Not sure that I understand your question. Much as I hate Vista, dragging and dropping files is not significantly different from how it was is 98 and XP.
You will find Windows Explorer in Start/Programs/Accessories (Start/All Programs/Accessories if you are using the children's menu).
Personally, I find it easier to use if you first turn off all the fancy stuff:
Open Explorer
Click View/Details
Click Tools/Folder Options
On the General tab:
Select "Use Windows classic folders"
Click Apply
On the View tab:
Check "Always Show Menus" and "Display Simple Folder view in Navigation pane"
Click "Apply to Folders"
Click OK
The other thing I do is create an explorer shortcut for each of my drives:
Right-drag the Windows Explorer icon from the start menu to the desktop and choose "copy here"
Rename the icon "Explore C"
Right-click, choose properties
Change the Target to %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /e,"C:\"