Managing Files, Folders, and Search Methods

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There are a few significant changes from Microsoft Windows 98 and Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0 that affect the way files and folders are stored, viewed, and accessed in the Windows Explorer user interface for Windows 2000 Professional. This section describes these changes.

My Network Places    My Network Places, which was previously named Network Neighborhood, now provides a comprehensive list of all the shared computers, files and folders, printers, and other resources on the network or networks that a computer connects to.

My Computer    My Computer now lists the storage devices available to the computer and provides access to Control Panel. Control Panel has become the central repository for utilities, such as Network and Dial-up Connections and Scheduled Tasks.

My Documents and My Pictures    The contents of My Documents are stored on a per-user basis. A new subfolder in My Documents, called My Pictures, is the default location for storing graphic images, such as digital camera pictures.

Offline Files and Folders    Users can work on files even if the network resource is unavailable. Changes made to files can be automatically synchronized on the server when the network connection is restored.

System Files Hidden by Default    By default, files with system and hidden attributes do not appear in Windows Explorer windows, such as My Computer. This prevents users from inadvertently deleting or modifying required system files.

Indexing Service    You can search for files and folders based on their content, author, size, or other attributes. Indexing Service is available for files stored on the hard disk drive and shared network drives.

AutoComplete    AutoComplete caches previously typed addresses and file names so that when you begin to type an address or file name, Windows 2000 displays entries similar to what you entered. AutoComplete works throughout the Windows 2000 user interface, including in dialog boxes (such as Run and Map Network Drive ) and in Windows Explorer.