What is the purpose of “Explorer” on a computer, and where is it located?

What is Windows Explorer?

Before we deal with the question of what “Explorer” is intended for on a computer, let’s find out what kind of program it is at its core.

In general, by and large, this application is generally considered to be a file manager, in other words, a tool for viewing the contents of hard drives and logical partitions, removable media in the form of optical drives and USB devices, as well as a fairly powerful tool for managing all this content .

But if this was the case in older Windows systems, over time the program became more and more improved and began to transform into a tool for performing specific operations and even setting system parameters. That is, it became possible to access, for example, the “Control Panel” and all its components or view information about the computer system.

So, if we consider this topic from this point of view, it can be noted that the Explorer program is designed to manage folders and files, to view and change parameters and settings, as well as to carry out additional operations. But more on that later.

Section

The cross-section of the protective conductor is selected according to table 54.2 from GOST R 50571.5.54-2013:
Minimum cross-sectional area of ​​protective conductors (when not calculated in accordance with 543.1.2 GOST R 50571.5.54-2013/IEC 60364-5-54:2011)

Or calculated in accordance with paragraph 543.1.2 of GOST R 50571.5.54-2013. The cross-section of protective conductors must be no less than:

• cross-section selected in accordance with the instructions of IEC 60949;
• or cross-section calculated using the following formula, is used only when the overcurrent shutdown time is not more than 5 s.

Where

• S—section, mm2;
• I is the rms value of the expected earth fault current for a fault with negligible impedance that can flow through the protective device (see IEC 60909-0), A;
• t is the time the protective device switches off the ground fault current (fault current), s;
• k is a coefficient depending on the material of the protective conductor, insulation, adjacent parts, initial and final temperatures.

Coefficient k in this case should be selected according to tables A.54.2-A.54.6, or calculated using the following formula:

• Qc is the volumetric heat capacity of the conductor material at 20 °C, J/°C mm3;
• β is the reciprocal of the temperature coefficient of conductor resistivity at 0 °C, °C;
• ρ20—electrical resistivity of the conductor material at 20 °C, Ohm mm;
• θf—final conductor temperature, °C;
• θi is the initial temperature of the conductor, °C.

Parameter values ​​for various materials (from table A.54.1 GOST R 50571.5.54-2013)

If a non-standard cross-section is obtained as a result of calculations, a protective conductor with the nearest larger standard cross-section should be used.

Notes for this item:

1) Current limitation due to circuit impedance and I2t limitation by the protection device must be taken into account.

2) Guidance on temperature limits in explosive atmospheres is given in IEC 60079-0.

3) For mineral insulated cables (IEC 60702-1), in the case where the short-circuit current resistance of the metal sheath of the cable is greater than that of linear conductors, it is not necessary to calculate the cross-section of the metal sheath used as a protective conductor.

Important! In accordance with paragraph 543.1.3 of GOST R 50571.5.54-2013, the cross-section of any protective conductor that is not a cable core or is not laid in a common sheath with linear conductors must be no less than:

• 2.5 mm2 (copper) or 16 mm2 (aluminum) if there is mechanical protection;
• 4 mm2 (copper) or 16 mm2 (aluminium) if there is no mechanical protection.

That is, in other words:

At the same time, a protective conductor that is not part of the cable is considered mechanically protected if it is laid in a pipe, box or other similar method.

If the protective conductor is common to two or more circuits, then its cross-section is selected as follows:

• calculated in accordance with 543.1.2 GOST R 50571.5.54-2013, based on the maximum expected ground fault current and shutdown time in these circuits;
• or selected according to table 54.2 of GOST R 50571.5.54-2013 for the largest cross-section of the linear conductor included in these circuits.

How did it all begin?

And it all started quite prosaically. Even before the release of the first version of Windows, work was usually done in DOS. Entering commands to invoke a particular operation or to open and edit files, not to mention clearly organizing the data, was extremely inconvenient.

That’s when one of the first, if not the very first, file manager Norton Commander appeared, which today most users call “Grandfather Norton.” It had a two-panel structure - two main windows with a work area, and allowed you to manage the contents of disks in terms of simple operations (copying, deleting, opening, etc.). But in the application, you had to constantly navigate to the main line to enter or exit a folder or section.

Therefore, Microsoft Corporation, having borrowed all the best from Commander, created its own program, which later became the familiar Explorer. It also had two windows, but the left one displayed a tree structure of folders (and then additional elements), and the right one displayed the contents of the selected section. Thus, navigating through the content has become much more convenient.

What is Windows Explorer used for?

Now let's look at the main features of the application. What is the “Explorer” intended for? Primarily for viewing files and folders (this is its main function). Thanks to the tree structure, you can expand the full list of folders, rather than searching for, say, the desired directory like Norton.

Despite the constant changes in the application, the program interface remains practically unchanged, the only difference is in additional elements and capabilities. The same address bar, standard main menu bar and toolbar, two windows, status bar, often disabled by default, etc.

But, on the other hand, the question of what “Explorer” is intended for in the latest versions of Windows has another answer. It can be noted that quite interesting tools have appeared here. For example, to write data to disk, you no longer need to use third-party programs, because the system has its own recording tool (which was not the case in older versions). However, there are plenty of opportunities.

Features and Features

Explorer provides the user with certain functions and capabilities . Some of them are used every day. While the user may not even be aware of the existence of others.

This object is used not only to view installed programs . It allows you to quickly move files between directories. Some users prefer to open two windows or copy content. But you can move the necessary files from the right window to the desired folder on the left.

You can also use the additional parameters that the window provides. At the top of the screen there is a set of functions that will make it easier to work with the system. Here you can immediately view properties, add a shortcut, rename, delete objects and much more.

The user can independently familiarize himself with all the possibilities. You can switch between tabs to view all the functions that Explorer provides.

Special data structuring operations

If we talk specifically about organizing the contents of the computer, you can use the display tools of the “View” menu, where several options are presented for sorting data, say, by size, date of creation or modification, it is possible to group them according to similar characteristics, etc.

On the other hand, considering the question of what “Explorer” is intended for, we can say that it is also a means of displaying hidden data that is normally inaccessible to the user, since changing them from the point of view of the system is undesirable. To do this, use the view menu, where in a new window on a special tab the corresponding parameter is set.

You can use many additional commands in the context menu, including customizing the appearance of folders. Not to mention some additional features like quick search for objects by name or with different attributes and extensions, which, by the way, are in most cases duplicated in sections of the main menus, taskbars and in the toolbox.

Removing a library

The library is a section built into the Explorer quick access panel, consisting of the “Downloads”, “Image”, etc. folders. Since all these partitions are located on the main partition of the hard drive, where there is not much space anyway, most users do not use them, creating folders to store their library on drive D, F, etc.

Go to the ShellFolder section using the folder tree on the left side of the registry, and right-click on the destination folder, select the “Permissions” section from the menu that opens. Go to the path HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{031E4825–7B94–4dc3-B131-E946B44C8DD5}\ShellFolder and select “Permissions...” Select the account through which you are currently authorized in the system and give it full editing rights. Change the file value to b090010d Done, the Windows library has disappeared from the quick access panel. The library has disappeared from Explorer

What else is “Explorer” intended for on a computer, and where is it located?

Among the additional features, it is worth noting the direct sending of data in the form of an email message, however, provided that the email client is configured, allowing and removing shared access to files and directories, sorting media content into pre-defined folders for video, audio and graphics.

In the latest versions of Windows, you can even use automatic synchronization with One Drive cloud storage, as well as get quick access to recently used documents and folders.

Now let's see where the executable file of the explorer.exe program itself is located in the system. You don’t need to go far - this is the Windows root directory on the disk where the system is installed.

Basic setup

Starting with Windows 7, Microsoft forces us to use “libraries”, and later “quick access”, instead of the familiar and more practical “My Computer” (“This Computer”).

In Windows 10, fixing this is very simple - just open the “View” tab in the ribbon, select “Options”, and in the “Open Explorer for” drop-down menu, select “This PC”.

Item "This computer"

Also, I recommend disabling the “Hide extensions for registered file types” option, which is located in the “View” tab.

Hide extensions for registered file types

In older versions of the operating system, this is a little more difficult. To do this, right-click on the Explorer icon on the taskbar, and then set the value in the “Object” field:

%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe ,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}

Methods for calling “Explorer”

As for launching the program, there are several most common methods. The longest is using the main Start menu, where, depending on the version of Windows, you select the standard or utility programs section.

Another method is to right-click on the “Start” button, where the “Explorer” launch line is selected.

The third method is to enter the explorer.exe command in the “Run” menu, which, in turn, is called either through the standard “Start” or with the combination Win + R.

But the fastest and easiest way is the combination Win + E. It is often forgotten or simply not known. But it is the most convenient one in terms of saving time.

Possible problems with the program

So, what the “Explorer” is intended for, I think, is already more or less clear. Let's look at the main types of application failures.

Most often, the program may freeze when copying, deleting or moving data that either has errors or is protected from such actions. Sometimes the problem lies in excessive use of system resources. Usually, even if a blank screen appears, work is restored after a few minutes. In some cases, system errors on disks can lead to such violations. To fix it, it is recommended to simply check the system partition using built-in tools or commands like chkdisk (with different varieties of additional parameters, say, /f /r in the Run menu with automatic correction of failures and restoration of damaged clusters. You can also use the command line (cmd) , where the combination sfc /scannow is written.

But most often, incorrect shutdown of Explorer is associated with the penetration of viruses and executable malicious codes into the system. As is already clear, in such a situation you will have to clean the computer. If the standard protection tool missed the threat, it is better to use portable utilities or recovery disks that load anti-virus software before Windows starts.

Requirements

Since protective conductors are used as part of protection measures against electric shock, regulatory and legal documents impose special requirements on their characteristics, design and technical condition.

Yu.V. Kharechko writes about the basic requirements for protective conductors. in his book:

However, the requirements of GOST R 50571.5.54-2013 allow the presence of detachable connections in the circuits of protective conductors, which can be disassembled using a tool to carry out the necessary tests. Connections of protective conductors shall be accessible for inspection and testing, with the exception of connections filled with compound or sealed.

Particular attention should be paid to the correct connection of plug sockets with a cable, since this may result in sequential inclusion of their protective contacts in the electrical circuit of the protective conductor. Kharechko Yu.V.

in his dictionary he explains this “case” in more detail:

Kharechko Yu.V. in his dictionary he explains this “case” in more detail:

Important facts:

• In electrical installations, it is prohibited to use a protective conductor for signal transmission (GOST R 58698—2019).
• It is not necessary to connect each individual protective conductor directly to the main earth terminal (bus) if they are electrically connected to it through other protective conductors.
• Exposed conductive parts of electrical equipment must be connected to a terminal designed for the protective conductor.
• If overcurrent protection devices are used to protect against electric shock as part of an automatic power shutdown, protective conductors made of single-core wires should be laid in a common sheath with linear conductors or in close proximity to them.

The following conductive parts can be used as protective conductors:

• cores of multicore wires and cables;
• insulated or non-insulated single-core wires;
• metal cable sheaths;
• metal pipes, shells and electrical boxes in which conductors of some electrical wiring are located, if they have sufficient conductivity and the continuity of their electrical circuits is ensured;
• some third-party conductive parts, if they have sufficient conductivity, the continuity of their electrical circuits and protection from dismantling are ensured;
• shells and frames of class I low-voltage switchgear and busbar trunking, if they have sufficient conductivity, the continuity of their electrical circuits is ensured, as well as the possibility of connecting other protective conductors in any designated place.

Clause 543.2.3 of the current standard GOST R 50571.5.54-2013 lists conductive parts that are prohibited from being used as protective conductors and protective potential equalization conductors:

– metal water pipes; – metal pipes containing potentially flammable substances such as gases, liquids, dust; – structures subject to mechanical stress during normal operation; – flexible or soft metal pipes, with the exception of those specifically designed for these purposes; – flexible metal parts; – supporting structures of wires, horizontal and vertical cable trays.

Kharechko Yu.V. in his book he adds: