Using the checkbox feature in Windows Vista and Windows 7

Do you know how you have to hold down the CTRL key to select multiple files in Windows? Of course you do, it’s basic Windows. If you know what we mean, then you also know that if you don’t keep the CTRL key pressed down while selecting all the files, and let go of the CTRL key, even for a second, you have to start all over again. That means re-selecting that long list of files you just spent 15 minutes selecting before you messed up.

And since we’ve now had the privilege of working on hundreds and hundreds of computer with our Cloudeight Direct Computer Care service, we’ve notice that many of you are not taking advantage of a great feature in Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8, that makes it much, much easier to select multiple files.  Yep, it’s true. It’s called checkboxes.  And you can turn on checkboxes in the Windows Explorer interface so that you can simply select files by checking a box. Using checkboxes  makes it much easier to select the files you want to select, any number of files, in a row or randomly. It’s much easier than using the Ctrl key. It really is.

Here’s how to turn on the checkboxes features in Windows Vista and Windows 7:

1. Open Windows Explorer (Press the Windows key + E or click or open your start menu and click “Computer”)

2. Click on the Organize button at the top left of the Explorer interface

3. Select Folder and Search Options from the next menu and choose the View tab

4. Scroll down and you’ll see the option “Use check boxes to select items“. Check that option and then click Ok.

You should now see check boxes at the top-left of a folder whenever you hover over it. There you go! A great way to select multiple files in Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8.