When I am in a customer’s home or business repairing a fault I often use keyboard shortcuts to open windows and software and navigate my way around the computer files, I am often asked how I know all these; well here is a nice list that will help you get to know your way around the shortcuts.

Common Shortcuts

    * Windows key + E = Explorer.
    * ALT + Tab = Switch between windows.
    * ALT, Space, X = Maximize window
    * CTRL + Shift + Esc = Task Manager
    * Windows key + Break = System properties
    * Windows key + F = Search
    * Windows key + D = Hide/Display all windows
    * CTRL + C = copy
    * CTRL + X = cut
    * CTRL + V = paste

Don't forget about the "Right-click" key next to the right Windows key on your keyboard. Using the arrows and that key can get just about anything done once you've opened up any program.

Keyboard Shortcuts

    * [Alt] and [Esc] Switch between running applications
    * [Alt] and letter Select menu item by underlined letter
    * [Ctrl] and [Esc] Open Program Menu
    * [Ctrl] and [F4] Close active document or group windows (does not work with some applications)
    * [Alt] and [F4] Quit active application or close current window
    * [Alt] and [-] Open Control menu for active document
    * Ctrl] Lft., Rt. arrow Move cursor forward or back one word
    * Ctrl] Up, Down arrow Move cursor forward or back one paragraph
    * [F1] Open Help for active application
    * Windows+M Minimize all open windows
    * Shift+Windows+M Undo minimize all open windows
    * Windows+F1 Open Windows Help
    * Windows+Tab Cycle through the Taskbar buttons
    * Windows+Break Open the System Properties dialog box

 Accessibility Shortcuts

    * Right SHIFT for eight seconds........ Switch Filter Keys on and off.
    * Left ALT +left SHIFT +PRINT SCREEN....... Switch High Contrast on and off.
    * Left ALT +left SHIFT +NUM LOCK....... Switch MouseKeys on and off.
    * SHIFT....... five times Switch Sticky Keys on and off.
    * NUM LOCK...... for five seconds Switch ToggleKeys on and off.

 Explorer Shortcuts

    * END....... Display the bottom of the active window.
    * HOME....... Display the top of the active window.
    * NUM LOCK+ASTERISK....... on numeric keypad (*) Display all subfolders under the selected folder
    * NUM LOCK+PLUS SIGN....... on numeric keypad (+) Display the contents of the selected folder.
    * NUM LOCK+MINUS SIGN....... on numeric keypad (-) Collapse the selected folder.
    * LEFT ARROW...... Collapse current selection if it's expanded or select parent folder.
    * RIGHT ARROW....... Display current selection if it's collapsed, or select first subfolder.

 Run Command Shortcuts

    * Type the following commands in your Run Box (Windows Key + R) or Start Run
    * Iexplore + "web address" = Internet Explorer
    * compmgmt.msc = Computer Management
    * dhcpmgmt.msc = DHCP Management
    * dnsmgmt.msc = DNS Management
    * services.msc = Services
    * eventvwr = Event Viewer
    * dsa.msc = Active Directory Users and Computers
    * dssite.msc = Active Directory Sites and Services
    * devmgmt.msc = Device Manager
    * msinfo32 = System Information
    * cleanmgr = Disk Cleanup
    * ntbackup = Backup or Restore Wizard (Windows Backup Utility)
    * mmc = Microsoft Management Console
    * excel = Microsoft Excel (If Installed)
    * msaccess = Microsoft Access (If Installed)
    * powerpnt = Microsoft PowerPoint (If Installed)
    * winword = Microsoft Word (If Installed)
    * frontpg = Microsoft FrontPage (If Installed)
    * notepad = Notepad
    * wordpad = WordPad
    * calc = Calculator
    * msmsgs = Windows Messenger
    * mspaint = Microsoft Paint
    * wmplayer = Windows Media Player
    * rstrui = System Restore
    * netscp6 = Netscape 6.x
    * netscp = Netscape 7.x
    * netscape = Netscape 4.x
    * waol = America Online
    * control = Opens the Control Panel
    * control printers = Opens the Printers Dialog

For Windows XP:

    * 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
    * Copy selected item. CTRL while dragging an item
    * Create shortcut to selected item. CTRL+SHIFT while dragging an item
    * Rename selected item. F2
    * 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
    * Highlight 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
    * Search for a file or folder. F3
    * 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+SPACEBAR
    * Close the active document in programs that allow you to have multiple documents open simultaneously. CTRL+F4
    * Switch between open items. ALT+TAB
    * Cycle through items in the order they were opened. ALT+ESC
    * Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop. F6
    * Display the Address bar list in My Computer or Windows Explorer. F4
    * Display the shortcut menu for the selected item. SHIFT+F10
    * Display the System menu for the active window. ALT+SPACEBAR
    * Display the Start menu. CTRL+ESC
    * Display the corresponding menu. ALT+Underlined letter in a menu name
    * Carry out the corresponding command. Underlined letter in a command name on an open menu
    * Activate the menu bar in the active program. F10
    * 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
    * Refresh the active window. F5
    * View the folder one level up in My Computer or Windows Explorer. BACKSPACE
    * Cancel the current task. ESC
    * SHIFT when you insert a CD into the CD-ROM drive Prevent the CD from automatically playing.

Use these keyboard shortcuts for dialog boxes:

    * Move forward through tabs. CTRL+TAB
    * Move backward through tabs. CTRL+SHIFT+TAB
    * Move forward through options. TAB
    * Move backward through options. SHIFT+TAB
    * 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 or clear the check box if the active option is a check box. SPACEBAR
    * 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

Windows logo key shortcuts:

    * Display or hide the Start menu. WIN Key
    * Display the System Properties dialog box. WIN Key+BREAK
    * Show the desktop. WIN Key+D
    * Minimize all windows. WIN Key+M
    * Restores minimized windows. WIN Key+Shift+M
    * Open My Computer. WIN Key+E
    * Search for a file or folder. WIN Key+F
    * Search for computers. CTRL+WIN Key+F
    * Display Windows Help. WIN Key+F1
    * Lock your computer if you are connected to a network domain, or switch users if you are not connected to a network domain. WIN Key+ L
    * Open the Run dialog box. WIN Key+R

Open Utility Manager. WIN Key+U