Windows Shortcuts

Keyboard exclusively and leaving your mouse behind will make you much more efficient at performing any task on any Windows system. I use the following keyboard shortcuts every day:

• Windows Key = Start Button
• Windows Key + R = Run menu

This is usually followed by:

• cmd = Command Prompt
• compmgmt.msc = Computer Management
• dhcpmgmt.msc = DHCP Management
• dnsmgmt.msc = DNS Management
• services.msc = Services
• eventvwr = Event Viewer
• dsa.msc = Active Directory Users and Computers
• dssite.msc = Active Directory Sites and Services
• iexplore + "web address" = Internet Explorer

Key Combination	Action
Windows Key + E	Explorer
ALT + Tab	Switch between Windows
ALT, Space, X	Maximize Window
CTRL + Shift + Esc	Task Manager
Windows Key + Break	System Properties
Windows Key + F	Search
Windows Key + D	Hide/Display all Windows
CTRL + C	Copy
CTRL + X	Cut
CTRL + V	Paste

Also don't forget about the "Right-click" key next to the right Windows Key on your keyboard. Using the arrows and that key can get just about anything done once you've opened up any program.

Keyboard Shortcuts:

Key Combination	Action
Alt + Esc	Switch between running applications
Alt + letter	Select menu item by underlined letter
Ctrl + Esc	Open Program Menu
Ctrl + F4	Close active document or group windows  Does not work with some applications
Alt + F4	Quit active application or close current window
Alt + [-]	Open Control menu for active document
Ctrl + Left Arrow	Move cursor back one word
Ctrl + Right Arrow	Move cursor forward one word
Ctrl + Up Arrow	Move cursor up one paragraph
Ctrl + Down Arrow	Move cursor down one paragraph
F1	Open Help for active application
Windows + M	Minimize all open windows
Shift + Windows + M	Undo minimize all open windows
Windows + F1	Open Windows Help
Windows + Tab	Cycle through the Taskbar buttons
Windows + Break	Open the System Properties dialog box

Accessibility Shortcuts:

Key Combination	Action
Right Shift (for 8 seconds)	Switch Filter Keys on and off
Left Alt + Left Shift + Print Screen	Switch High Contrast on and off
Left Alt + Left Shift + Num Lock	Switch Mouse Keys on and off
Shift (press 5 times)	Switch Sticky Keys on and off
Num Lock (for 5 seconds)	Switch Toggle Keys on and off

Explorer Shortcuts:

Key Combination	Action
End	Display the bottom of the active window
Home	Display the top of the active window
Num Lock + Asterisk (*) on numeric keypad	Display all subfolders under the selected folder
Num Lock + Plus (+) on numeric keypad	Display the contents of the selected folder
Num Lock + Minus (-) on numeric keypad	Collapse the selected folder
Left Arrow	Collapse current selection if it's expanded  Or select parent folder
Right Arrow	Display current selection if it's collapsed Or select first subfolder

Type the following commands in your Run Box (Windows Key + R) or Start Run:

• devmgmt.msc = Device Manager
• msinfo32 = System Information
• cleanmgr = Disk Cleanup
• ntbackup = Backup or Restore Wizard (Windows Backup Utility)
• mmc = Microsoft Management Console
• excel = Microsoft Excel (If Installed)
• msaccess = Microsoft Access (If Installed)
• powerpnt = Microsoft PowerPoint (If Installed)
• winword = Microsoft Word (If Installed)
• frontpg = Microsoft FrontPage (If Installed)
• notepad = Notepad
• wordpad = WordPad
• calc = Calculator
• msmsgs = Windows Messenger
• mspaint = Microsoft Paint
• wmplayer = Windows Media Player
• rstrui = System Restore
• netscp6 = Netscape 6.x
• netscp = Netscape 7.x
• netscape = Netscape 4.x
• waol = America Online
• control = Opens the Control Panel
• control printers = Opens the Printers Dialog

Internet Browser:

• Type in browser's address bar "google" (without quotes), then press Right CTRL + Enter. It will add www. before the word and .com after the word and go to it (i.e. www.google.com).

Use these keyboard shortcuts for dialog boxes:

• Ctrl + Tab = Move forward through tabs. 
• Ctrl + Shift + Tab = Move backward through tabs. 
• Tab = Move forward through options. 
• Shift + Tab = Move backward through options. 
• Alt + Underlined letter = Carry out the corresponding command or select the corresponding option. 
• Enter = Carry out the command for the active option or button. 
• Spacebar = Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box. 
• Arrow keys = Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons. 
• F1 = Display Help. 
• F4 = Display the items in the active list. 
• Backspace = Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box. 

If you have a Microsoft Natural Keyboard, or any other compatible keyboard that includes the Windows logo key and the Application key, you can use these keyboard shortcuts:

• Windows Key = Display or hide the Start menu. 
• Windows Key + Break = Display the System Properties dialog box. 
• Windows Key + D = Show the desktop. 
• Windows Key + M = Minimize all windows. 
• Windows Key + Shift + M = Restores minimized windows. 
• Windows Key + E = Open My Computer. 
• Windows Key + F = Search for a file or folder. 
• Ctrl + Windows Key + F = Search for computers. 
• Windows Key + F1 = Display Windows Help. 
• Windows Key + L = Lock your computer if you are connected to a network domain, or switch users if you are not connected to a network domain. 
• Windows Key + R = Open the Run dialog box. 
• Windows Key + U = Open Utility Manager.