Difference Between Windows Explorer and My Computer?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Robert T
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Robert T

I'm a trainer and I usually advise people to use Windows Explorer to
copy/move files and/or organize their hard drive. However, in practice I find
that most end users never heard of Win Explorer, but they are familiar with
My Computer.

Are there any functional differences between them or do they have identical
functionality?

Thanks,
Robert
 
Robert T said:
I'm a trainer and I usually advise people to use Windows Explorer to
copy/move files and/or organize their hard drive. However, in practice
I find that most end users never heard of Win Explorer, but they are
familiar with My Computer.

Are there any functional differences between them or do they have
identical functionality?
Click to expand...

As a trainer you should know that the "My Computer" window is provided
by Explorer.exe (Windows Explorer) and therefore, there is no different
functionality. You can easily check the "My Computer" PID with

"Roadkil's Window Message"
http://www.roadkil.net/winmsg.html
 
Detlev wrote:

[As a trainer you should know that the "My Computer" window is provided
by Explorer.exe (Windows Explorer) and therefore, there is no different
functionality.]

First, I'm not a Windows XP trainer, that isn't my specialized area.

Second, I learned a long time ago that what appears to be obvious isn't
always the case. Therefore, even though they seem identical, I had to wonder
why MS put a My Computer icon on the desktop instead of a Windows Explorer
icon. Was I missing something? I wondered if My Computer did something, or
failed to do something that Win Explorer did.

Once again, if they're identical, why did MS give them 2 different names?

Thanks,
Robert
 
Basically one and the same, but what is displayed when you double click on
the My Computer icon or starting Windows Explorer when using the Start menu
is different.

However if you right click on the My Computer icon and then select
'Properties', 'Manage' or the other options in the list this is where the
difference is.

JS
 
Detlev wrote:

[As a trainer you should know that the "My Computer" window is provided
by Explorer.exe (Windows Explorer) and therefore, there is no different
functionality.]

First, I'm not a Windows XP trainer, that isn't my specialized area.

Second, I learned a long time ago that what appears to be obvious isn't
always the case. Therefore, even though they seem identical, I had to wonder
why MS put a My Computer icon on the desktop instead of a Windows Explorer
icon. Was I missing something? I wondered if My Computer did something, or
failed to do something that Win Explorer did.

Once again, if they're identical, why did MS give them 2 different names?

Thanks,
Robert
Click to expand...

They are not two different applications. Windows Explorer and My
Computer both use the same application but it is the "visual"
displaying that is different.
 
Robert T said:
First, I'm not a Windows XP trainer, that isn't my specialized area.

Second, I learned a long time ago that what appears to be obvious isn't
always the case. Therefore, even though they seem identical, I had to
wonder why MS put a My Computer icon on the desktop instead of a Windows
Explorer icon.
Click to expand...

In contrast to an Explorer icon which can be created on the desktop by a
simple "right click > New" shortcut, the "My Computer" symbol is a shell
*namespace* rather than a simple icon. Usually, namespaces have different
options when applying a right click.
Was I missing something? I wondered if My Computer did something, or
failed to do something that Win Explorer did.
Click to expand...

See above.
Once again, if they're identical, why did MS give them 2 different
names?
Click to expand...

2 different names only? "Explorer.exe" is the Windows *shell* rather than
a simple file manager and therefore, it provides other functions as well
eg. the network places, the recycle bin, the Windows search and more.
 
Therefore, even though they seem identical, I had to wonder
why MS put a My Computer icon on the desktop instead of a Windows Explorer
icon. Was I missing something?
Click to expand...

I share your bemusement, explorer is "must" for mine, yet seems hidden away
after a fresh install.
For years I have used, in the main, ACDSee as my defacto windows explorer
it offers a great batch "rename" ability with wildcards, and when you "move"
or "copy"
ACDSee highlights the destination, explorer does not offer any of these
simple
improvements, and it has been known to move or copy files to an errant
destination.
 
I'm a trainer and I usually advise people to use Windows Explorer to
copy/move files and/or organize their hard drive. However, in practice I find
that most end users never heard of Win Explorer, but they are familiar with
My Computer.

Are there any functional differences between them or do they have identical
functionality?
Click to expand...


Not only is there no difference, they are not even two different
things. "My Computer" is nothing but a name for a particular view of
Windows Explorer.
 
Ken Blake said:
Not only is there no difference, they are not even two different
things. "My Computer" is nothing but a name for a particular view of
Windows Explorer.
Click to expand...

Thanks Ken, that clears it up and summaraizes the gist of this thread in one
sentence. However, I still believe MS shouldn't use 2 names for the same
application. Imagine if they did that with Word, Access, and Excel. Everyone
would be confused.

Robert
 
Robert said:
Thanks Ken, that clears it up and summaraizes the gist of this thread
in one sentence. However, I still believe MS shouldn't use 2 names
for the same application. Imagine if they did that with Word, Access,
and Excel. Everyone would be confused.

Robert
Click to expand...

They do, sort of... Winword.exe, MSAccess.exe, Powerpnt.exe
 
Robert said:
:




Thanks Ken, that clears it up and summaraizes the gist of this thread in one
sentence. However, I still believe MS shouldn't use 2 names for the same
application. Imagine if they did that with Word, Access, and Excel. Everyone
would be confused.

Robert
Click to expand...

Many people say MS Windows when they talk about MS Office, or say
Harddrive when they mean computer case.
 
Thanks Ken, that clears it up and summaraizes the gist of this thread in one
sentence.
Click to expand...


You're welcome. Glad to help.

However, I still believe MS shouldn't use 2 names for the same
application.
Click to expand...


I'm with you entirely. Microsoft should be far more careful in the
names it gives things. The have also created incredible confusion by
giving similar names to dissimilar things. We used to have 75% of the
world (not an accurate number; just a guess) confused between Outlook
and Outlook Express. Now, in Windows Vista, they've renamed Outlook
Express "Windows Mail," which is a step in the right direction, but
they've introduced a new level of confusion between Windows Mail and
Windows Live Mail.
 
=?Utf-8?B?Um9iZXJ0IFQ=?= said:
I'm a trainer and I usually advise people to use Windows Explorer to
copy/move files and/or organize their hard drive. However, in practice I find
that most end users never heard of Win Explorer, but they are familiar with
My Computer.

Are there any functional differences between them or do they have identical
functionality?
Click to expand...

Same thing.
 
I am also an I.T teacher in Pakistan. After searching a lot I have concluded that in older Windows they were two different things. My computer would only gave access to drives and folders and nothing else while the Explorer would allow to manage them like renaming, deleting, copying. But now they are exactly same. Since some users are habitual of the icon "MY COMPUTER" and some are of "WINDOWS EXPLORER" so the manufacturers have retained both otherwise there is no use of it.
 
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