Use Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows Vista
Article by George Norman
On 01 Oct 2009
If you’ve already switched to the latest version of the Microsoft developed operating system, mainly Windows 7, you will want take advantage of these Windows 7 keyboard shortcuts. If on the other hand you are still running Windows Vista on your PC, then you will want to become a more efficient Windows user by using some handy keyboard shortcuts. Below is a detailed and comprehensive list of Keyboard shortcuts available in Windows Vista, listed by category.

General

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Help - F1
Copy - CTRL+C
Cut - CTRL+X
Paste - CTRL+V
Undo action - CTRL+Z
Redo action - CTRL+Y
Delete selected item (item will be moved to the Recycle Bin) - DELETE
Delete selected item (item will NOT be moved to the Recycle Bin) - SHIFT+DELETE
Rename selected item - F2
Move mouse cursor to the beginning of the next word - CTRL+RIGHT ARROW
Move mouse cursor to the beginning of the previous word - CTRL+LEFT ARROW
Move mouse cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph - CTRL+DOWN ARROW
Move cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph - CTRL+UP ARROW
Select text block - CTRL+SHIFT with an arrow key
Select more than one item - Shift with any arrow key
Select multiple individual items - CTRL with any arrow key+SPACEBAR
Select all items - CTRL+A
Search – F3
Display selected item’s properties - ALT+ENTER
Close – ALT+F4
Shortcut menu for the active window - ALT+SPACEBAR
Close active doc - CTRL+F4
Switch between open items - ALT+TAB
Use arrow keys to switch between open items - CTRL+ALT+TAB
Desktop icon size - CTRL+Scroll wheel
Cycle through taskbar programs via Windows Flip 3D - Win +TAB
Use the arrow keys to cycle through taskbar programs via Windows Flip 3D - CTRL+Win +TAB
Cycle through items in the order in which they were opened - ALT+ESC
Cycle through screen elements - F6
Address bar in Windows Explorer – F4
Shortcut menu for selected item - SHIFT+F10
Start menu - CTRL+ESC or Win (the key with the windows logo on it from your keyboard).
Display corresponding menu - ALT+underlined letter
Perform the menu command or other underlined command - ALT+underlined letter
Menu bar in the active program - F10
Open next menu to the right, or open a submenu - RIGHT ARROW
Close next menu to the left, or close a submenu - LEFT ARROW
Refresh active window - F5
One level up in Windows Explorer - ALT+UP ARROW
Cancel current task - ESC
Task Manager - CTRL+SHIFT+ESC
CD/DVD does not automatically play - hold Shift while inserting the disk.

Windows Explorer

New window - CTRL+N
Bottom of active window - END
Top of active window - HOME
Maximize/minimize active window - F11
Display all subfolders under the selected folder - NUM LOCK+ASTERISK (*) on numeric keypad
Display contents of selected folder - NUM LOCK+PLUS SIGN (+) on numeric keypad
Collapse selected folder - NUM LOCK+MINUS SIGN (-) on numeric keypad
Collapse current selection if expanded, or select parent folder - LEFT ARROW
View previous folder - ALT+LEFT ARROW
Display current selection if collapsed, or select first subfolder - RIGHT ARROW
View next folder - ALT+RIGHT ARROW
File and folder icons size - CTRL+Mouse scroll wheel
Address bar - ALT+D

Ease of Access

Filter Keys on/off - Right SHIFT for eight seconds
High Contrast on/off - Left ALT+left SHIFT+PRINT SCREEN (or PRTSCRN)
Mouse Keys on/off - Left ALT+left SHIFT+NUM LOCK
Sticky Keys on/off - SHIFT five times
Toggle Keys on/off - NUM LOCK for five seconds
Ease of Access Center - Win +U

Win+X

Note: By Win I mean the keyboard with the Microsoft logo on it.

Start menu – Win
System Properties – Win+PAUSE
Desktop - Win+D
Minimize all windows - Win +M
Restore minimized windows to the desktop - Win +SHIFT+M
Open Computer - Win+E
Search for a file or folder - Win+F
Search for computers on the network - CTRL+Win+F
Lock computer or switch users - Win+L
Run dialog box - Win+R
Cycle through programs on the taskbar - Win+T
Cycle through programs on the taskbar - Win+TAB
Use arrow keys to cycle through programs on the taskbar - CTRL+Win+TAB
Bring all gadgets to the front and select Windows Sidebar - Win+SPACEBAR
Cycle through Sidebar gadgets - Win+G
Open Ease of Access Center - Win+U
Open Windows Mobility Center - Win+X
Open the Quick Launch shortcut - Win+any number key

Windows Sidebar

Bring all gadgets to the front and select Sidebar - Win+SPACEBAR
Cycle through Sidebar gadgets - Win +G
Cycle through Sidebar controls - TAB

Dialog Box

Move forward through tabs - CTRL+TAB
Move backward through tabs - CTRL+SHIFT+TAB
Move forward through options - TAB
Move back through options - SHIFT+TAB
Perform command or select option that goes with that letter - ALT+underlined letter
Access command - ENTER
Select or clear check box - SPACEBAR
Select a button - Arrow keys
Help - F1
Display items in the active list - F4
Open a folder one level up - BACKSPACE

Tips and warnings
A detailed tutorial on how to disable Win+X keyboard shortcuts in Vista is available here.



Tags: Microsoft, Windows, Vista, Keyboard Shortcuts
About the author: George Norman
George is a news editor.
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