How to Organize an Electronic Filing System

Choose what files you want to organize., Choose a location for the filing system., Create a new folder., Add subfolders to your main folder., Move the files into the new folders., Backup your organized files.

6 Steps 2 min read Medium

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Step 1: Choose what files you want to organize.

    To select multiple files that are listed together in Windows Explorer, click the first file you want to select and then hold ⇧ Shift and click the last file.
  2. Step 2: Choose a location for the filing system.

    Windows has default main folder names such as My Documents, My Pictures, and My Music or you can choose where to create the folder. , This folder will serve as your filing cabinet, holding other organized subfolders.

    In Windows Explorer, right click where you want to create the folder.

    Click New .

    Click Folder .

    The folder name New Folder is highlighted.

    Type the folder name you want to use.

    Press ↵ Enter. , Double-click the main folder name to open that folder.

    In the same way you created the main folder, create subfolders to organize your files. , You can open two versions of Windows Explorer side by side and then drag files from the original location to the new folder. , Use Windows Backup to regularly copy them to an external hard drive or to a cloud server.

    If your computer hard drive fails, you can use your backup to restore the files to a new hard drive.

    Click Start.

    In the search box, type Backup.

    Click Backup and Restore.

    Click Set up backup and follow the steps in the wizard.
  3. Step 3: Create a new folder.

  4. Step 4: Add subfolders to your main folder.

  5. Step 5: Move the files into the new folders.

  6. Step 6: Backup your organized files.

Detailed Guide

To select multiple files that are listed together in Windows Explorer, click the first file you want to select and then hold ⇧ Shift and click the last file.

Windows has default main folder names such as My Documents, My Pictures, and My Music or you can choose where to create the folder. , This folder will serve as your filing cabinet, holding other organized subfolders.

In Windows Explorer, right click where you want to create the folder.

Click New .

Click Folder .

The folder name New Folder is highlighted.

Type the folder name you want to use.

Press ↵ Enter. , Double-click the main folder name to open that folder.

In the same way you created the main folder, create subfolders to organize your files. , You can open two versions of Windows Explorer side by side and then drag files from the original location to the new folder. , Use Windows Backup to regularly copy them to an external hard drive or to a cloud server.

If your computer hard drive fails, you can use your backup to restore the files to a new hard drive.

Click Start.

In the search box, type Backup.

Click Backup and Restore.

Click Set up backup and follow the steps in the wizard.

About the Author

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Olivia Ramos

Writer and educator with a focus on practical DIY projects knowledge.

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