Select multiple files or folders

Applies to all editions of Windows Vista.
Which edition of Windows Vista am I using?

There are several ways to select multiple files or folders.

Open the folder that contains the files or folders you want to select.

Select the files or folders using any one of these methods:

•	To select a consecutive group of files or folders, click the first item, hold down the SHIFT key, and then click the last item.
•	To select a consecutive group of files or folders without using the keyboard, drag the mouse pointer to create a selection around the outside of all the items you want to include.
•	To select nonconsecutive files or folders, hold down CTRL, and then click each item you want to select.
•	To select all of the files or folders, on the toolbar, click Organize, and then click Select All.

To cancel the selection of individual items within a selected group, hold down CTRL, and then click the items that you don't want to include.

To select multiple files or folders without using the keyboard

You can set up Windows to display check boxes next to files and folders. This gives you the option to select files without having to press keys on your keyboard, and helps ensure that you won't accidentally lose your file selection if you click the wrong location.

1.	Open Folder Options by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking Appearance and Personalization, and then clicking Folder Options.
2.	Click the View tab.
3.	Select the Use check boxes to select items check box, and then click OK.

If you want to clear your selection and start again, click a blank area of the folder window.
You can perform many common tasks, such as copying, deleting, renaming, printing, and compressing files, by right-clicking the selected item and then clicking the appropriate choice.