Basic Keyboard Shortcut For Windows Vista : Latest Computer Tricks

Keyboard shortcuts are combinations of two or more keys that, when pressed, can be used to perform a task that would typically require a mouse or other pointing device. Keyboard shortcuts can make it easier to interact with your computer, saving you time and effort as you work with Windows and other programs.

Most programs also provide accelerator keys that can make it easier to work with menus and other commands. Check the menus of programs for accelerator keys. If a letter is underlined in a menu, that usually means that pressing the Alt key in combination with the underlined key will have the same effect as clicking that menu item.

General Keystrokes

To do this:	Use this key:
Rename selected item.	F2
Find file or folder	F3
Display the Address bar list in Windows Explorer.	F4
Refresh the active window.	F5
Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop.	F6
Activate the menu bar in the active program.	F10
Display the shortcut menu for the selected item.	SHIFT+F10
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
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
Select 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
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+SPACE
Close the active document in programs that allow you to have multiple documents open simultaneously.	CTRL+F4
Switch between open items.	ALT+TAB
Use the ARROW keys to switch between open items.	CTRL+ALT+TAB
Cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Windows Flip 3-D.	Windows key+TAB
Use the ARROW keys to cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Windows Flip 3-D.	CTRL+Windows key+TAB
Cycle through items in the order they were opened.	ALT+ESC
Display the System menu for the active window.	ALT+SPACE
Display the Start menu.	CTRL+ESC
Display a menu.	ALT+Underlined letter in a menu name
Carry out the corresponding command.	ALT+Underlined letter in a command name on an open menu
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
Cancel the current task.	ESC
Open Task Manager.	CTRL+SHIFT+ESC
View the folder one level up in Windows Explorer.	ALT+UP ARROW
Prevent the CD from automatically playing.	SHIFT when you insert a CD into the CD-ROM drive
Copy selected item.	CTRL while dragging an item with the mouse
Create shortcut to selected item.	CTRL+SHIFT while dragging an item with the mouse.

For Windows and Menus

Windows and Menus Keystrokes

Use this key:	To do this:
Open the application control menu.	ALT+SPACE
Open (or Close) the menu bar.	ALT
Once menu is open: Move between menus.	ARROW keys
Once menu is open: Choose a menu item.	ENTER
Cancel or close a cacading menu, return to the menu bar, or close the menu bar.	ESC
Close the menu bar.	ALT
Open the application pop-up menu.	Applications pop-up MENU key.

For Dialogue boxes

Dialogue box keystrokes

To do this:	Use this key:
Move through dialogue controls.	TAB
Move back through dialogue controls.	SHIFT+TAB
Move to another page / tab.	CTRL+TAB
Move back to another page / tab.	CTRL+SHIFT+TAB
Toggle a check-box on or off if a check-box is currently selected.	SPACE
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 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

For Windows Explorer

Windows Explorer keystrokes

To do this:	Use this key:
Delete files (send to Recycle Bin).	DELETE
Delete files permanently.	SHIFT+DELETE
Properties for selected file or folder.	ALT+ENTER
Switch between windows.	TAB
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
View the previous folder.	ALT+LEFT ARROW
View the next folder.	ALT+RIGHT ARROW
Select the Address bar.	ALT+D

For Editing Text

Text Editing keystrokes

To do this:	Use this key:
Copy.	CTRL+C
Cut.	CTRL+X
Paste.	CTRL+V
Undo.	CTRL+Z
Delete current character.	DELETE
Delete prior character.	BACKSPACE
Select one character left.	SHIFT+LEFT ARROW
Select one character right.	SHIFT+RIGHT ARROW
Select one word left.	CTRL+SHIFT+LEFT ARROW
Select one word right.	CTRL+SHIFT+RIGHT ARROW
Select to beginning of line.	SHIFT+HOME
Select to end of line.	SHIFT+END
Select to beginning.	CTRL+SHIFT+HOME
Select to end.	CTRL+SHIFT+END
Select all.	CTRL+A

Windows Photo Gallery keyboard shortcuts

Windows Photo Gallery keystrokes

To do this:	Use this key:
Open the Fix pane.	CTRL+F
Print the selected picture.	CTRL+P
View the selected picture at a larger size.	ENTER
Open or close the Details pane.	CTRL+I
Rotate the picture clockwise.	CTRL+. (Full Stop)
Rotate the picture anti-clockwise.	CTRL+, (Comma)
Rename the selected item.	F2
Search for an item.	CTRL+E
Go back.	ALT+LEFT ARROW
Go forward.	ALT+RIGHT ARROW
Zoom in or resize the picture thumbnail.	+ (PLUS)
Zoom out or resize the picture thumbnail.	- (MINUS)
Best fit.	CTRL+B
Select the previous item.	LEFT ARROW
Select the next item or row.	RIGHT ARROW
Easel: Previous item or Thumbnail: previous row.	UP ARROW
Next screen.	PAGE DOWN
Previous screen.	PAGE UP
Select the first item.	HOME
Select the last item.	END
Delete: Send selected item to Recycle Bin.	DELETE
Permanently delete the selected item.	SHIFT+DELETE
Expand node.	RIGHT ARROW
Collapse node.	LEFT ARROW

Working with Videos

Working with Videos keystrokes

To do this:	Use this key:
Move back one frame.	J
Pause the playback.	K
Move forward one frame.	L
Set the start trim point.	I
Set the end trim point.	O
Split a clip.	M
Stop and rewind all the way back to the start trim point.	HOME
Advance to the next frame.	ALT+RIGHT ARROW
Go back to the previous frame.	ALT+LEFT ARROW
Stop and rewind playback.	CTRL+K
Play from the current location.	CTRL+P
Move to the start trim point.	HOME
Move to the end trim point.	END
Seek to nearest split point before the current location.	PAGE UP
Seek to nearest split point after the current location.	PAGE DOWN

Windows Help Viewer

Windows Help Viewer keystrokes

To do this:	Use this key:
Display the Table of Contents.	ALT+C
Display the Connection Settings menu.	ALT+N
Display the Options menu.	F10
Move back to the previously viewed topic.	ALT+LEFT ARROW
Move forward to the next (previously viewed) topic (if applicable).	ALT+RIGHT ARROW
Display the customer support page.	ALT+A
Display the Help and Support home page.	ALT+HOME
Move to the beginning of a topic.	HOME
Move to the end of a topic.	END
Search the current topic.	CTRL+F
Print the current topic.	CTRL+P
Move to the Search box.	F3

Natural Keyboard (Windows Key) Shortcuts You can use the following keyboard shortcuts with a Microsoft Natural Keyboard or any other compatible keyboard that includes the Windows logo key WINKEY and the Application pop-up menu key MENU.

Windows Key shortcuts

To do this:	Use this key:
Display or hide the Start menu.	WINKEY
Display the System Properties dialog box.	WINKEY+BREAK
Show the desktop.	WINKEY+D
Minimize all windows.	WINKEY+M
Restores minimized windows.	WINKEY+SHIFT+M
Open Computer.	WINKEY+E
Search for a file or folder.	WINKEY+F
Cycle through Sidebar gadgets.	WINKEY+G
Search for computers.	CTRL+WINKEY+F
Lock your computer.	WINKEY+L
Open the Run dialog box.	WINKEY+R
Cycle through the programmes on the taskbar.	WINKEY+T
Open Ease of Access Centre.	WINKEY+U
Open Windows Mobility Centre.	WINKEY+X
Cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Windows Flip 3-D.	WINKEY+TAB
Use the ARROW keys to cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Windows Flip 3-D.	CTRL+WINKEY+TAB
Bring all gadgets to the front and select Windows Sidebar.	WINKEY+SPACE
Display the shortcut menu for the selected item.	MENU

Accessibility Shortcuts

Accessibility Shortcuts

To do this:	Use this key:
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 Ease of Access Centre.	WINKEY+U