Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows
Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows
There are a number of keyboard shortcuts and combinations that you can make use of instead of your mouse or your taskbar options. This article will give you the list of the most common shortcuts used while using a Windows operating system.
Windows System
- Windows Key: will open the Start menu
- Windows Key+Break: will display the System Properties dialogue box
- Windows Key+D: will minimize the windows to show the Desktop
- Windows Key+E: will open Internet Explorer
- Windows Key+F: will open the Search option for files and folders
- Windows Key+F+CTRL: will open Search option for computer
- Windows Key+F1: will display Help/Assistance option
- Windows Key+L: will lock your Desktop
- Windows Key+M: will minimize or restore all windows
- Windows Key+R: will open the RUN option
- Windows Key+TAB: will switch between open items
- Windows Key+U: will open Utility Manager
- ALT+ Hyphen: will display the Multiple Document Interface child windowâ€(TM)s System menu
- ALT+ ENTER: will view the properties for the selected object
- ALT+ ESC: will cycle through the items in the order that they were opened
- ALT+ F4: will close all the window that is open
- ALT+ SPACEBAR: will display the System menu
- ALT+TAB: switch from one open program to another on your taskbar.
- F1: used to request help/assistance
- SHIFT: If you press and hold down the SHIFT key while inserting a CD-ROM it will skip the automatic-run feature
- SHIFT+DELETE: will delete the file permanently
- CTRL+ESC: will open the Start Menu
In a General Folder and text programs
- Ctrl + A: will select all items
- Ctrl + B: will organize your Favorites in Internet Explorer
- Ctrl + C: will copy the selected item
- Ctrl + F: will open the Search options
- Ctrl + H: will allow you to replace some text
- Ctrl + N: will create a new folder
- Ctrl + O: will open a new document
- Ctrl + P: will print the selected document
- Ctrl + S: will save the current document
- Ctrl + V: will copy the selected item
- Ctrl + W: will close the current window
- Ctrl + X: will cut the current item
- Ctrl + Y: will repeat the last action that has been cancelled
- Ctrl + Z: will undo the last action
In a General Folder
- F10: Opens Menu Bar options
- CTRL+F4: list the address menu paths
- SHIFT+F10: Opens right click shortcut menu
- ALT+DOWN ARROW: will open a drop-down list box
- ALT+SPACE: will list the window's System menu
- ALT+Underlined Letter in Menu: Opens the menu
For a Selected Item a Folder
- F2: used to rename the item
- F3: Opens the Search option
- F5: will refresh the current folder
- F6: will move along the panes in Windows Explorer
- CTRL+ X: Cut an item
- CTRL+ C: Copy an item
- CTRL+ V: Paste an item
- SHIFT+DELETE: will delete this item permanently.
- ALT+ENTER: will open the properties option for the selected item.
- CTRL+ G: will open the Go To Folder tool (in Windows 95 Windows Explorer only)
- CTRL+ A: will select all the items in the current window
- BACKSPACE: will switch to the parent folder
For Microsoft Word
- CTRL+ N: will promptly open a Word document
- CTRL+ O: will open a previously saved Word document
- CTRL+ W: will close the current window without exiting Word
- CTRL+ S: will save the current document
- CTRL+ P: will promptly print the current document
- CTRL+ Z: will undo the last action
- CTRL+ Y: will restore an undone action
- CTRL+ X: will cut the selected text
- CTRL+ C: will copy the selected text
- CTRL+ V: will paste the selected text
- CTRL+ A: will select the whole document
- CTRL+ F: will search for a specific text in the current document
- CTRL+ B: will bold the selected text
- CTRL+ I: will put in italics the selected text
- CTRL+ U: will underline the selected text
For Microsoft Excel
- CTRL+ N: will promptly open an Excel document
- CTRL+ O: will open a previously saved Excel document
- CTRL+ W: will close the current window without exiting Excel
- CTRL+ S: will save the current document
- CTRL+ P: will promptly print the current document
- CTRL+ Z: will undo the last action
- CTRL+ Y: will restore an undone action
- CTRL+ X: will cut the selected text
- CTRL+ C: will copy the selected text
- CTRL+ V: will paste the selected text
- CTRL+ A: will select the whole document
- CTRL+ F: will search for a specific text in the current document
- CTRL+ B: will bold the selected text
- CTRL+ I: will put in italics the selected text
- CTRL+ U: will underline the selected text
- F1: will prompt the Help option
- F2: will edit the document
- F3: will paste the name
- F4: will repeat the last action
- F5: will open the Go To option
- F6: will switch to the next pane
- F7: will launch the Spell Check option
- F8: will allow the Extend Mode
- F9: will recalculate all workbooks
- F10: will activate the menu bar
- F11: will open a new chart
- F12: will save the document.
For Microsoft PowerPoint
- F4: will repeat the last action
- F5: will start a slide show
- F6: will switch to the next pane in a clockwise way
- CTRL+ EQUAL SIGN: will apply a subscript formatting
- CTRL+ ADDITION SIGN: will apply a superscript formatting
- CTRL+ BACKSPACE: will delete a word
- CTRL+ F: will find a particular text
- CTRL+ K: will insert a hyperlink
- CTRL+ M: will insert a slide
- CTRL+ I: will set the text into italics
- CTRL+ D: will copy the current slide
- CTRL+ O: will open a previously saved PowerPoint file
- CTRL+ T: will open a Font dialogue
- CTRL+ Y: will repeat last action
- CTRL+ G: to view guides
- SHIFT+ ALT+ LEFT ARROW: will promote a paragraph
- SHIFT+ F3: will capitalize the text
- SHIFT+ALT+ RIGHT ARROW: will demote a paragraph
- SHIFT+F6: will switch to the previous pane in an anticlockwise way.
For Internet Explorer
- F1: will display the Internet Explorer help
- F11: will allow the full screen option
- TAB KEY: will enable you to move through the items, address bar and links on your webpage
- ALT+HOME: will go to your home page
- ALT+LEFT ARROW: will go to the previous page
- SHIFT+F10: will display a shortcut menu for the link
- CTRL+TAB: will move forward between tabs
- SHIFT+CTRL+TAB: will move back between frames
- UP ARROW KEY: will scroll towards the beginning of the webpage
- DOWN ARROW KEY: will scroll towards the end to the webpage
- PAGE UP: will scroll by sections towards the beginning of the webpage
- PAGE DOWN: will scroll by sections towards the end of the webpage
- HOME: will move directly to the beginning of the webpage
- END: will move directly to the end of the webpage
- CTRL+F: will find some text on the page
- F5: will refresh the current page
- ESC: will stop loading the page
- CTRL+ N: will open a new window
- CTRL+ E: will open the Search option in the Explorer bar
- CTRL+ I: will open the Favorites option in Explorer bar
- CTRL+ H: will open the History option in Explorer bar
For Windows Media Player
- ALT + 1 (2 or 3): zoom of 50% (100% or 200%)
- ALT + Enter: toggle full screen
- Esc: Exit from full screen
- ALT + Left arrow: take a step back in your navigation history
- ALT + Right Arrow: move forward in your navigation history
- CTRL + 1: switch to full screen
- CTRL + 2: Switch to skin mode
- CTRL + B: previous (item or chapter)
- CTRL + F: next (item or chapter)
- CTRL + M: Toggle shuffle
- CTRL + T: toggle repeat
- CTRL + M: show/hide the Classic Menus (menu bar)
- CTRL + N: create a new playlist
- CTRL + O: open file
- CTRL + P: Play/Pause
- CTRL + S: Stop reading CTRL + S
- CTRL + U: specify a URL or file path
- Ctrl + Shift + C: Enable/disable captions and subtitles
- F2: Rename selected item
- F3: add media files to the library
- F5: update information
- F6: Increase the size of the album cover
- Shift + F6: reduce the size of the album cover
- F7: disable volume
- F8: decrease volume
- F9: Increase Volume
================
COMPUTER TIP OF THE WEEK
from Dr T -- RTemlak4dds@aol.com
Q: Whenever I try to print something, the text comes out all smudged together and everything just looks distorted. What could be causing this and how can I fix it?
A: Great question! We've covered similar printing problem questions like this before, but I don't think we've ever hit this topic head on. That's going to change today though and all you had to do was ask! Okay, so just to make sure, this is what's happening: You go to print off a document from your computer and the end result turns out to be a bunch of ink just all jumbled together. It could either be smudged copies, lines, distorted text or even unrecognizable images. Basically, you can't go on like this, so let's get this printer problem under control. Here we go!
As with all printing problems, this could be caused by a number of things. Below, I'm going to go over some of the main ones, along with a brief description of what you can do to troubleshoot and eventually fix it. Hopefully, at least one of them will give you what you need to get your printer up and running successfully again.
1.) Paper Issues: First of all, you need to make sure you're using the right kind of paper. When printing regular documents from a computer, you should try to always use the 8 1/2 x 11 or A4 standard paper. If you're trying to use a special kind of paper or an untraditional kind, your printer may not respond well to it. If they don't get along, your work will come out all smudgy or the text could be uneven. This even causes text to run off the side of the paper sometimes as well.
Now, this doesn't mean that you can't ever print with special paper, but you have to make sure of a couple things before you do it. First, make sure the paper is being fed into the printer correctly. You may have to move your paper tray over a little in order for the paper to fit. Next, simply be sure that the type of paper you're using is okay to use with your printer. Your printer's manual should have some information on what types of paper you can and cannot use. Basically, if you're only having trouble with one kind of paper, you can probably guess what the culprit is.
2.) Driver Issues: The second most common cause of bad printing is the drivers. If you're only getting unreadable text or strange looking characters, you probably have a bad driver. To fix this, you should look into and make sure you're using the most recent and updated drivers for your printer. If you don't, download and install them right away. You can find this information online by searching for your type of printer or you can read about it in your printer's manual as well.
3.) Print Head Issues: If your printer is only printing out fuzzy or blurry text or images, you probably have dirty print heads. Luckily, there are ways to check on this (at least for the most recent printers). If you look in your manual, you should be able to find some information on how to do a printing test, which will also lead you in the right direction to check and clean your printer's print heads. Of course, this method is different for every printer, so I can't really give instructions, but like I said, it can all be found in your manual. Also, if you use your printer on a regular basis, it's recommended that you do this at least once a year, if not more.
4.) Ink Issues: You knew this one was coming! If you haven't replaced your ink cartridges in awhile, this may be the base of your printing problems. This is especially true if you don't use your printer very often, because the ink could dry up. Each time you print something, there's usually an image that comes up on your computer screen showing you an estimated amount of ink that you have left. Pay close attention to that each time and be prepared to change it if the levels look low. If your printer doesn't do that, it will still notify you by flashing a light on one of its buttons. Either way, you'll be able to tell if your ink cartridge needs replaced. All of this is the same for the toner in laser printers as well. Again, if you haven't changed your ink or toner in over a year, you might as well get to it!
5.) Other Hardware Issues: If you have checked into all of the above suggestions and you're still having trouble with your printer, you may have a basic hardware problem. If this is the case, the best thing to do is contact your printer's manufacturer and ask them about it. Their contact information can probably be found online or in your manual. They might be able to recommend something else or even repair your printer for you.
Either way you look at it, printers are very important to our computing lives. Without them, we can never see our work on paper. So, I guess all I'm telling you is to take good care of your printer and if you run into a problem, get it resolved right away. You'll thank me later!
[Source: Worldstart.com]
