pane.

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Change the program that opens a type of file
If you double-click a file in Windows and it opens in the wrong software program, follow these steps to choose the program you would prefer to use. You can change this setting for an individual file, or you change this setting so Windows opens all files of the same type in the software program you choose.

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Convert a recorded TV file (.wtv) to an older format
When a TV show is recorded in Windows Media Center, it's saved as a Windows Recorded TV Show file with the file name extension .wtv, in the Public Recorded TV folder (usually found at C:\Users\Public). Older versions of Windows used a different file format for recorded TV with the .dvr-ms extension. Files with the .wtv extension aren't supported in previous versions of Windows, as well as some third-party programs. However, you can convert your .wtv files to .dvr-ms files so that they'll play in programs that support the older format.

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What's the relationship between activation and genuine Windows?
Activation pairs your product key with your hardware configuration and helps verify that your copy of Windows hasn't been used on more computers than the Microsoft Software License Terms allow. Usually, you need to activate Windows only once, unless you make a significant hardware change.

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What is activation?
Activation helps verify that your copy of Windows is genuine and that it has not been used on more computers than the Microsoft Software License Terms allow. In this way, activation helps prevent software counterfeiting. The information collected during activation will not be used to contact you.

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Burn a CD or DVD in Windows Media Player
You can use Windows Media Player to copy music, pictures, and videos on your computer to a blank CD or DVD. This process is called burning.

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File sharing essentials
Windows 7 makes it easier than ever to share documents, music, photos, and other files with people at home or at the office. If you're new to file sharing, this article will help you understand why it's useful and-broadly-how it works in Windows 7. Introducing homegroups: easy sharing at home; Sharing with everybody, somebody or nobody; The purpose of permissions; What have I shared?; Public folder sharing.

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Set up a device to sync in Windows Media Player
You can use Windows Media Player to copy music, videos, and pictures from your Player Library to a portable device, such as a compatible MP3 player. This process is called syncing.

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Change settings for ripping music
You can use Windows Media Player to rip (or copy) tracks from your audio CDs onto your computer. After you rip the tracks, they become files on your computer. There are a number of settings that you can customize to make ripping work better for you.

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What is Encrypting File System (EFS)?
Encrypting File System (EFS) is a feature of Windows that you can use to store information on your hard disk in an encrypted format. Encryption is the strongest protection that Windows provides to help you keep your information secure.

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Delete a file or folder
When you delete a file or folder from your hard disk, it's not deleted right away. Instead, it's stored in the Recycle Bin until the Recycle Bin is emptied.

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How do I open a file if I get an access denied message?
If you get a message denying access when you try to open a file, here are some options you can try:

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