Multiple files or folders can be selected at one time using different techniques in Windows Vista.  Mastering these techniques can save you a lot of time when moving or deleting multiple files at once.

Select All Files At Once

Using Edit: Let’s say you’re browsing your my documents folder and you want to select all the files in the folder you’re in, click the Alt key on the right side of the space bar on your keyboard.  You’ll notice a menu pop-up towards the top of the window.  Click Edit, and click Select All.  All the files in that folder will be highlighted.

Keyboard Shortcut:  While you’re in the folder you want to select all the files in press CTRL+A on your keyboard to select all files and folders.

Mouse: Click with the left mouse button at the top left of the window and while holding down the left mouse button drag the cursor to the bottom right of the window.

You can also click the first file in the list, then hold down the Shift key on your keyboard and click the last file in the list.

Select Certain Files

Let’s say you want to select only certain files in a folder.  This can be done by holding down the CTRL key on your keyboard and while holding down the CTRL key click each file you want to select with your mouse.

If the files you want to select are together in a section press the Shift key on your keyboard and while holding down the Shift key click the file at the beginning of the section of files you want to copy and then select the last file in the section of files you want highlighted.  The files between the first and last file you highlighted will be selected.