Your computer is like a desk with file drawers. Each piece of work, or file, can be stored in a folder. Folders can be stored in larger folders, which are like the drawers of the desk. It's tempting to store all your files and folders on the desktop where you can see them. But just as with a real desk, the way to avoid clutter is to store most things out of sight, organized so you can retrieve them easily.
Windows XP makes it easy to store files where they make the most sense. For example, place text, image, and music files in the folders titled My Documents, My Pictures, and My Music. Those folders are all easy to find on the right side of the Start menu, and they offer convenient links to the tasks you'll perform most often.
You can view all the accessible files and folders in your computer by opening the Folders directory. Just right-click the Start button and click Explore.