Xpatech It services and support in barcelona for expats in English Deutsch Español.

From time to time you may need to use the Windows File Explorer, the standard tool for copying and reaing information about files and folders on your PC. Here's a few tips for you that might make looking for and viewing files just that little bit easier.

1. Show all file extensions, and show hidden system files and folders. File extensions are for example, .exe for an executable, .jpg or .jpeg for an image, .doc for a Windows Word document. Windows Explorer by default hides these extensions, no one knows why, because it is important to know what kind of file you are clicking on, so your not clicking on some nasty virus instead of that photo of your mother ... Here are the steps to show all file extensions and view your systems hidden files and folders.

a. Open Windows Explorer, you can do this on any PC by holding down the windows key on the keyboard, and then pressing the letter e. 

b. Go to Tools, and click Folder options.

c. click on the view tab

d. uncheck the box that says "Hide extensions for known file types".

e. Also uncheck "Hide protected operating system file".

f. click the radio button next to "show hidden files and folders. 

2. Finally, it is always easier to view files in detailed viewed, this shows you the size, last modified date, and other useful information.

a. While in Window Explorer, click on the menu item "view", and click on details.

b. to make this the default option for all other folders, click tools, folder options, and on the view tab, click the button "apply to all folders". 

Note: Of course if your viewing images, it is sometims nice to view a thumbnail version before opening the image. If you have one folder with your images, you set the viewing setting for this folder by following the steps above, but choose thumbnail in step a.