Sams Teach Yourself Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional in 10 Minutes

Sams Teach Yourself Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional in 10 Minutes

By Dorothy Burke and Jane Calabria

Deleting Files and Folders

When you delete files or folders from your hard disk or a network drive, they are removed from their current window and placed in the Recycle Bin. If necessary, you can recover them from the Recycle Bin (see Lesson 11 for more information on the Recycle Bin). However, if the file is on a floppy disk, it doesn't go to the Recycle Bin, so be very sure you want to delete files from a floppy disk.

Caution

Cut and Delete Have Different Results! When you delete a file, text, or item in Windows, you are either deleting it permanently or sending it to the Recycle bin, depending on your Windows default settings. Items that you Cut, using the menu command Cut, the Cut icon found on many toolbars, or the keystroke shortcut Ctrl+X, are sent to the Windows clipboard and retained there until you replace the clipboard contents with something new.

Caution

I Lost All the Files in That Folder! Be careful, too, when deleting folders. If you delete a folder, you're also deleting the contents of the folder. The folder doesn't have to be empty before you delete it, as in MS-DOS. Be sure that you move any valuable files or folders to other locations before deleting a folder. Also know that if you delete a file from a network drive or floppy disk, the file is not placed in the Recycle Bin.

To delete a file or folder:

  1. Select the files or folders to be deleted.
  2. Press the Delete key, click the Delete button on the toolbar, or choose File, Delete from the menu.
  3. A Windows 2000 alert box appears asking if you are sure you want to send the selected files or folders to the Recycle Bin (see Figure 9.2). If you are certain, select Yes. If not, select No and the operation will cease.
    09fig02.gif

    Figure 9.2 If you selected the wrong file, or if you decide to cancel the deletion of a file, click the No button.

Tip

A Quick Way to Delete Files or Folders Drag the file or folder icon from the My Computer window to the Recycle Bin. When Windows 2000 highlights the Recycle Bin, release the mouse button.

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