Computer Technology Unit

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

How do I copy a file?

To copy a file or folder:

  1. In My Computer or Windows Explorer, click the file or folder you want to copy.
  2. On the Edit menu, click Copy.
  3. Open the folder or disk where you want to put the copy.
  4. On the Edit menu, click Paste.

**Tip To select more than one file or folder to copy, hold down the CTRL key, and then click the items you want.

To copy a file to a floppy disk:

  1. Insert the disk in the floppy disk drive.
  2. In My Computer or Windows Explorer, click the file you want to copy.
  3. On the File menu, point to Send To, and then click the drive you want to copy the file to.

 

How do I create a folder?

To create a new folder:

  1. In My Computer or Windows Explorer, open the folder in which you want to create a new folder.
  2. On the File menu, point to New, and then click Folder. The new folder appears with a temporary name.
  3. Type a name for the new folder, and then press ENTER.

To open a file or folder:

  1. Double-click the My Computer icon.
  2. Double-click the drive that contains the file.
  3. To open a file or folder, double-click it.

**Tips

To change the way files are displayed, try the commands on the View menu.

If the file is on someone else's computer, double-click the Network Neighborhood icon instead of My Computer.

How do I copy a file from my hard drive to my home directory on ACESAG?

Use FTP to transfer files from the ACESAG server to your local hard drive. The ACESAG server is divided into several sections, and each user on ACESAG has an account. The user account allows the person access to a folder on the ACESAG hard drive (or server). This is called the home directory. The home directory is available only to you and the Network administrators. The name of your home directory is the same as your ACESAG userid.

How do I install software?

Usually various software packages have Installation Instructions. And in general, the instructions will direct you to open an install file that will run an installation routine, or direct you to open a setup file that will also run an installation routine. The installation routine may prompt you to enter the folder name for where you want the program installed on your computer. You can designate where you want the program files copied, or you can accept the default location (the folder that the installation routine suggests). Often times, there will be other options available to you. Initially you may be prompted to select either the standard installation (where the program will be installed with the default settings that the developer suggests), or a custom installation (where you will be prompted for individual options).

In summary, the basics of most software programs are that there are program files that will be copied to a program folder. Then, there are data files that should be saved in another folder. There will also be setup and configuration files that need to be modified for your particular system. The setup and configuration may be as simple as indicating your name, and what kind of printer you use. The Windows operating system requires other settings that will be modified, so it is important to un-install programs in Windows if you want to take the program off of your system.

If the software package does not have an installation routine, then it will probably have a file that is self-extracting. That is, if you double-click the file, then it will unzip itself and copy several files into the current folder or a specified folder. This is similar to copying a set of files from a floppy disk to a folder on the hard drive. Winzip is a program that is used a lot for unzipping a compressed file. When you download a single file from the Internet you will more than likely use Winzip to unzip and uncompress the file and thus copy several files to a specified destination.

Software upgrades or updates are often a simple process of copying the files from the source to a destination folder.

RECAP: There is an installation file that the user runs to install the software program, which consists of program files and data files. Program files and data files are stored in separate folders on your hard drive. Your individual PC is different from other PC's so the program often requires a setup. The setup may be very simple, and even automatic. When the installation is complete, you are ready to begin using the application.

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Last Modified on December 8, 1998

Ellen R. Doyle, Information Technology Specialist

ACES Computer Technology Unit