Download Lab 1 – Using the File System through Windows Explorer

CFY- Operating Systems
Lab 1 – Using the File Management System in
Windows 7
Topics being covered:
1. File System: Windows Explorer file management system
2. Drives: or specifically a drive letter assigned for each storage device
3. Directories/ Folders: files are organized into folders (also called directories)
4. File operations: operations which can be performed on files
5. File attributes: characteristics that describe a file
6. Directory/folder operations: operations that can be performed on folders/directories
7. Paths: route through the file system
8. Shortcuts: Desktop and keyboard shortcuts
9. Other File Managers: what other file managers are available?
It is important that you complete this and other lab sheets even though you feel you are
familiar with Windows 7.
Use the Help option in Windows 7 and the internet to find out information on doing the following
tasks. Complete each task and record the answers (in your own words). This completed
sheet will then be useful for later use.
File System:
The file system is the most visible part of the OS.
Users use the file system to store (on disk) and access their files.
Windows Explorer is the file management system in Windows 7.
The file system comprises of two parts

A collection of files

A directory/folder structure
A sample file system can be seen on the next page:
Lab Sheet 1: File Systems
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CFY- Operating Systems
Drives:
The hard disk management function of the operating system assigns a letter (drive letter) for each
storage device that the operating system can see.
Looking at the local machine, find out the following:
What is the drive letter for the local disk (hard disk)? …………………………
What is the drive letter(s) for the CD/DVD drive(s)? …………………………
What is the drive letter for your network account in the college system? .......................................
What is the drive letter for your exam account in the college system? .......................................
Use the File Manager to navigate through the folders and files stored on the computer.
Directories/Folders
are used to organize files on the drives in a manageable way. Windows 7 uses a hierarchical directory
structure.
What is a hierarchical directory structure (file system)?
............................................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................................
Lab Sheet 1: File Systems
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CFY- Operating Systems
Finish the diagram on the right which depicts the layout of the Weekly directory structure:
C:
Task 1:
Create the following directory structure in the root directory of your G: drive:
G:
Company Accounts
Sun Systems
Dell Systems
Files
Inventory
Backup
Inventory
File operations : Create, Open, Delete, Save
List 3 other operations which can be performed on files
………………………………………….…………………………………………………
Lab Sheet 1: File Systems
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CFY- Operating Systems
File attributes: properties which describe a file.
Filename, File extension, File size… name others
………………………………………….…………………………………………………
Directory/Folder operations : Create, Open, Delete
List 3 other operations which can be performed on folders
………………………………………….…………………………………………………
Task 2:
Create a Word document called InventoryDetails and save it to the Inventory directory in
the Dell Systems folder.
Create an Excel Document called Cost Details and save it to the same directory.
What extensions do these two files have? File extension is an example of a file
attribute/property.
……………………………………………………………………
File extensions are not shown by default in Windows 7. To view the file extensions of
files you must change one of the settings in the Folder and search options.
Click on the G: drive as we are
changing the folder viewing
options on that drive. Choose
the Organize menu and choose
the Folder and search options.
Lab Sheet 1: File Systems
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CFY- Operating Systems
Choose the View tab on the
Folder Options Window. Untick
the box to show file type
extensions. File extensions are
hidden by default.
File size is another attribute. What is the file size of each of the two files?
……………………………………………………………………
Task 3:
Open the saved files and make changes to them.
Take a copy of the files and copy them to the folder called Backup. File copy is an
example of a file operation.
Rename the folder Files in the Dell Systems folder to All Files. This is an example of a
directory operation.
Task 4:
Delete the folder called Backup.
Can you delete it when it contains files? ………………….
Move the folder called All Files to be a sub directory of Sun Systems. This is an example
of another directory operation.
Lab Sheet 1: File Systems
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CFY- Operating Systems
Task 5:
What is the recycle bin used for?
……………………………………………………………………………….………
………………………………………………………………………………….……
Paths
A Path is a route from one point in a directory structure to another point in a directory structure.
For example: using the diagram on page 3, the full or absolute path to the file called Monday
Report is:
G:\reports\weekly\Monday Report.txt
Task 6:
What is the full or absolute path of the folder All Files?
……………………………………………………………………………….………
What is the full or absolute path of the file Cost Details?
……………………………………………………………………………….………
What are the full or absolute paths to the two folders called Inventory?
……………………………………………………………………………….………
……………………………………………………………………………….………
Task 7:
View the contents on the G: drive.
There are a number of views available for viewing the contents.
List 5 of them:
……………………………………………………………………………….………
………………………………………………………………………………….……
Which view are you looking at now? ………………………………………………
Change to Tiles view.
Change to Large icons view.
Change back to original view.
Lab Sheet 1: File Systems
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CFY- Operating Systems
Task 8:
Sort the contents of the G: drive in alphabetical order of name.
Shortcuts:
Desktop : usually represented by an icon, is a small file that points to a program, folder,
document, or Internet location. Clicking on a shortcut icon takes you directly to the object to which
the shortcut points.
Keyboard: a set of one or more keys. That when triggered by the user will invoke some
operation.
i.e. What happens when CTRL+ALT+DEL are pressed together? ............................................
Task 9:
Create a shortcut to the SunSystems folder and place it on the desktop.
What is a shortcut used for? ………………………………………………………….
How did you do this?
……………………………………………………………………………….………
………………………………………………………………………………….……
Create a shortcut to the file InventoryDetails and place it on the desktop.
Task 10:
Create a keyboard shortcut to the file InventoryDetails.
What is a keyboard shortcut? ………………………………………………………
How did you do this?
……………………………………………………………………………….………
………………………………………………………………………………….……
Task 11:
Checking properties of a drive.
What capacity has the C: drive on your machine? ………………………………………
How much space is used? …………………………………………………..
How much free space is there? ……………………………………………..
Repeat the same for your G: drive.
Lab Sheet 1: File Systems
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CFY- Operating Systems
Other file managers:
The Windows Explorer File Manager comes automatically with Windows 7 but it is not the only
file management software that can be used with Windows 7.
Google search the names of some others which might be useful.
1.
2.
3.
Task 12:
Download another file manager software package called CubicExplorer from the
internet and get it working on the computer.
Is this a suitable file manager for Windows 7? …………………………………..
Is this software useful, more useful than Explorer?
……………………………………………………………………………….………
………………………………………………………………………………….……
Task 13:
Remove all installed software- UnInstall it.
Record how you did this.
……………………………………………………………………………….………
………………………………………………………………………………….……
Lab Sheet 1: File Systems
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CFY- Operating Systems
Overview Questions:
Q1. Find 2 picture files on the internet. What are their names, extensions and size ?
File 1:
…………………………………….……
File 2:
…………………………………….……
Copy these two picture files to the folder All Files in the Sun Systems folder.
Rename the two picture files to Picture1 and Picture2.
Move the two picture files to the folder Sun Systems.
Name file attributes that you have used here: …………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………….……
Name the file operations used here: ………………………………………….………
………………………………………………………………………………….……
Q2. Sort the contents of the C: drive in order of date starting with the oldest.
Record how you did this.
……………………………………………………………………………….………
………………………………………………………………………………….……
Q3. Create the following directory structure in the root of the C drive in the File Manager.
C:\
Personal
Photos
Letters
Q4. Write down the absolute path to the folder Photos………………………………………………
Q5. Create a text document called Result.txt in the folder Letters.
Write down the absolute path to the file Result.txt ………………………………………………
Q6. Create a keyboard shortcut for this file Result.txt. The keyboard combination Ctrl+Shift+Y should
open the file.
Lab Sheet 1: File Systems
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