Thank You, Joan

Dear Joan,

I have a few suggestions for you to try. While there is no actual keyboard shortcut for a new folder in Vista (There is in Windows 7) there are a number of ways to make the process of creating a new folder easier.

First, if you are using an explorer window (even if you are creating a shortcut on your desktop, you can view it in an explorer window quite easily)
Just click on, “Organize” in the command bar, then click on “New Folder” which is the first option under the Organize button.

Second, you can use your keyboard to navigate the context menu that you have described.

Right-Click to display the context menu, then using the arrow keys on your keyboard, press the down arrow repeatedly until you have highlighted the “New” menu, the press the right arrow key once to open the submenu. “Folder” should automatically be highlighted, but you can use the up or down arrow keys to highlight it, if needed. When “Folder” is highlighted, just press the “Enter” key on your keyboard to select it.

You can use the arrow keys to navigate any menu in windows this way, it is often easier than hovering with the mouse.

To get to your desktop folder, just click on “Start”, then type the word “Desktop” in the search box.

Press the down arrow key until the desktop folder is highlighted, then press the “Enter” key on your keyboard.

For those readers who are already using Windows 7, there is a handy keyboard shortcut that you can use to create a new folder. First, click once in the location where you want your new folder to be, even if it is the desktop. Then, just hold down the Shift and Ctrl keys (located in the lower-left corner of your keyboard) and tap the letter N.
A new folder will instantly appear.

Elizabeth

It’s Your Turn: What do you think?
…. Share your experience in the comments box below.

Thanks, Dan

__–__

Dear Dan,

I have a few suggestions for you to try. While there is no actual keyboard shortcut for a new folder in Vista (There is in Windows 7) there are a number of ways to make the process of creating a new folder easier.

First, if you are using an explorer window (even if you are creating a shortcut on your desktop, you can view it in an explorer window quite easily)
Just click on, “Organize” in the command bar, then click on “New Folder” which is the first option under the Organize button.

Second, you can use your keyboard to navigate the context menu that you have described.

Right-Click to display the context menu, then using the arrow keys on your keyboard, press the down arrow repeatedly until you have highlighted the “New” menu, the press the right arrow key once to open the submenu. Folder should automatically be highlighted, but you can use the up or down arrow keys to highlight it, if needed. When “Folder” is highlighted, just press the “Enter” key on your keyboard to select it.

You can use the arrow keys to navigate any menu in windows this way, it is often easier than hovering with the mouse.

To get to your desktop folder, just click on “Start”, then type the word “Desktop” in the search box.

Press the down arrow key until the desktop folder is highlighted, then press the “Enter” key on your keyboard.

For those readers who are already using Windows 7, Just use this keyboard shortcut:

Ctrl + Shift + N

Hold down the Ctrl key and the Shift key, and tap the letter N.

Elizabeth

Thank You, Carol

Dear Carol,

There are several ways you can change the name of a folder, and these methods work in all versions of Windows.

1. Right click on the folder and from the list that drops down, click on “Rename”. Type the new name for the folder and press enter.

2. Click once on the name of the folder, wait one second and click again. The name will change to blue highlighted text in a box. Type your new name and click anywhere in the window.

3. Click once on the folder and press the F2 key. (The function keys are in the very top row of your keyboard) This highlights the name of your folder and you may type the new name and press enter.

Elizabeth

Dave

Dear Dave,

Yes, you can set up any of the available views as the default view for all folders. Here is how:

Open a folder on your computer. For this example, I clicked on “Start” and then “Documents” or “My Documents”.

Set your view to “Details” by clicking on “View” or “Views” and then click “Details”.

In Windows XP, click on “Tools” and then “Folder Options” in the menu bar.

In Vista, press the “Alt” key on your keyboard to display the menu bar, then click on “Tools” and “Folder Options”.

In the “Folder Options” window, click on the “View” tab.

The top section of the “View” page, click on the button that says “Apply to Folders” in Vista, or “Apply to all Folders” in XP.

This will apply your “Details” setting for the Documents folder to all your other folders.

Click the “OK” button at the bottom of the window to save your changes and close the window.

Elizabeth

Thanks, Peter

Dear Peter,

Most versions of Windows do not allow you to password protect individual folders.

There are, however, software program that you can install on your computer that will allow you to password protect individual files and folders. I have not tried any of them, but I have read good things about this free program:

AxCrypt File Encryption for Windows
AxCrypt is the leading open source file encryption software for Windows. It integrates seamlessly with Windows to compress, encrypt, decrypt, store, send and work with individual files.

http://www.axantum.com/AxCrypt

Elizabeth

Thank You, Carol

Dear Carol,

There are several ways you can change the name of a folder, and these methods work in all versions of Windows.

1. Right click on the folder and from the list that drops down, click on “Rename”. Type the new name for the folder and press enter.

2. Click once on the name of the folder, wait one second and click again. The name will change to blue highlighted text in a box. Type your new name and click anywhere in the window.

3. Click once on the folder and press the F2 key. (The function keys are in the very top row of your keyboard) This highlights the name of your folder and you may type the new name and press enter.

Elizabeth