An FTP (file transfer protocol) program is used to transfer files between two computers. Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) can be used for FTP purposes.  For my example, I shall explain how to use IE to transfer files to and from the core server at ECU.

ECU's Personal Web Server

    Boot up IE and point it to the FTP site.  You will be asked for your userid and password.  Enter them and then click Log On.

   If you do not get this logon screen, you may need to enable FTP in Internet Explorer.

   After you provide your userid and password and click Log On, you will be logged on and in the root directory.

      You could scroll down to your directory and open it up, but there is no need to do so.  Instead, click on the Page button and select Open FTP Site in Windows Explorer

    The personal server takes you to the directory for the userid and password you entered.  Now you have a Windows Explorer window within which you can delete files, rename files, drag and drop files to and from another window.

Click on Favorites and Select Add to Favorites.

    Now you will be able to get back into this folder, from Internet Explorer, quickly in the future.  When you select it in your favorites list, you will again be taken to the root folder of the personal server.  As shown above, click Page, Open FTP Site in Windows Explorer.  If you leave the browser open to the root directory, IE will consume a lot of CPU, so just close that window and work with the Windows Explorer window.

ECU's Core Server

Boot up IE and point it to ftp://core.ecu.edu/ .  You will be asked for your userid and password.  Enter them and then click Log On.

After you provide your userid and password, you will be logged on and in the root directory

Navigate your way to your folder.  For me, that is /core1/docs/psyc/wuenschk .  Double click the icon "core1."

    Double click the icon "docs."

    Scroll down and double click the icon "psyc."

    Double click the folder icon for your userid.

    Now you do not want to have to go through all of this navigation again every time you transfer files, so save this location in your Favorites list (click Favorites, Add to Favorites, give it a name, click OK).  If you want a shortcut on your desktop, right-click on the name in the Favorites list and select Create Shortcut.  Now, drag the shortcut from the Favorites list to the desktop.  In the future, when you activate this shortcut, from the IE Favorites list or from the desktop, you will go immediately to the designated folder, after providing your password.

    You can now use the IE window pretty much like a Windows directory folder -- you can copy, move, and delete files.  You can drag and drop files from the server to your PC and vice versa.

ECUWWW Server

     If you want to connect to the ECUWWW web server, point to ftp://ftp.www.ecu.edu/ and navigate your way to the appropriate folder.  Open the directory in Windows Explorer and save it as a Favorite.

Enabling FTP in Internet Explorer

    If you get a screen like this

then you probably need to change one setting in Internet Explorer.  Click Tools, Internet Options, Advanced.

    If "Enable folder view for FTP files" is not checked, you will not be able to FTP.  Check it, OK

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This page most recently revised on 28. September 2007.