Windows Tips
Keyboard Shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts can make your life a lot easier. They can also help to avoid neck pain through overuse of the mouse.
Note: With 2 key shortcuts you tap the second key while holding down
the first key.
With 3 key shortcuts you tap the third key while holding down the first
two.
Some shortcuts act like a toggle switch. The same key combination applies an action and reverses it. Just like a light switch.
The symbol: 
refers to the Windows logo key. There's one beside each of the Alt keys on most full-size Windows keyboards. Laptops & small keyboards may have just one on the left.
| Key combo | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Ctrl+C | Copy | Copy text or graphic into the clipboard |
| Ctrl+V | Insert | Insert text or graphic from the clipboard. Think of the V as an insertion arrow. |
| Ctrl+X | Cut | Delete text or graphic and retain in the clipboard |
| Ctrl+A | Select All | Delete text or graphic and retain in the clipboard |
| Ctrl+O | Open | Brings up the Open File dialogue box. |
| F1 | Help! | In most programs (even on the Desktop) opens the Help files. |
| Alt+F4 | Close Active Window | Closes the active window. The window with a default blue title bar. |
| Ctrl+F4 | Close Current Document | Closes the document, but not the program window or other open documents. |
| +E |
Open Windows Explorer | Allows you to navigate around your computer. Move, copy and find files. |
| Backspace | Back to Previous Web Page | This applies in Internet Explorer or other web browsers. |
| Shift | While double clicking a folder icon or My Computer icon. | Opens Windows Explorer with the navigation pane open. |
| Ctrl+B | Bold (toggle) | Convert text to Bold type. Toggles on or off. |
| Ctrl+I | Italic (toggle) | Convert text to Italic type. Toggles on or off. |
| Ctrl+U | Underline (toggle) | Convert text to Underline type. Toggles on or off. |
| Ctrl+P | Print Menu | Brings up the print menu. OK? |
| F7 | Spell Check | In applicable programs starts the spellchecker. |
| Shift+F7 | Thesaurus synonym check | In applicable programs starts the thesaurus. |
| +D |
This is a toggle shortcut: show Desktop and restore Desktop. | 1st time: minimizes all open Windows to the Taskbar. 2nd time restores all open Windows to the Desktop. |
| Ctrl+F | Find | To search for text in a document or web page. |
| Shift | While deleting a file. | Bypasses the Recycle Bin. Permanent deletion. Take care! It's gone for good. |
| Alt+Tab | Cycle Windows | Hold Alt and each time you tap Tab, you select the next open window. |
| +tab |
Cycle Windows with Flip 3-D | Cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Windows Flip 3-D – Vista & Windows 7 only.
Use the arrow keys to select a window. |
When you've become accustomed to those, try these:
Internet Explorer Shortcuts
Most of the shortcuts tabled above will work in IE. here are some extras
| Key combo | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Alt+Home | Home page | Go to your Home page |
| Backspace | Back | Go to the previous page |
| Shift+Backspace | Forward | Go to the next page |
| Home | Top | Move to the beginning of a document |
| End | Bottom | Move to the end of a document |
| Tab | Move to next | Move forward through the items on a webpage or in a form |
| Shift+Tab | Move to previous | Move back through the items on a webpage |
| Ctrl+H | History (toggle) | Show History Bar on the left |
| Ctrll+N | New | Open a new window |
| Ctrl+W or Altl + F4 |
Close window | Close the current window |
| Ctrl + F4 | Close tab | Close the current tab |
| Control+E | Search | Open Search in Explorer bar |
| Control+I | Favorites (toggle) | Open Favorites in Explorer bar |
| Control+D | Add to Favorites | Add the current page to your Favorites |
| Alt+D | Select address | Select the text in the Address bar |
| Esc | Stop! | Stop loading the page |
| Ctrl+Shift+H | History | Toggle display and pin History |
| Ctrl+Shift +I | Favorites | Toggle display and pin Favorites |
That's enough for a start. There are plenty more shortcuts here: http://support.Microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;q126449
For Microsoft Office shortcuts try here: http://office.Microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA011407361033.aspx. Prepare for overload!
