It always takes me so much tedious clicking to get to the folders I want! Could someone recommend an app (preferably freeware) that makes it easy for navigating to folders you want to find when loading or saving files?

Thanks a lot.

I don't use any apps for this. Simple ideas and management principles.

I always download to my desktop. Period. From there I redistribute the downloaded files into four main folders that I have set up in a storage drive (partition)...
F:\music
F:\applications
F:\documents
F:\pictures

This way I can find the files I just downloaded on my desktop when I need to. Once I have decided to keep or discard< i send them to the stipulated folders and from there I will either create a sub folder and redistribute them or create a back-up file and burn them to disc in which case I log the entry and to what disc it was backed up to...run a simple search in excel and can instanly tell where the files are stored ...either on the computer or on the rack!

In The Matters Of Style,
swim with the current;
in matters of principle,
Stand Like A Rock

"People demand freedom of speech to make up for the
freedom of thought which they avoid."

This program, LOCATE32 by Janne Huttunen, beats even Google Desktop for search functionality of files. The beta version available from:

http://locate32.net/files/exe/locat...

Or, Start, Run, type in the drive letter, folder path you want to access.

Life's more painless for the brainless.

I do it like lurkswithin myself and use Windows Explorer.

I don't like anything on my desktop though so I download to a \download folder.

I have two drives, C: and D:

C: is strictly operating system and I never install anything there I don't have to.

D: contains
\storage
\software
\music
\backups

All applications get installed onto D: and that's where I have a folder called \storage which is where I store files I want to keep. When I have enough of those to fill a DVD, I burn them and delete the contents of the folder. Each disk contains a text file with a filelist. I have a copy of every disk's text file in the /storage folder for easy access in case I need to go looking for a file that's on disk. Once I find it (a quick search inside the file via "search" and I know which disk to grab because each .txt file is labelled the same as the appropriate disk).

Should I need to find a file, it's either in the \storage folder, or on disk.

If one uses a bit of logic in managing files, they're never hard to find.

I agree with lurkswithin. I do the same thing. Downloading to the Desktop forces you to deal with the file in some manner or your desktop get awfully cluttered. Many times the download is a temporary use file anyway. I download specs and manuals in order to help folks here. After a couple of days I delete them.

Keeping the files somewhere in My Documents has a definate advantage. Should you be forced to perform a system restore/ repair, the My Computer folder is the only folder in the Windows partition not affected by that action.

I do also save instant backups to CDR using a packet writer.

Me too I am in total agreement with lurkswithin's methodology. It takes discipline to keep your Windows tidy by organizing files & folders - just like it does with the drawers, closets, attic, and garage in your home. Otherwise your machine (& house) will be in a hopeless state of total disarray.

i_Xp/VistaUser

Your question is rather similar to asking for an easier way to drive a car or play football. The whole concept of using a computer rests with files and folders so I find it rather odd that you describe it as tedious.

Keep clicking away and learn to organise your files/folders as suggested, or in some convenient way of your own. In the long term you will benefit in both speed and knowledge from doing so.

Develop a full understanding of the Windows Explorer structure - it will pay dividends.

some other bloke...

Thanks to everybody who replied. I'm afraid that I didn't phrase my question clearly enough and so it has led to some misunderstanding.
I am thinking specifically about locating files and folders when using the open and save dialog boxes in applications. I have a few external hard drives hooked up to my system so it is often a bit tedious for me to navigate.
What I have been trying to find specifically is an application that will "remember" folders of my choosing so I can easily open them when using the open/save dialog boxes.
Is there anything like this out there, preferably freeware?
Thanks!

I am not sure if a utility like that is available. I suspect there may be something like that out there.

What I will say is this. You should always maintain a minimum of 2 copies of ANY data you consider important.

From your #8 I surmise the external drives hold the ONLY copy of the files in question.

Some applications have facilities whereby you can set open/save locations.

XP itself generally remembers the last folder used. I got fed up with this myself and resorted to reg files called up by my daily clear-up batch files. That way they always return to my favorite places - too long to spell out on here tho....

some other bloke...