Windows Explorer, also known as File Explorer in recent versions of Windows, is an essential component of the Windows operating system. It provides a graphical interface for accessing and managing files and folders on your computer. This article will guide you through the basics of using Windows Explorer, customizing its interface, and executing some useful commands via Command Prompt (CMD) to enhance your file management experience.

Navigating Windows Explorer:

1. Opening Windows Explorer:

   • You can open Windows Explorer by clicking on the folder icon in the taskbar or by pressing Windows + E on your keyboard.

2. Basic Interface:

   • The interface consists of the Ribbon, Navigation Pane, Address Bar, and the main file/folder view area.
   • The Ribbon provides quick access to common tasks such as copying, pasting, and creating new folders.
   • The Navigation Pane on the left allows you to quickly access different locations like Quick Access, OneDrive, This PC, and Network.

3. Using the Address Bar:

   • The Address Bar shows your current location in the file system. You can type a path directly into the Address Bar to navigate to a specific folder.

Customizing Windows Explorer:

1. Changing Folder Options:

   • Go to the View tab in the Ribbon and click on "Options" to open Folder Options.
   • Here, you can customize settings such as opening items with a single click, showing hidden files, and managing how folders are displayed.

2. Adding Quick Access Shortcuts:

   • You can add frequently used folders to Quick Access by right-clicking on a folder and selecting "Pin to Quick access."

Executing Commands via CMD:

1. Opening CMD in a Specific Folder:

   • Navigate to the desired folder in Windows Explorer.
   • Click on the File menu in the Ribbon, hover over "Open Windows PowerShell," and select "Open Windows PowerShell as administrator" to open CMD in that directory.

2. Basic CMD Commands:

   • Listing Files and Directories:

     dir

     Use the dir command to list all files and directories in the current folder.

   • Changing Directories:

     cd folder_name

     Use the cd command followed by the folder name to change directories.

   • Creating a New Directory:

     mkdir new_folder

     Use the mkdir command to create a new directory.

   • Copying Files:

     copy source_file destination_folder

     Use the copy command to copy files from one location to another.

   • Deleting Files:

     del file_name

     Use the del command to delete a file.

Examples:

• To navigate to the Documents folder and list all files:

  cd %USERPROFILE%\Documents
  dir

• To create a new folder called "Projects" in the Documents directory:

  mkdir %USERPROFILE%\Documents\Projects

• To copy a file named "report.docx" from Documents to the Projects folder:

  copy %USERPROFILE%\Documents\report.docx %USERPROFILE%\Documents\Projects