[msch64]

Hello I'm trying to move music file's in my docs folder to sort like Rock,Country and so on into different folders. So I'm doing copy and paste which works fine, but then have to go back to original folder and use my file shredder to get rid of it no need for 2 copies. does anyone know an easier way to do this? Without having to do the file shredding takes to much time. running Win XP Pro on a new Dell desktop any help would be most appreciated.
Message was edited by: rgreen4 to move it to it's own discussion under the Windows heading and changed Subject to gather more attention.

[rgreen4]

msch64 - Welcome to the PC World Community. The discussion in which you asked the question was about an article about the question of hassles, not a thread to answer a variety of questions. I have moved your question to it's own discussion.

You state that you are copying and pasting the files, which of course does leave the original file undisturbed. You then say you go back and shred them.

It would be a simpler matter to Cut and Paste rather than Copy and Paste as when the file is written to it's new folder location, the original location is deleted. Of course behind the scenes, Windows simply changes the folder reference for the original file on the disc and it appears to "move". We must always remember that the directory address we see on the screen based on folders, etc, is not the same as the file location on the disc, so the original file on the disc is not changed, only the reference as to which folder and sub-folder it appears in. This is actually safer than Copy and Paste as then you make a copy of the original file and then delete or shred the original.

[smax013]

rgreen4 said:

This is actually safer than Copy and Paste as then you make a copy of the original file and then delete or shred the original.

I might debate that a bit...



The downside of using cut and paste rather than copy and paste is that if something "goes wrong" along the way, you have a better chance of your file going "poof". With a copy and paste, the original is still there until you delete. If you use cut and paste, while you are 100% correct that the file is not really moved, it IS being "adjusted" in such a way that it is kind of temporarily being "deleted", put in "memory" until you paste, and "reconstituting" once you paste...if sometime happened before you pasted it back, it could get "lost". Now, technically, you are really deleting the "index" location at one spot and putting the "index" location at another spot with the file literally not being really removed or moved from the disk (basically, it is like using white-out to white-out a page number in a book index and write in a new page number for some item in the index).



Your other option is to do it "Mac like" by using drag and drop. With Windoze Explorer open, click on the Folders button. This should display the whole computer file/path structure on the left side of the screen. You should be able to expand folders and literally then drag a file from one folder to another. You can also do this with two Windoze Explorer windows open is just "regular mode". It is basically a cut and paste "graphically".

[msch64]

Hello and thanks for the info, I do intend to buy a 2nd External HD just for my music. once again thanks and this is my 1st time ever posting in these forums so it is new to me.

[msch64]

Thanks for your info, and also this is my 1st time asking for help was not sure where to post my question.

[smax013]

msch64 said:

Hello and thanks for the info, I do intend to buy a 2nd External HD just for my music. once again thanks and this is my 1st time ever posting in these forums so it is new to me.

It should be noted that if you DO go that path, then the file WILL be "deleted" and "moved" with either a cut/paste or copy/paste...you are moving it to a completely different drive. What both [~22087] and I were talking about before assumes moving the files from one location to another location on thesame drive.

[rgreen4]

Also, using the "drag and drop" method between two drives performs a copy function. Using the "drag and drop" between folders on the same drive performs a move function. Drives in this case refers to drive letters.

[msch64]

Hello again and I do get what the both of you explained to me the only reason I am planning on getting the 2nd drive is for backing up my music I plan on having it on my main computers drives. So once again thanks and will take in both of your's advice.

[rgreen4]

We were pointing out that when dragging a file from one location to another behaves differently when you go from drive 1 to drive 2. The external for backups is a good idea.

[msch64]

Thanks to all who replied I figured a very easy way to move my files in 2 clicks I guess 1st click on the file I wnt moved go up to Edit in the explorer click on that and go to the move to, or copy to and I did the move to and it opened up a box where I could chose anyplace in my computer to move it click and it is done so no more file shredding . Somebody over at C/net forums gave me a tutorial link to see how this is done. Iguess I learn something new all the time. I have learned how to use some pretty complicated programs like Nero 8 with no help but still have lots to learn about things in Win XP. anyhow just wanted to mention this and once again thanks for the advice you gave.