Whether you
want to rename a file, make a copy of a file, move several files to a
new location, or delete some files, you first have to select the file
or files so that Windows 7 knows exactly the ones you want to work with.
Although you learn specifically about selecting files in this section, the technique for selecting folders is exactly the same.
Select a File
SELECT A SINGLE FILE
1 Open the folder containing the file.
2 Click the file.
SELECT MULTIPLE FILES
1 Open the folder containing the files.
2 Click the first file you want to select.
3 Press and hold 
and click each of the other files you want to select.
SELECT A GROUP OF FILES
1 Open the folder containing the files.
2 Position the mouse 
slightly above and slightly to the left of the first file in the group.
3 Click and drag the mouse down and to the right until all the files in the group are selected.
SELECT ALL FILES
1 Open the folder containing the files.
2 Click Organize.
3 Click Select all.
• Windows Explorer selects all the files in the folder.
NOTE
A quick way to select all the files in a folder is to press 
.
How do I deselect a file?
To deselect a single file from a multiple-file selection, press and hold and click the file you want to deselect.
To deselect all files, click an empty area within the folder.
To reverse the selection — deselect the selected files and select the deselected files — press 
, click Edit, and then click Invert Selection.
