Windows Keyboard Shortcuts Page 1 of 4

Windows Keyboard Shortcuts

When I observe most colleagues and friends working on their PC's they
mostly use the mouse as they are unaware of the powerful Windows
keyboard shortcuts that will make their lives so much easier. Some people
might be aware of the Windows keyboard shortcuts, but they are used to be
working mostly with the mouse and old habits are hard to let go.

In this tutorial I will take things step by step so you can learn the Windows
keyboard shortcuts that is required to navigate you way around the Windows
operating system.

Lets assume your machine is starting up and due to a faulty mouse or some
other related problem your system cannot be accessed with the mouse. A user
that is not using the Windows keyboard shortcuts on a regular basis will be
completely lost. Ok its relatively cheap to replace the mouse, but what if you
had to quickly perform a task that cannot wait until a new mouse is acquired
or the problem is fixed?

Navigating the Start Menu

I will firstly explain how to launch an application without the use of the
mouse and instead use Windows keyboard shortcuts. Immediately after
system startup if you are required to log in, type out your password and press
the Enter key. Once the system have fully initialized you will be presented
with the Windows Desktop. As an example we will launch Notepad. Follow
the steps exactly as explained below:

1. Press Ctrl and Esc to show the Start menu or press the Windows Logo
key.
2. Now press the Up Arrow until you can see the selection rectangle
moving upwards in the Start menu. Once the selection rectangle enters
the Start menu press the Left Arrow to move to the left section of the
Start menu. Then press the Down Arrow until "All Programs" is
selected.
3. Press the Right Arrow to expand the "All Programs" menu.
4. Press the Down Arrow until "Accessories" is selected.
5. Press the Right Arrow to expand the accessories menu.
6. Now press the Down Arrow until the Notepad menu item is selected
and the press Enter. This will cause the Notepad application to launch.

Armed with this basic Windows keyboard shortcut knowledge you will be
able to launch any application without the use of the mouse.

Moving Around the Desktop

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Frequently users place icons on the desktop to quickly access some

application, files or folders they regularly use. What now if the mouse pack
up and you have to get to that file? Here is how to make use of the Windows
keyboard shortcuts to get that done:

Depending on the current situation different steps might be required so keep

in mind that you do not have to do all the steps.

1. Press the Windows Logo key and M simultaneously to minimize all

windows.
2. Press Ctrl and Esc simultaneously and then press Esc again. (Only
required under certain conditions so you might only need to perform
this step if you do not get the desired results from step 3 below).
3. Press the Tab key and release it. Keep on pressing and releasing it until
you see a "focus rectangle" surrounding one of the icons on the
desktop. If there is a lot of icons on the desktop you might need to look
carefully if any receives the focus indicated by the focus rectangle.
Also occasionally use the arrow keys to see if you can move between
different icons if it is difficult to notice the icon with the focus
rectangle. (Normally the focus will move between the Windows
Taskbar and the last icon that had the focus (being selected) on the
desktop when the Tab key is pressed).
4. Once you got the "focus rectangle" on any icon on the desktop it is just
a matter of moving to the icon of your choice using the arrow
keys. When the required icon got the focus or is selected press the
Enter key to open the file, folder or launch a program.

Working with Windows

Our next step in this Windows keyboard shortcuts tutorial is to manipulate

windows in the context of minimizing, maximizing, moving and closing
them. I will also demonstrate a great example why acquiring this knowledge
can be of benefit to you.

To minimize the currently active window press Alt and Spacebar. The
Control Menu for the window will appear. Now press N to minimize
the window.

To maximize or get a window to its restored state when it is minimized
to the Windows Taskbar hold down Alt and then press and release the
Tab key until the desired window is selected. When the window of
choice is selected also release the Alt key which will ensure that the
window will either be maximized or restored depending on its previous
state.

To maximize a window from its restored state press Alt and Spacebar.
After the Control Menu appear press X to maximize the window.

To restore an maximized window press Alt and Spacebar. When the
Control Menu appear press R to get the window from its maximized to
restored state.

To move a window press Alt and Spacebar. When the Control Menu
appear press M. Now use the arrow keys to move the window to the
desired location and press the Enter key to round of this operation.

To size a window press Alt and Spacebar. When the Control Menu
appear press S. Now press the arrow keys depending on which side you

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want to size the window from. Right will take you to the right edge of
the window for sizing and the Down arrow will take you to the bottom
right corner for sizing purposes. When pressing the left key first you
will be taking to the window left border to carry out sizing from that
side. Once you have selected your sizing location by pressing the left
or right arrows and up or down arrows do the sizing by using any of the
arrow keys. When finished press Enter to complete this operation.
Pressing the Esc key will leave the original size of the window intact.

To close the currently active window press Alt and F4 or press Alt and
Spacebar, then press C.

General Use Windows Keyboard Shortcuts

Take note that the WINDOWS key is the Windows Logo key on the
keyboard.

ALT+TAB
Display list of open programs and switch to next program.
(Press TAB again to advance to the following program).

ALT+SHIFT+TAB
Display list of open programs and switch to previous program.
(Press TAB again to select the pervious program).

WINDOWS or CTRL+ESC
Displays the Windows Start Menu.

WINDOWS+E
Open My Computer.
WINDOWS+D
Toggle between Show Desktop and Show Open Windows.

WINDOWS+M
Minimize All Windows.

F2
Rename selected folder, file or shortcut.
CTRL+N
Create a New document for the active application.

CTRL+O
Display the Open dialog box of the active application.

CTRL+S
Save the current document of the active application.

CTRL+P
Print the current document of the active application.

CTRL+A
Select All content of the current document.

CTRL+X

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Cut the selected text or object.

CTRL+C
Copy the selected text or object.

CTRL+V
Paste contents of clipboard into active document.

CTRL+Z
Undo the last operation.

CTRL+Y
Redo the last Undo operation.

CTRL+B
Make selected text bold or remove bold formatting.

CTRL+U
Underline the selected text or remove underline.

CTRL+I
Make selected text italic or remove italic formatting.

CTRL+F
Displays the Find dialog box.

CTRL+H
Displays the Replace dialog box.

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