If you need to find out and write down the name of a file on your computer, it is important to take into account several features of the display of their names in the operating system used. The main one is that Windows OS with default settings does not display the entire file name, and access to some folders with files is completely closed, so there is no way to see even their abbreviated names.
Instructions
Step 1
Use a program specifically designed for working with files and folders to get the file name. In Windows, this file manager is Explorer. You can start it by double-clicking on the "My Computer" shortcut on the desktop or by pressing the win + e keyboard shortcut. Navigate the folder tree in the left pane of the program to the directory that contains the file you are interested in.
Step 2
If you need the name of a system file, then it is likely that Explorer will hide the contents of the directory in which it is located - instead of files in the right pane, there will be an inscription that the folder is a system folder. If you are using Windows 7, then to cancel the installation of hiding system files, click the "Organize" button in the upper left part of the program interface. In the drop-down list, select the "Folder options" line to open a window with the necessary settings. When using Windows XP, to access the same window, open the "Tools" section in the file manager menu and select the "Folder options" item.
Step 3
Go to the "View" tab and in the "Advanced options" list find the checkbox placed in the line labeled "Show hidden files, folders and drives". Check it, and then find the line with the text "Hide protected system files (recommended)" - in it, on the contrary, uncheck the box. Then close the settings window by clicking the "OK" button. Now you will have access to all files in the system, and you will see their names in full, that is, together with the extensions.
Step 4
Highlight the desired file and press the f2 button - Explorer will turn on the file name editing function and select all the text containing its name. Press the keyboard shortcut ctrl + c and then the esc key. In this way, you will copy the name to the clipboard and turn off the name editing function. Then use the copied name at your discretion - you can paste it into a text editor, into the text of a letter, into an online messenger message, etc.
