Windows Keyboard Shortcuts

Use shortcut keys as an alternative to the mouse when working in Windows. You can open, close, and navigate the Start menu, desktop, menus, dialog boxes, and Web pages using keyboard shortcuts. Keyboard shortcuts may also make it easier for you to interact with your computer. Menus may have an Underlined letter in a command name on an open menu; with the menu list open, pressing the letter will carry out the corresponding command.

General keyboard shortcuts
Press	To
CTRL+C	Copy.
CTRL+X	Cut.
CTRL+V	Paste.
CTRL+Z	Undo.
DELETE	Delete.
SHIFT+DELETE	Delete selected item permanently without placing the item in the Recycle Bin.
CTRL while dragging an item	Copy selected item.
CTRL+SHIFT while dragging an item	Create shortcut to selected item.
F2	Rename selected item.
CTRL+RIGHT ARROW	Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next word.
CTRL+LEFT ARROW	Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous word.
CTRL+DOWN ARROW	Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next paragraph.
CTRL+UP ARROW	Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous paragraph.
CTRL+SHIFT with any of the arrow keys	Highlight a block of text.
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.
CTRL+A	Select all.
F3	Search for a file or folder.
ALT+ENTER	View properties for the selected item.
ALT+F4	Close the active item, or quit the active program.
ALT+Enter	Displays the properties of the selected object.
ALT+SPACEBAR	Opens the shortcut menu for the active window.
CTRL+F4	Close the active document in programs that allow you to have multiple documents open simultaneously.
ALT+TAB	Switch between open items.
ALT+ESC	Cycle through items in the order they were opened.
F6	Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop.
F4	Display the Address bar list in My Computer or Windows Explorer.
SHIFT+F10	Display the shortcut menu for the selected item.
ALT+SPACEBAR	Display the System menu for the active window.
CTRL+ESC	Display the Start menu.
ALT+Underlined letter in a menu name	Display the corresponding menu.
F10	Activate the menu bar in the active program.
RIGHT ARROW	Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu.
LEFT ARROW	Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu.
F5	Refresh the active window.
BACKSPACE	View the folder one level up in My Computer or Windows Explorer.
ESC	Cancel the current task.
Press and hold a SHIFT key when you insert a CD into the CD-ROM drive	Prevent the CD from automatically playing.
Dialog box keyboard shortcuts
Press	To
CTRL+TAB	Move forward through tabs.
CTRL+SHIFT+TAB	Move backward through tabs.
TAB	Move forward through options.
SHIFT+TAB	Move backward through options.
ALT+Underlined letter	Carry out the corresponding command or select the corresponding option.
ENTER	Carry out the command for the active option or button.
SPACEBAR	Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box.
Arrow keys	Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons.
F1	Display Help.
F4	Display the items in the active list.
BACKSPACE	Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box.
Windows Explorer keyboard shortcuts
Press	To
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.
Help and Support keyboard shortcuts
Press	To
ALT+SPACEBAR	Display the System menu.
SHIFT+F10	Display the Help and Support shortcut menu.
ALT+TAB	Switch between the Help and Support Center and other open windows.
CTRL+TAB	Switch to the next pane.
CTRL+SHIFT+TAB	Switch to the previous pane.
UP ARROW	Move up one item in the  Index, search results, or list of Help topics.
DOWN ARROW	Move down one item in the Index, search results, or list of Help topics.
PAGE UP	Move up one page in the Index, search results, or list of Help topics.
PAGE DOWN	Move down one page in the Index, search results, or list of Help topics.
F6	Switch focus between the different panes in Help and Support Center.
UP ARROW or DOWN ARROW	Scroll through a topic.
CTRL+HOME	Move to the beginning of a topic.
CTRL+END	Move to the end of a topic.
CTRL+A	Select all text in a pane.
CTRL+P	Print a topic.
ALT+LEFT ARROW	Move back to the previously viewed topic.
ALT+RIGHT ARROW	Move forward to the next (previously viewed) topic.
ALT+F4	Close Help and Support Center.

Windows 7 Developer Shortcuts

[caption id="attachment_179" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Each of the following sixteen lines creates a special pointer to internal system features found in Windows 7."][/caption]

To use these developer shortcuts, create a new folder and copy one of the following items as the folder name. Type or paste the entire line, including the period and data string in the curly braces.The resulting folder name should be just the text that appears before the period. If you want a different name, you can change it as part of the string before copying or just rename it afterwards.

• All Tasks.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}


• Default Location.{00C6D95F-329C-409a-81D7-C46C66EA7F33}


• Biometrics.{0142e4d0-fb7a-11dc-ba4a-000ffe7ab428}


• Power Settings.{025A5937-A6BE-4686-A844-36FE4BEC8B6D}


• Notification Area.{05d7b0f4-2121-4eff-bf6b-ed3f69b894d9}


• Manage Credentials.{1206F5F1-0569-412C-8FEC-3204630DFB70}


• Get New Programs.{15eae92e-f17a-4431-9f28-805e482dafd4}


• Default Programs.{17cd9488-1228-4b2f-88ce-4298e93e0966}


• NET Framework Assemblies.{1D2680C9-0E2A-469d-B787-065558BC7D43}


• Wireless Networks.{1FA9085F-25A2-489B-85D4-86326EEDCD87}


• Network Neighborhood.{208D2C60-3AEA-1069-A2D7-08002B30309D}


• My Computer.{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}


• Printers.{2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D}


• RemoteApp and Desktop.{241D7C96-F8BF-4F85-B01F-E2B043341A4B}


• Windows Firewall.{4026492F-2F69-46B8-B9BF-5654FC07E423}


• Performance.{78F3955E-3B90-4184-BD14-5397C15F1EFC}

Here is the step-by-step process:

1. Right-click on the location where you want the shortcut. Select New >  Folder.
   
   


2. Select the shortcut string from above. Include the entire text of the line. Right-click and select Copy.
   
   


3. Select the new folder you created, click to rename or press F2 to edit the exisiting name. Right-click and select Paste.
   
   
   
   NOTE: If the cursor is not immediately following the last curly brace "}" - then use your backspace key to remove any additional lines or blank space that copy captured in your copy process.
   
   


4. Press Enter to complete the rename process. The folder should change into the icon as pictured at the start of this article, and the data between the curly braces should now be hidden.
   
   

Notes:

• Some of these shortcut features may work under 32-bit Windows Vista, although there are reported issues with 64-bit versions crashing and restarting when you click on the folder.


• If you type the strings, there are no spaces in the text at all. If you enter the data in the curly braces incorrectly, the shortcut will be just a folder with a weird name. Edit the name to correct the text or remove the spaces and try again.

Change the Autoplay Settings in Windows 7

This how-to article details changing the Autoplay settings in Windows 7. This can be useful if: when a disc or drive is attached to the system, the system performs and undesired task, such as automatically beginning to play an audio CD.

1. Click on the Start button in the bottom left of your screen, then in the Search programs and files box type in “autoplay” without the quotes. Press Enter.
   
   
   
   
   
2. On the new window, locate the item to be changed. For this example, an Audo CD will be changed to have windows ask every time what to do, instead of playing automatically or any other action.
3. Click on the option dropdown next to the item to be changed.
   
   
   
   
   
4. Choose the option required for that particular item.
   
   
   
   
   
5. Make any additional changes required, then click on Save in the bottom right to finalize the settings.

Microsoft Outlook Won't Launch

This article will show you how to fix the error message “Cannot start Microsoft Office Outlook. Cannot Open the Outlook Window.” This issue seems to be caused by either an add-on or a navigation pane within the Outlook program being moved in to a position that is illegal within the Outlook program.

1. On the desktop of the computer that receives the error message, close all open windows.
2. On your keyboard, hold the Windows key and tap the letter R.
   
   
   
   
   
3. In the Run dialog box that opens, type “outlook.exe /resetnavpane” without the quotes.
   
   
   
   
   
4. Click OK and the Outlook application will open. Note that some window pane placements may have to be reset.