1st August 2001

Are you moving or copying that file? Are you certain? Better check! Depending on the source and destination of your drag & drop operation, it might be the reverse of what you thought you were doing. Another one of those Windows Explorer quirks lives in how a determination is made with copying versus moving a file. If you drag & drop a file on the same drive, it will be moved. If you drag and drop a file to another drive, it will be copied. Now here's where it gets confusing. If you want to copy a file to a different location on the same drive, mash the CTRL key while you drag and drop the file. To move a file to another drive, you must hold down the SHIFT key. Confused? Me too, but you can make it easier on yourself by right-clicking and dragging the file or folder... then, when you let go of the mouse button, a handy context menu will pop up, asking whether you want to copy, move, or create a shortcut to the object (or selected series). Simple enough, eh? Don't go moving my heart. "I couldn't if I tried."