Chapter 3

Working with Libraries

IN THIS CHAPTER

check Understanding libraries

check Customizing and working with libraries

check Building your own libraries

askwoody Windows 10 brought several infuriating changes to earlier versions of Windows — I’d list the snooping “features” as the worst culprit. (See Book 2, Chapter 6.) In the same infuriated breath, I’d have to mention Microsoft’s attempt to make it difficult to use libraries.

Libraries were a key selling point for Windows 7: They really do make it easier for you to organize and maintain your files. The feature continued untarnished in Windows 8. Unfortunately, Microsoft decided to stunt and bury them in Windows 8.1, and Windows 10 has nothing to make them easier to use. If I were a more cynical soul, I would guess that MS is trying to get you to use OneDrive — and pay the piper for cloud storage.

It’s silly, really, because libraries are the single best way to incorporate SD card storage and external hard drives into your everyday Windows life. When libraries are set up with the Public folders activated (as should’ve been the case in Windows 8.1 ...

Get Windows 10 All-In-One For Dummies, 3rd Edition now with the O’Reilly learning platform.

O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.