The Imfamous Windows Key

[Him]

Everyone knows the Windows key, and that it can bring up the start menu. Not everyone knows all of the uses of it thought. By combining the Windows key with other keystrokes (Accelerator Keys, as it's called) one can, well, accelerate their tasks. For example:

Winkey + Pause/Break will bring up the system properties (as opposed to right clicking on my computer, going to properties0

Winkey + L will lock your computer.

Winkey + TAB will cycle through the minimized windows on the task bar

Winkey + D minimizes everything to the desktop (Winkey + M does the same, that is just suppose to minimizse tha active window)

Winkey + F opens the find

Winkey + R opens the Run dialogue box

Winkey + B expands the system tray

Winkey + E opens My Computer

Winkey + I opens the utilities manager

If anyone knows anymore, please post them. If it works out right, this thread should be a sticky.

 

[SHAWN]

I never knew any of those existed. cool!

 

[SkyHi]

Those are pretty cool.

-SkyHi

 

[GrayWolf]

I knew a few of them, didn't know some of the others though.

 

[ShoobieRat]

I never knew any of those existed. cool!

Didn't read the manual, did you? No one ever does.

 

[Him]

I havent read it either, I just now them. one of those things that you know, but dont know how you know, you just know you know. The manual to Windows? It has all of them?

 

[The51]

Windows key will open the start menu

Windows + M minimizes all open windows (don't know the differece between this and Windows + D)

Windows + Shift + M restores all previously open windows to how they were before you minimized them.

Windows + F1 displays help

Alt + Tab toggles between open windows

 

[Him]

Straight up F1 opens the help box, dont need to combine it with the Win key, although it does the same thing.

Also, Alt+F4 closes the active window. That an Alt+Tab have been the two most helpful accelerator keys I have encountered.

Dont forget Tab to cycle through text fields, and Shift+Tab to cycle backwards through those fields.

 

[ShoobieRat]

Here's a more complete list. Enjoy:

-------------------

Generic Key Shortcuts...

Check/clear check boxes: SPACEBAR

Move slider bars right or left: CTRL+RIGHT ARROW or CTRL+LEFT ARROW

Close window: ALT+F4

Go to the Start menu: WINDOWS LOGO key or CTRL+ESC

Move focus to a dialog box: TAB

Respond to the dialog box query Save the previous scheme?: "Y" for "Yes," "N" for "No," or ESC to close the dialog box without saving changes

Windows+R: Display the Run dialog box

Windows+H: Open Windows CE Help

CTRL+Windows+A: Select all on desktop

CTRL+B: Open the Organize Favorites dialog box

CTRL+E: Open the Search bar

CTRL+F: Start the Find utility

CTRL+H: Open the History bar

CTRL+I: Open the Favorites bar

CTRL+L: Open the Open dialog box

CTRL+N: Start another instance of the browser with the same Web address

CTRL+O: Open the Open dialog box, the same as CTRL+L

CTRL+P: Open the Print dialog box

CTRL+R: Update the current Web page

CTRL+W: Close the current window

SHIFT+DELETE: (Delete the selected item permanently without placing the item in the Recycle Bin)

CTRL while dragging an item: (Copy the selected item)

CTRL+SHIFT while dragging an item: (Create a shortcut to the selected item)

F2 key: (Rename the selected item)

CTRL+RIGHT ARROW: (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next word)

CTRL+LEFT ARROW: (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous word)

CTRL+DOWN ARROW: (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next paragraph)

CTRL+UP ARROW: (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous paragraph)

CTRL+SHIFT with any of the arrow keys: (Highlight a block of text)

SHIFT with any of the arrow keys: (Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text in a document)

CTRL+A: (Select all)

F3 key: (Search for a file or a folder)

ALT+ENTER: (View the properties for the selected item)

ALT+F4: (Close the active item, or quit the active program)

ALT+ENTER: (Display the properties of the selected object)

ALT+SPACEBAR: (Open the shortcut menu for the active window)

CTRL+F4: (Close the active document in programs that enable you to have multiple documents open simultaneously)

ALT+TAB: (Switch between the open items)

ALT+ESC: (Cycle through items in the order that they had been opened)

F6 key: (Cycle through the screen elements in a window or on the desktop)

F4 key: (Display the Address bar list in My Computer or Windows Explorer)

SHIFT+F10: (Display the shortcut menu for the selected item)

ALT+SPACEBAR: (Display the System menu for the active window)

CTRL+ESC: (Display the Start menu)

F10 key: (Activate the menu bar in the active program)

RIGHT ARROW: (Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu)

LEFT ARROW: (Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu)

F5 key: (Update the active window)

BACKSPACE: (View the folder one level up in My Computer or Windows Explorer)

ESC: (Cancel the current task)

SHIFT: when you insert a CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive (Prevent the CD-ROM from automatically playing)


-----------------------------

In Windows Explorer...

END: Display the bottom of the active window

HOME: Display the top of the active window

NUMLOCK+Asterisk sign *: Display all of the subfolders that are under the selected folder

NUMLOCK+Plus sign +: Display the contents of the selected folder

NUMLOCK+Minus sign -: Collapse the selected folder

LEFT ARROW: Collapse the current selection if it is expanded, or select the parent folder

RIGHT ARROW: Display the current selection if it is collapsed, or select the first subfolder

----------------

Handling Windows and the Desktop....

Windows Logo: (Display or hide the Start menu)

Windows Logo+BREAK: (Display the System Properties dialog box)

Windows Logo+D: (Display the desktop)

Windows Logo+M: (Minimize all of the windows)

Windows Logo+SHIFT+M: (Restore the minimized windows)

Windows Logo+E: (Open My Computer)

Windows Logo+F: (Search for a file or a folder)

CTRL+Windows Logo+F: (Search for computers)

Windows Logo+F1: (Display Windows Help)

Windows Logo+L: (Lock the keyboard)

Windows Logo+R: (Open the Run dialog box)

Windows Logo+U: (Open Utility Manager)

 

[Him]

There we go, thats what I was looking for. you da man, Shoob! Now, can we get someone to sticky that? It would be very helpful for any computer user, 1337 or not.