In case you 56% percent of readers on Windows think I’m letting you down I decided to follow up my post on Mac keyboard shortcuts with one on Windows. All of these work on XP and 2003, YMMV on earlier Windows versions. Windows Keyboard Shortcuts These shortcuts aren’t necessarily part of Windows itself, but they are supported by many applications: Windows-D (Desktop) This is very much like the Windows-M shortcut above, and is just a quick way to get to the desktop. Shift-Windows-M If you press Shift, the Windows Key, and the M key together, this restores the minimized windows from the above shortcuts Windows-M and Windows-D. Windows-R (Run) If you press the Windows Key and the R key together, then this is a quicker way to access the Run Dialog Box than clicking Start then Run. Windows-F (Find) If you press the Windows Key and the F key together, then this brings up the Windows Search screen so you can search your computer and its resources given certain criteria. Windows-E (Explorer) If you press the Windows Key (near the ALT key) and the E key, then this launches Explorer. This can be helpful when you want to quickly browse your computer, its resources, folders and drives. Windows-M (Minimize) If you press the Windows Key and the M key together, this minimizes all windows. Windows-D (Desktop) This is very much like the Windows-M shortcut above, and is just a quick way to get to the desktop. Shift-Windows-M If you press Shift, the Windows Key, and the M key together, this restores the minimized windows from the above shortcuts Windows-M and Windows-D. Windows-L (Lock) Do you ever get tired of waiting for your screen saver to start so that you know your machine is password protected or “locked” while you are logged into it. Wait no more! If you hold down the Windows Key with the L key, then this instantly locks the machine. Ctrl-Shift-Esc (Task Manager) This key sequence of the Control Key, Shift Key, and Escape Key brings up the Task Manager which can be used to end processes that are not responding. Careful with this one. Ctrl-W (Close) Control-W closes the active window. Alt-F4 (Exit) Alt-F4 is more thorough than Ctrl-W. Holding down the Alt Key with the F4 Key will close the active window or application. If this shortcut is used at the desktop, it brings up the Shutdown Windows Dialog Box. Alt-Enter (Properties) If an icon is selected on the desktop, then Alt-Enter shows the properties. Holding Shift when inserting a CD Holding Shift when inserting a CD prevents the CD from automatically running. Alt-Tab (Toggle) If you hold down Alt and then tap the Tab key, it will navigate between applications and windows that are currently open. If you let go of the Alt Key, then you will select the highlighted window/application. Make sure that you only tap the Tab Key. Do not hold the Tab Key down. F5 (Refresh) Refreshes the current screen, window, application, or web page. Ctrl-C (Copy) Control-C copies. In an application, this may be the text or cells. In an Explorer window, this may be a file or a folder. On the desktop, it may be the selected icon, folder, or program. Ctrl-X (Cut) Control-X cuts. This can be useful such as when moving text in an application to paste it somewhere else or when moving a file or folder in an Explorer window from one resource to another. Careful with this one. Ctrl-V (Paste) Control-V pastes. This is the shortcut used after copying or cutting as described above. It can be used with text, folders, files, icons, etc., depending on what you have copied or cut. Ctrl-A (Select All) Control-A selects all. In an application, this may be all the text or cells. In an Explorer window, it may be all the folders or files. On the desktop, it is all the icons. Careful with this one. Ctrl-Z (Undo) Control-Z or Alt-Backspace are shortcuts for Undo. This can Undo pastes and cuts and even actions in some applications, even repeatedly. Careful with this one. Ctrl-Y Undoes the last undo (or redoes). Ctrl-P (Print) Control-P is the shortcut to print when using an application. F1 (Help) Pressing F1 launches help. Control-Esc or Windows Key Holding down the Control and Escape keys together is the same as pressing the Windows Key. This brings up the Start Menu. Shift-F10 (Quick Menu) Pressing the Shift Key and F10 Key together functions like a right click from the mouse, which launches the Quick Menu. On the desktop, if no icon is selected, this shortcut is like right clicking the desktop. If an icon is selected, then this shortcut behaves like right clicking the icon. In an application, this shortcut is like right clicking the screen. Print Screen Pressing this key captures an image of the screen. Alt-Print Screen Pressing Alt and then Print Screen captures an image of the active window. Ctrl-Shift-Esc (Task Manager) This key sequence of the Control Key, Shift Key, and Escape Key brings up the Task Manager which can be used to end processes that are not responding. Careful with this one. Ctrl-S Saves your current work to disk. Ctrl-O Opens a new document. Ctrl-I Turns italics on or off. Ctrl-B Turns bold on or off. Ctrl-U Turns underlining on or off. Ctrl-F and F3 Launch the program’s search or find tool. At the Desktop, F3 opens the “Find files or folders” window Ctrl-Home Moves the cursor to the beginning of the open file or document. Ctrl-End Moves the cursor to the end of the open file or document. Ctrl-Tab, Ctrl-Shift-Tab, Ctrl-Page Down, and Ctrl-Page Up Move you from tab to tab in a dialog box. Link