Mastering your keyboard exclusively and leaving your mouse behind will make you much more efficient at performing any task on any Windows system. I use the following keyboard shortcuts every day; all you need do is just following these basic steps:
- Windows key + R = Run menu
This is usually followed by:
- Cmd = Command Prompt
- 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
- 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
Also 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] Left., 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+ F, Open Windows Help
- Windows + Tab, Cycle through the Taskbar buttons
- Windows + Break, Open the System Properties dialog box
