Windows Saving Files on a USB Memory Stick or External Drive
Saving files to a USB memory stick or external hard drive is much like saving files into the "Documents" area of your computer. USB memory sticks make it easy to carry your documents or other files with you, and open them in other computers. With cloud based file saves on services such as Drop Box, Ubuntu One and others, the need for carrying files is decreasing. It is important to understand that some businesses and most schools will not allow you to place confidential files on a cloud type service because of potential security of personal information issues. Remember that if you delete a folder or file from a USB memory stick it is gone forever. It does not go to the "Recycle Bin," and it cannot be retrieved. If you are not sure, make a copy of a file from your USB memory stick to your hard drive, and then delete it from your USB memory stick. Do the following activities to save files to a USB memory stick or external drive. There are two headings, so you can hit the letter h to move forward, or Shift h to move backwards. When you are finished move to the link at the bottom of this page titled "BACK" to go to the "Simple Windows Lessons" web page.
1. Connect your USB memory stick or external to a USB port on your computer.
2. Hit the Escape key one time when the box pops up regarding the USB device.
3. Open Word.
4. Type your name.
5. Press Control and the letter s in pre Word 2013, or hit the F12 key in Word 2013 to bring up the "Save As" dialogue box.
6. Type a name for your file.
7. Press and hold down the Shift key and hit the Tab key again-and-again to move to the "Tree View." (be patient and listen to your screen reader!)
8. Press right arrow on the "Computer" item.
9. Down arrow to the name of your USB memory stick or external drive.
10. Right arrow one time.
11. Down arrow to the folder where you want to save the file.
12. Hit the Enter key one time to make the folder active.
13. Press Alt s to save the file and close the "Save As" dialogue box.
14. Press Alt F4 to close Word.
15. Press and hold down the Windows key and hit the letter e to open the Windows File Explorer.
16. Press and hold down the Shift key and hit the Tab key again-and-again to move to the "Tree View."
17. Right arrow on the "Computer" item.
18. Down arrow to the name of your USB memory stick or external hard drive.
19. Hit the Enter key one time to make the USB device active.
20. Hit the Applications key one time.
21. Down arrow to the "Eject" menu item.
22. Hit the Enter key one time, wait about 30 seconds, and remove the USB memory stick or external hard drive from the USB port of your computer.
23. Press Alt F4 to close the Windows File Explorer.
1. Connect your USB memory stick or external hard drive to your computer.
2. Hit the Escape key one time when the box pops up.
3. Press and hold down the Windows key and hit the letter e to open the Windows File Explorer.
4. Press and hold down the Shift key and hit the Tab key again-and-again until you reach the "Tree View." (be patient and listen to your screen reader!)
5. Right arrow on the "Computer" item.
6. Down arrow to your USB memory stick or external hard drive.
7. Right arrow on your USB memory stick or hard drive.
8. Down arrow to the folder where you want to create your document.
9. Hit the Enter key one time to make that folder active.
10. Hit the Tab key again-and-again until you are in the "List View" for the folder you activated. (be patient and listen to your screen reader!)
11. Hit the Applications key one time.
12. Down arrow to, or hit the letter w to go to the menu item titled "New."
13. Right arrow one time on the menu item titled "New."
14. Down arrow to your word processor, or "Text Document," or "Rich Text Document."
15. Hit the Enter key only one time!
16. Type a name for your document.
17. Hit the Enter key only one time and your document is created, named and saved without the need to open the actual word processor! You know where the file is located, and are organized.
18. Shift Tab back to the "Tree View."
19. Up arrow to the name of your USB memory stick or external hard drive.
20. Hit the Enter key one time.
21. Hit the Applications key one time.
22. Down arrow to the menu item titled "Eject."
23. Hit the Enter key one time and wait 30 seconds. Windows will release your USB memory stick or external hard drive.
24. Unplug the USB memory stick or external hard drive from your computer.
25. Press Alt F4 to close the Windows File Explorer.