Tip: Getting File and Folder Paths

One of the things that Microsoft (for some reason) did not implement in Windows ... an easy way to get the full filename (inlcuding the path) of a file. Here are the two quickest ways I know to do this:

In Windows 2000 and XP (and Vista).

Open Explorer and navigate to the file that you are interested in.

Click Start-Run to display the Run dialog box.
Click Delete to empty whatever is currently displayed in the Run box.

Now drag and drop the file (or folder) from the Explorer window into the Run box.

The above tip will also work in Vista if you have configured Vista to have the Run command as part of the Start menu. However Vista also has another even easier method ...

In Windows Vista

Press and hold down the Shift Key and right-click over the file (or folder) you are interested in. Choose Copy as Path and Vista will copy the path to the clipboard.

You can now paste (CTRL-V) the path anywhere you want.

Why Microsoft chose to hide this option by requiring us to press Shift, I'll never know.