Difference Between Windows Explorer and My Computer?

R

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
 
D

Detlev Dreyer

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?

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
 
R

Robert T

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
 
J

JS

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
 
S

smlunatick

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

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.
 
D

Detlev Dreyer

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.

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.

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

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.
 
R

rod

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 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.
 
K

Ken Blake, MVP

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?


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.
 
R

Robert T

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.

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
 
R

RA

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

They do, sort of... Winword.exe, MSAccess.exe, Powerpnt.exe
 
B

Bob I

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

Many people say MS Windows when they talk about MS Office, or say
Harddrive when they mean computer case.
 
K

Ken Blake, MVP

Thanks Ken, that clears it up and summaraizes the gist of this thread in one
sentence.


You're welcome. Glad to help.

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


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.
 
P

Plato

=?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?

Same thing.
 
Joined
Jul 20, 2015
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
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.
 

Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments. After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.

Ask a Question

Top