Windows Interface Components

Windows has several ways to interact with it to get a certain job done. You could use Windows Explorer, My Computer, or a command prompt to perform file maintenance tasks. You could open My Network Places to find a file on the network – or use Explorer. This section looks at several different ways you can interface with Windows and what is unique about each method.

Windows Explorer

Windows Explorer is a graphical user interface into the computer to manage and access files and disk drives. It can be opened through the Start Menu:

Additionally, Explorer can be started by Running explorer.exe.

The Windows Explorer debuted in Windows 95 and has been a mainstay of all of the versions of Windows since. The underlying Explorer process controls Windows Explorer, displaying desktop icons, the Start menu, the task bar, and the control panel.

Windows 95 Explorer was very similar to the Program Manager in Windows 3.x. As folders were opened in Windows 95 Explorer, the window size was determined by the number of files in the folder – a folder with 2 files would have a smaller window than a folder with 12 files. If a folder had hundreds of files, it would default to a list style window.

Windows Explorer in Windows 98 was based on Internet Explorer technology which was integrated into the Operating System. Note the addition of an address bar at the top of the window. Additionally, Windows 98 provided the ability to customize the view of folders. Windows 98 also saw the addition of an Active Desktop, allowing a user to add Internet items to the desktop. You could also choose “single click” icons instead of double-click.

Windows 2000 and ME saw the addition of full text searching and a built-in media player application to play media files directly in explorer.

Windows XP added many new features such as the task pane on the left hand side of Explorer. These features were designed to increase productivity in Explorer. Microsoft also changed search functionality in an attempt to make it easier and more useful for users.

Windows XP also added preview functionality in Explorer to see what is in a folder and to preview images directly from Explorer.