Getting used to using your keyboard exclusively and leaving your mouse behind will make you much more efficient at performing any task on any Windows system.
Windows key + R = Run menu
This is usually followed by:
- cmd = Command Prompt
- iexplore + "web address" = Internet Explorer
- 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
- 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
- [Alt] and [Esc] Switch between running applications
- [Alt] and letter Select menu item by underlined letter
- [Ctrl] and [Esc] Open Program Menu
- [Ctrl] and [F4] Close active document or group windows (does not work with some applications)
- [Alt] and [F4] Quit active application or close current window
- [Alt] and [-] Open Control menu for active document
- Ctrl] Lft., Rt. arrow Move cursor forward or back one word
- Ctrl] Up, Down arrow Move cursor forward or back 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
acessability shortcuts
- Right SHIFT for eight seconds........ Switch FilterKeys on and off.
- Left ALT +left SHIFT +PRINT SCREEN....... Switch High Contrast on and off.
- Left ALT +left SHIFT +NUM LOCK....... Switch MouseKeys on and off.
- SHIFT....... five times Switch StickyKeys on and off.
- NUM LOCK...... for five seconds Switch ToggleKeys on and off.
explorer shortcuts
- 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 SIGN....... on numeric keypad (+) Display the contents of the selected folder.
- NUM LOCK+MINUS SIGN....... 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 u're adress "google", then press [Right CTRL] and [Enter]
add www. and .com to word and go to it
For Windows XP:
- Copy. CTRL+C
- Cut. CTRL+X
- Paste. CTRL+V
- Undo. CTRL+Z
- Delete. DELETE
- Delete selected item permanently without placing the item in the Recycle Bin. SHIFT+DELETE
- Copy selected item. CTRL while dragging an item
- Create shortcut to selected item. CTRL+SHIFT while dragging an item
- Rename selected item. F2
- Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next word. CTRL+RIGHT ARROW
- Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous word. CTRL+LEFT ARROW
- Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next paragraph. CTRL+DOWN ARROW
- Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous paragraph. CTRL+UP ARROW
- Highlight a block of text. CTRL+SHIFT with any of the arrow keys
- Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text within a document. SHIFT with any of the arrow keys
- Select all. CTRL+A
- Search for a file or folder. F3
- View properties for the selected item. ALT+ENTER
- Close the active item, or quit the active program. ALT+F4
- Opens the shortcut menu for the active window. ALT+SPACEBAR
- Close the active document in programs that allow you to have multiple documents open simultaneously. CTRL+F4
- Switch between open items. ALT+TAB
- Cycle through items in the order they were opened. ALT+ESC
- Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop. F6
- Display the Address bar list in My Computer or Windows Explorer. F4
- Display the shortcut menu for the selected item. SHIFT+F10
- Display the System menu for the active window. ALT+SPACEBAR
- Display the Start menu. CTRL+ESC
- Display the corresponding menu. ALT+Underlined letter in a menu name
- Carry out the corresponding command. Underlined letter in a command name on an open menu
- Activate the menu bar in the active program. F10
- Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu. RIGHT ARROW
- Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu. LEFT ARROW
- Refresh the active window. F5
- View the folder one level up in My Computer or Windows Explorer. BACKSPACE
- Cancel the current task. ESC
- SHIFT when you insert a CD into the CD-ROM drive Prevent the CD from automatically playing.
Use these keyboard shortcuts for dialog boxes:
To Press
Move forward through tabs. CTRL+TAB
Move backward through tabs. CTRL+SHIFT+TAB
Move forward through options. TAB
Move backward through options. SHIFT+TAB
Carry out the corresponding command or select the corresponding option. ALT+Underlined letter
Carry out the command for the active option or button. ENTER
Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box. SPACEBAR
Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons. Arrow keys
Display Help. F1
Display the items in the active list. F4
Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box. BACKSPACE
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:
Display or hide the Start menu. WIN Key
Display the System Properties dialog box. WIN Key+BREAK
Show the desktop. WIN Key+D
Minimize all windows. WIN Key+M
Restores minimized windows. WIN Key+Shift+M
Open My Computer. WIN Key+E
Search for a file or folder. WIN Key+F
Search for computers. CTRL+WIN Key+F
Display Windows Help. WIN Key+F1
Lock your computer if you are connected to a network domain, or switch users if you are not connected to a network domain. WIN Key+ L
Open the Run dialog box. WIN Key+R
Open Utility Manager. WIN Key+U
accessibility keyboard shortcuts:
- Switch FilterKeys on and off. Right SHIFT for eight seconds
- Switch High Contrast on and off. Left ALT+left SHIFT+PRINT SCREEN
- Switch MouseKeys on and off. Left ALT +left SHIFT +NUM LOCK
- Switch StickyKeys on and off. SHIFT five times
- Switch ToggleKeys on and off. NUM LOCK for five seconds
- Open Utility Manager. WIN Key+U
shortcuts you can use with Windows Explorer:
- Display the bottom of the active window. END
- Display the top of the active window. HOME
- Display all subfolders under the selected folder. NUM LOCK+ASTERISK on numeric keypad (*)
- Display the contents of the selected folder. NUM LOCK+PLUS SIGN on numeric keypad (+)
- Collapse the selected folder. NUM LOCK+MINUS SIGN on numeric keypad (-)
- Collapse current selection if it's expanded, or select parent folder. LEFT ARROW
- Display current selection if it's collapsed, or select first subfolder. RIGHT ARROW
Firefox shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts. This is where you become a real Jedi. It just
takes a little while to learn these, but once you do, your browsing will
be super fast. Here are some of the most common (and my personal
favs):
- Spacebar (page down)
- Shift-Spacebar (page up)
- Ctrl+F (find)
- Alt-N (find next)
- Ctrl+D (bookmark page)
- Ctrl+T (new tab)
- Ctrl+K (go to search box)
- Ctrl+L (go to address bar)
- Ctrl+= (increase text size)
- Ctrl+- (decrease text size)
- Ctrl-W (close tab)
- F5 (reload)
- Alt-Home (go to home page)