To explore your computer’s storage system, you can use the Computer window as a convenient entry point.

You have already seen evidence of this link system with the icons on the desktop and the links on the Start menu, but links are also used in other key components of Windows 7, which we will explore here and in other topics of this book.įor more information about browsing drives and networks, See 'Sharing Files on Your Network' in Chapter 3, “Manage Your Network”

You don’t even have to know precisely where things are stored, because Windows 7 provides a system of links that you can use to navigate directly to its settings and tools, to programs, and to certain classes of information. However, you don’t have to browse to find the programs, tools, and information you need in your daily work. This navigation process is called browsing. You can navigate through the folder hierarchy on each drive, displaying the contents of folders within folders until you find the file you want. For information about working with hardware, see Chapter 12, “Set Up Hardware Devices.” Windows Explorer also displays the hardware devices (such as monitors, printers, and cameras) connected to your computer-both directly and over a network.