A computer file is a block of arbitrary information, or resource for storing information, which is available to a computer program and is usually based on some kind of durable storage. A file is durable in the sense that it remains available for programs to use after the current program has finished. Computer files can be considered as the modern counterpart of paper documents which traditionally were kept in offices' and libraries' files, which are the source of the term.

A filename is a special kind of string used to uniquely identify a file stored on the file system of a computer. Depending on the operating system, such a name may also identify a directory. Different operating systems impose different restrictions regarding length and allowed characters on filenames.

Many operating systems, including MS-DOS, Microsoft Windows, allow a filename extension that consists of one or more characters following the last period in the filename, thus dividing the filename into two parts: the base name (the primary filename) and the extension (usually indicating the file type associated with a certain file format). The base name and the extension are separated by a dot.

Commonly, the extension indicates the content type of the file, for example,

exe: executable file, txt : text file, pas : pascal source file, cpp : C++ source file. . .

In MS-DOS, Microsoft Windows, you can use wildcards ? and *. ? marks a single character while * Marks any sequence of characters.

Example *.pas : all pascal source files of the current directory , possibly t1.pas, book.pas. . .

b*.cpp : all C++ source files beginning with b.

Structures of Disks

Floppy disk can be single-sided or double-sided. Data is stored on a disk in circular tracks. Tracks are numbered 0, 1. . . Each track is broken up into arcs called sectors. Each sector stores a fixed amount of data. The typical formatting of these media provide space for 512 bytes (for magnetic disks) or 2048 bytes (for optical discs) of user-accessible data per sector.

Figure 1: Track, sector, cluster

Formatting (initializing) a disk

Disk formatting is the process of preparing a hard disk or other storage medium for use, including setting up an empty file system. Formatting a disk includes the following tasks:

Computer file system

In computing, a file system is a method for storing and organizing computer files and the data they contain to make it easy to find and access them. File systems may use a data storage device such as a hard disk or CD-ROM and involve maintaining the physical location of the files, or they may be virtual and exist only as an access method for virtual data.

More formally, a file system is a set of abstract data types that are implemented for the storage, hierarchical organization, manipulation, navigation, access, and retrieval of data.

A typical file system may contain thousands (or even hundreds of thousands) of directories. Directory (catalog, or folder) is an entity in a file system which contains a group of files and/or other directories.Files are kept organized by storing related files in the same directory. A directory contained inside another directory is called a subdirectory of that directory. Together, the directories form a hierarchy, or tree structure.

The first or top-most directory in a hierarchy is the root directory (symbolized by the back slash \)

The current directory is the directory in which a user is working at a given time.

Full name of a file

A full filename includes one or more of these components

An operating system includes several files, for instant, MS-DOS includes MSDOS.SYS, IO.SYS, COMMAND.COM . . .

MS-DOS (short for Microsoft Disk Operating System) is an operating system commercialized by Microsoft. It was the most commonly used member of the DOS family of operating systems and was the dominant operating system for the PC compatible platform during the 1980s. It has gradually been replaced on consumer desktop computers by various generations of the Windows operating system.

MS-DOS employs a command line interface and a batch scripting facility via its command interpreter, COMMAND.COM.

Figure 3: The MS-DOS 6.22 command line interface

Microsoft Windows is the name of several families of software operating systems by Microsoft. Microsoft Windows interest in graphical user interfaces (GUI)

MsWindows are introduced in detail in the next section.

Every operating system need a system of command for managing files and disks. Commonly used types are :

In 1983 Microsoft announced its development of Windows, a graphical user interface (GUI) for its own operating system. Windows 3.0, released in 1990, was a complete overhaul of the Windows environment with the capability to address memory beyond 640K and a much more powerful user interface.

Windows for Workgroups 3.1 was the first integrated Windows and networking package offered by Microsoft.Windows for Workgroups also includes two additional applications: Microsoft Mail, a network mail package, and Schedule+, a workgroup scheduler.

Windows 95, released in August of 1995. A 32-bit system providing full pre-emptive multitasking, advanced file systems, threading, networking and more.Also includes a completely revised user interface.

Windows 98, released in June of 1998. Integrated Web Browsing gives your desktop a browser-like interface.

Windows 2000 provides an impressive platform of Internet, intranet, extranet, and management applications that integrate tightly with Active Directory.

In September 2000 Microsoft released Windows Me, short for Millennium Edition, which is aimed at the home user. The Me operating system boasts some enhanced multimedia features, such as an automated video editor and improved Internet plumbing.

Windows XP-Microsoft officially launches it on October 25th. 2001.XP is a whole new kind of Windows for consumers. Under the hood, it contains the 32-bit kernel and driver set from Windows NT and Windows 2000. Naturally it has tons of new features that no previous version of Windows has.

Windows Vista is a line of graphical operating systems used on personal computers, including home and business desktops, notebook computers, Tablet PCs, and media centersWindows Vista contains hundreds of new and reworked features; some of the most significant include an updated graphical user interface and visual style dubbed Windows Aero, improved searching features, new multimedia creation tools such as Windows DVD Maker, and completely redesigned networking, audio, print, and display sub-systems.

Originally developed as a part of its effort to introduce Windows NT to the workstation market, Microsoft released Windows NT 4.0, which features the new Windows 95 interface on top of the Windows NT kernel.

Windows NT (New Technology) is a family of operating systems produced by Microsoft, the first version of which was released in July 1993. It was originally designed to be a powerful high-level-language-based, processor-independent, multiprocessing, multiuser operating system with features comparable to Unix. It was intended to complement consumer versions of Windows that were based on MS-DOS. NT was the first fully 32-bit version of Windows, whereas its consumer-oriented counterparts, Windows 3.1x and Windows 9x, were 16-bit/32-bit hybrids. Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008 (beta), and Windows Home Server are based upon the Windows NT system, although they are not branded as Windows NT.

Windows XP is the most popular version of Microsoft Windows. Windows provides a graphical interface, through which you can run programs, manage files, connect to the internet, and perform many other task as well.

The Icons

On the desktop we have icons that allow us to open the corresponding program.

For example, by clicking on the icon Internet Explorer will open up.

The windows

All the windows have the same structure;The window above is the one that opens when you click on My Computer. Its structure is very similar to the others.

Figure 5

All the windows are formed by:

The dialog boxes

The dialog box is a small window-like box that opens after an operation has been selected. In it, you select options and settings to tailor the operation before it proceeds.

Figure 6

Text box : a control in which a user can enter texts (or numbers).

List box : a box that contains a list of selectable items. In some instances, you select an arrow button on the right of the box in order to display the selectable items.

Combo box : a combination of a drop-down list or list box and a single-line textbox, allowing the user either to type a value directly into the control or choose from the list of existing options.

Check box : a control that permits the user to make single selection or multiple selections from a number of options. Normally, check boxes are shown on the screen as a square box that can contain white space (for false) or a tick mark or X (for true).

Command Button: A control used to initiate an action. The most common buttons are :

Use the mouse to interact with items on your screen as you would use your hands to interact with objects in the physical world. You can move objects, open them, change them, or throw them away, among other things.

A mouse has a primary and secondary mouse button. Use the primary mouse button to select and click items, position the cursor in a document, and drag items.

Use the secondary mouse button to display a menu of tasks or options that change depending on where you click. This menu is useful for completing tasks quickly. Clicking the secondary mouse button is called right-clicking.

The primary mouse button is normally the left button on the mouse. On a trackball, the primary mouse button is normally the lower button.

You can reverse the buttons and use the right mouse button as the primary button.Most mice now include a wheel that helps you to scroll through documents more easily.

Pointing

Pointing at items on the screen is the most basic mouse function. When instructions tell you to point your mouse at something, move your mouse on your desk until the mouse pointer is pointing at the object on the screen you need to select.

Clicking

After you have pointed your mouse at an item, you can click on the item to select it.

Double clicking

To double-click an item, point at the item and press your primary button twice quickly without moving the mouse. Double-clicking allows two different actions to be associated with the same mouse button. Often, single-clicking selects (or highlights) an object, while a double-click executes that object, but this is not universal.

Drag and drop

to move the item from one place to another using the mouse. Point at the item you need to move, and single click on it. Instead of releasing the mouse button after clicking, hold it down, and move your mouse to where you want to move the item. Release the mouse button to drop the item into place.

Right clicking

Right-clicking an item usually brings up a menu of actions you can take with the item. To right-click, point at an item and press the secondary (right) button on your mouse.

Control Panel allows users to view and manipulate basic system settings and controls, such as adding hardware, adding and removing software, controlling user accounts, and changing accessibility options.

To start the Control Panel, from the Start menu, click on Control Panel. Here is the Control Panel window:

Figure 7

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Configuring the Screen

Configuring the screen is important because sometimes we spend many hours in front of the screen, so we hope it can be the most comfortable as possible.

Open the Display Tool (or right-click somewhere that has no icons on the desktop and select the option Properties from the shortcut menu that is displayed. The Display properties window will appear where we can change the configuration parameters.

Figure 8

Change the background or wallpaper,

Click on the tab labeled Desktop and choose a new background or wallpaper from the list that appears at the bottom left corner. It is also possible to have another image that does not appear on the list as background. Click on Browse... and look for the image you want as long as the format is compatible. For example .bmp, .jpg, .gif.Once the image and type of view have been selected Click OK.

Adding or removing Programs

• Click on the Start button and choose Control Panel
• Click on Add or Remove Programs option, a window will display with the three basic options shown on the left side of the picture as it appears below. Then click on Add New Programs.The window will appear where we can change the configuration parameters.
• Follow the instruction
• The Add or Remove Programs window will appear where we can add, change or remove programs following the instructions..

Figure 9

Changing the Regional and Language Options

You can use the Regional and Language Options tool in Control Panel to customize the way Windows handles dates, times, currency values, and numbers.

To open the Regional and Language Options tool

• Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
• Click Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options, and then click Regional and Language Options.
• To change one or more of the individual settings, click Customize.

Figure 10

To Change the Date In the Customize Regional Options dialog box, click the Date tab to specify any changes you want to make to the short date and the long date.

To Change the Time In the Customize Regional Options dialog box, click the Time tab to specify any changes you want to make.

To Change the Currency Value Display

In the Customize Regional Options dialog box, click the Currency tab to specify any changes you want to make. You can change the currency symbol, the formats used for positive or negative amounts, and the punctuation marks.

To Change the Number Display

In the Customize Regional Options dialog box, click the Numbers tab to specify any changes you want to make. You can change the decimal symbol and list separator, the format used for negative numbers and leading zeros, and the measurement system (U.S. or metric).

The Explorer is an indispensable tool in an operating system, since with it we can organize and control the files and folders of the different storage systems at our disposal such as the hard drive, disk drive, etc.

The Windows Explorer is also known as the File Manager. Through it we can delete, see, copy, or move files and folders.

The Explorer’s window

The explorer consists basically of two sections. On the left side there is the directory tree, which is the list of units and folders that we have. Only units and folders appear, no files. On this image we can see a few folders such as My Documents, aulaclic, ... the My Computer icon, My Network Places and the Recycle Bin.

Figure 11

On the right side there is another section, which will show the content of the folder that we have opened on the left section. This section shows its folders and files. In this case the files that are contained in the folder WinXP appear. Depending on the type of view that we have activated we will see different type of information regarding the files.

Next we will explain the different bars that make up this window.

Figure 12

The standard bar contains the buttons for the most used operations.

If this bar is not visible select from the menu View, the option Toolbars, next select the option Standard buttons.

The Back button will allow us to go to the last page that we have seen. The button next to it, when activated, allows us to move one page forward.

The up button will allow us to go up one level, which means going back to the folder that contains the folder we are working with.

The search button displays a window where we can search for the file we want.

The folders button shows the folder's structure on the left side of the screen, or it can display an area with the most frequent tasks, depending on the file we have selected. In this area we can find, among others, the following buttons:

The last button allows us to change the views on the folders (view details, Thumbnails,...) We'll explain this in more detailed on the next page.

Figure 13

The Address Bar is well known for Internet because it shows the address of the web we are viewing. With Windows Explorer it functions the same way, but it shows the name of the folder we are working with.

If we click on the black arrow it will show the structure with our computer's drives.

If we write a name in the address bar and we click on the green arrow, it will search for this name.

Windows explorer allows us to see the folder's information in different ways or views to facilitate specific searching.

Go to the folder you wish to see:

If you click on the arrow of the button a menu with the following options will appear:

Figure 14

Tiles. The files and folders are shown with large images with the name, file type and size in KB; if it is a picture file the size is shown in pixels. The elements are organized one next to the other from left to right.

Icons. The files are represented with an icon smaller than a tile. The only information shown is the name of the file. This type of icon is used when the selected folder has an average quantity of elements.

List. Shows small icons, one below the other, so it's easier to search by name. On this view, only the name of the file or folder appears.

Details. Icons are shown one below the other, with some of their properties. This type of display is used when we want to find an element with certain characteristics, such as size, file type, date of modification, etc.

With this type of view we can organize the elements by size, modification date, name, etc.

For example, to organize by the modification date it is enough to click on the box Date Modified, and it will arrange the files by date from greater to lesser. If we click on it again it will arrange it from lesser to greater. The older dates are considered lesser.

On the views List or Details the elements appear one below the other and in the case of deleting or adding, the elements will reorganize themselves.

Thumbnails . A small representation of the content will appear with the format of the image, such as jpg., jpeg., bmp., gif., etc.

Filmstrip. This view is only available for images. On the bottom part a strip will appear with the images in thumbnail format and on the top we will see a larger representation of the image selected on the bottom.

To run a program on Windows, you would do the following steps:

Before Windows was created, the most common operating system that runs on PC was DOS. Though Windows does not run on DOS, they do have something called the command prompt, which has a similar appearance to DOS.

Figure 15

To use the command prompt you would type in the commands and instructions you want and press enter.

The recycle bin provides a safety net when deleting files and folders. When you delete any of these items from your hard disk, Windows places it in the Recycle Bin. Items deleted from a floppy disk or a network drive are permanently deleted and are not sent to the Recycle Bin.

Items in the Recycle Bin remain there until you decide to permanently delete them from your computer.

To delete or restore files in the Recycle Bin

On the desktop, double-click Recycle Bin.Do one of the following: