Windows keyboard tricks

[Tedob1]

IMO there is nothing more impressive than seeing some one who can, in a couple of keystrokes, do what it takes the average user a minute or two to do with a mouse, and yet he/she never touchs one. Its like music.

It’s all a matter of tweaking your system for your needs and knowing how things are arranged.

For instance if you have aol installed then “America online x.0” appears in your start menu.

Now if you notice on your keyboard, next to the control button on the left is a key with the windows logo on it. If you hit it (press and release) the start menu will open.

((There’s another Logo next to the alt button on the right. Next to it is another odd button, this allows the right mouse click functions on whatever has focus.))

If you hit ‘logo’ , pause a split second, then hit the ‘A’ key, AOL will open (given that aol is the only program on the start menu beginning with the letter A.) That’s two keystrokes, less than a second and you’ve opened the program where before you’d still be reaching for the mouse. Once it’s opened just hit ‘enter’ to start the dialing. Three Keystroke to get online.

This is true for any program, hitting logo then “L” will open outlook because its named “Launch Microsoft outlook”.

Logo then “I”, internet explorer

Make shortcuts, on the desktop, to the programs you use most, then drag them over to the start button and drop them in. rename them to make them unique. Change WinZip to zip, Opera to 1Opera, (numbers are cool as long as they’re unique). Etc

If two menu entries begin with the same character, the first one will get focus. Hitting the char again will move you to the next.

(Alt + F4) will close any program

Now for some standard windows ‘tricks’

Logo + R (while holding the logo key down hit ‘r’) will open up the “run“ command box. Not only does this box run commands, it remembers them.
Typing “command” will open a dos prompt ( “cmd” in NT)
Typing notepad will open notepad
Typing winword will open word

Now for some speed, assuming you’ve typed these commands before.
Typing “not” will make the box read “notepad” (auto complete)
So now if you do (logo + R) then enter “com” you’ll have a dos prompt open
Or if “command” was the last command you ran it’ll be there when you open the run box so, (logo + R) [Enter] will open a prompt. Now you can be checking the results of a tracert before others have a prompt opened.

Logo + E open windows explorer

The arrow keys manipulate the directory tree. Right and Left arrows expand and close directories.

(Logo + E) (open windows explorer)

2 clicks on the down arrow (brings you to the c:\ directory)

Right arrow (expands the C directory)

“M” (brings me to the directory 'My Music' )

Tab over to the right side and select the file you want

hitting "enter" will open that file with its associated program

( Ctrl + C ) will copy that file

( Ctrl + V ) will paste

Hitting the right click function key (next to logo on the right) will give you the same menu as if you right clicked on it with the mouse

(Logo + F) will open ‘find files’ with the cursor in the ‘file box’ just check to see where it’s going to search before you type the file name and hit enter.

Almost all programs have their own short cuts and hot keys. These can usually be found in ‘help’

The most common ones use the ‘Alt’ key. If you notice on the tool bars, one letter in each Menu title will be underlined. Doing (Alt + that letter) will open that menu. And hitting the underlined letter of any menu item will open it.

Learn to use these tricks and you may impress your boss not just you friends.

[Dome]

ctrl and alt buttons do wonders in windows..... one time i didnt have a mouse and just navigated windows with NO problem without it.... really its just learning what cuases what.....

its just easier for me.... :)

[valhallen]

heh yup I find using the keyboard quicker to navigate than the mouse
a few others
alt+tab - cycle through all open windows/progs
ctrl+N - Opens a new window in IE or Netscape
ctrl+W - shuts down active IE window

only time the mouse can be quicker is in opera - where u can hold the right mouse button and move the mouse in a certain direction to perform actions....

v_Ln

[d313t3d]

Cntrl-O opens a file, local or net. . .

[valhallen]

ohhh and you can check (most) prog shortcuts by looking next to the option in the progs menu....eg:
if you click on file in IE you'll see
New
Open ctrl - O
Edit with...
Save ctrl - S
Save as..
etc etc etc

also as you can see some of the options have letters underlined
by pressing that key when the menu is open it will jump to that option...

v_Ln

[cwk9]

A few years ago my mouse busted and it was going to be a whole week before I could get a new one (14 couldn’t drive with out my parents in the car). Long story short I became a keyboard guru. I still use the keyboard for lots of task. It also adds a little extra flare when you’re using the computer. It says (Mice are for wusses. My mouse fell behind the desk three days ago and I don't give a f**k because I’m the l337 computer guru around here.) If nothing else it looks like your working your a** off even though your just copying a word document. :)

[paulcottingham]

now here is a 3 key combo move ;) When you have explorer open [Ctrl]+[Alt]+[+] {alpha pad "+" only} resises the columns for you automatically if you use detailed view like i do :D

MrC

[RuffRyder]

sweet haha! good work

[Terr]

Just to note, the Logo + Letter combo only really works (Win98 anyway) if the program to run is within the first tier of the start menu. I usually place everything under the "Programs" subdirectory. My current setup is something like:

Logo + p + i + m + enter = Open mIRC
Logo + p + i + g + g + enter = Open GetRight
Logo + p + w + a = Open Adobe Photoshop
Logo + p + w + o = Open Word
Logo + p + w + e = Open Excel
Logo + p + w + p = Open Powerpoint
Logo + p + o + m = Open OpenOffice Master Document

...

You get the idea. If you hit a letter and one item on the current tier begins with that letter, it either opens it (if a link) or descends into it (if a directory). If there are more than one, you can hit the letter repeatedly to go through them, and enter to open/descend.

And for Opera... Well, I use the keyboard a lot, but the mouse gestures really steal the show since a lot of web browsing involves analog movement of the mouse rather than discrete commands that are always close at hand.

[PhirePhreak]

Here's a neat little trick I found a while back. Some keyboards (such as the one I'm typing on my lappie with) don't have the little Windows logo key. I learned that a combination of CTRL+ESC accomplishes the same thing. Great tut, Tedob.

Namárie,
--PhirePhreak

[RuffRyder]

if you have msn explorer 6 what keystroke do u hit if u want to close an explorer window

[TechieChick]

I try and teach shortcuts in my intro classes as the mouse seems a bit cumbersome for some of the seniors. I found a .doc for your palm pilot that seems to be a good refresher and will come in handy for me when I'm teaching.

Windows Shortcuts (http://palmcomputing.palmgear.com/palm/product.cfm?prodID=12704)

[RuffRyder]

Techie ..... isnt that abt. palm pilots?

[TechieChick]

Nope, it's a doc for your palm pilot. You'd need palm reader to read it and it is a listing of Windows Shortcuts for the keyboard.

[noODle]

in XP you could use:
logo+u to to some nice little utils

for all versions
logo+e gets you explorer
shift+F10 equals right clicking
ctrl-p will open printers dialog
PrintScreen will put your desktop on the clipboard, paste it right into mspaint.
ctrl+c copy
ctrl+x cut
ctrl+v paste
ctrl+z undo last change
alt+space gives you a shortcut to close window dialog box

in windows 95 you could try logo followed by escape (the start button is dotted now) press alt+- (alternate plus a minus). close the start button.

[jethro]

Ctrl+Alt+Delete. I remember when that used to be called "The Three-Fingered Salute..."
*sniff* Whatever happened to those crazy days? :(

[cwk9]

If you’re at the dos prompt you can hold down ALT and enter any number between 0 and 255 to produce ASCII that isn’t on the keyboard. This doesn’t always work in windows depending on were you type it in. Rarely do password crackers check for characters such as Ó and Ù becides having an omega symbol in your password is just cool.

[PhirePhreak]

I agree :) Any non-alphanumeric ASCII is very cool :) How else to you think I spell Namárie?

It's a bit trickier on the lappie I'm using right now, cause there is no keypad (BTW, those numbers MUST be entered in the numeric keypad on the right of your keyboard!). So I'm stuck doing the Fn key + (Num Lk) and then ALT + (number)

Kinda cumbersome, but it gets it done.

Namárie,
--PhirePhreak

[Rhavethstine]

You guys probably already know this, but you can customize your own keyboard shortcuts. Right click on a short cut in your Start menu (or make a new shortcut), then go to 'Properties'. Under the 'Shortcut' tab, click in the 'Shortcut Key' text box to make it active. Now press the keyboard combo that you want to represent this particular shortcut and then click Ok. Ctrl-Alt-N for Netscape or whatever. I find that this saves you alot of time if you have a monsterous Program tree, since it's essentially one keyboard movement that generates instant results :) It can also be somewhat useful if you create a keyboard shortcut to a Shutdown or Restart shortcut instead of relying upon Ctrl-Alt-Del to reboot out of a stubborn system freeze. Sometimes they respond, sometimes not. Depends on how badly your 'puter is determined to crash :)

[KapperDog]

One I use all the time is in Internet Explorer, typing "antionline" (without quotes) in the address bar and hitting alt+enter will yield http://www.antionline.com.

Only seems to work with .com addy's.

[cwk9]

Some thing to add about the windowskey+R. You can throw a bunch of shortcuts into the c:\windows\command dir. then you can just type in the name of the short cut and let it do all the hard work.

[qwerty_smith]

i can't tel u all how many times ive used all of those.
but each program usually has its own vender-specific shortcuts.
i'm a graphic artist, so i use quark, photoshop and illustrator. people are amazed at my speed, when i attribute most of what i do to either keyboard shortcuts or keyboard and scroll mouse combined. eyes widen. its beautiful.

[freeOn]

This is true for any program, hitting logo then “L” will open outlook because its named “Launch Microsoft outlook”.


Just wanted to say that in XP pro that will log you off the machine and not open Outlook

[Terr]

Don't forget alt-enter to maximize/restore a window. Very useful for getting in and out of fullscreen DOS session prompts. That, ant logo + Pause/Break brings up your "system properties" applet. (List of components and IRQs etc.)

And shift-f10 is the same as the little 'context menu' button found on some keyboards. It's like right-clicking on things.

Some of these are VERY useful on public 'locked' workstations and kiosk computers. :)

And don't forget, don't ever forget, tab and shift-tab. (F6 and shift-F6 do some stuff in Windows Explorer too.) With the tab key, (not alt-tab) you can shift between form items and such. In fact, it's always interesting to see how much you can use the computer from only the keyboard.

In Opera:

shift-D useful if mouse breaks.
control-shift click opens in a new window BEHIND the current one.
g and shift-g toggle image display and page display....

Aw, the help file is sufficient.

[JetForceGeminiX]

ctrl + ctrl = .....

[t3chy]

do u know a shortcut key for maximizing / minimizing a window ?

[cgi_bin]

windows key + D toggles between desktop and last open program
windows key + M minimize

:) nice ... verry handy tips Tedob1 and everyone else i guess

[Morpheo]

I think my favourite shortcuts are the ASCII charaters in Word, b/c i take German, so to be able to make the umlauts and ess-sets are really easy.

[chsh]

One of the most often overlooked pieces of functionality I've seen is the quick-minimize combo. Just his Windows Key + D and you get right to your desktop, with your windows minimized. This only works on Win98 and up, but it's a handy timesaver.

[GinandTonic]

alt+space+n = minimize window
alt+space+x = maximize window, etc..

used alternative ASCII is used alt+(number at the right sides, usually started with 0)
example : alt+0178 = ²

[GinandTonic]

alt+space+n = minimize window
alt+space+x = maximize window, etc..

used alternative ASCII is used alt+(number at the right sides, usually started with 0)
example : alt+0178 = ²
alt+0189= ½

:p

[Lady HaxX0r]

All well and good, but I don't have a mouse, I have a pen partner [much to the dismay of anyone who tries to use my computer] and the buttons and desktop are configured so that virtually any command requires merely a gentle tap...Now *there's* pretentious posing for you...but kudos on the comprehensive listing, definitely worth knowing

XXX

[ZeroOne]

Why did you call it "Logo" it's the windows key, "win" for short... Anyway, about minimizing and maximizing windows... Win+M works like someone already stated, back to maximize is Win+shift+M, which both can be replaced with Win+D (unless I missed something).
I think no one mentioned win+L which does the "Change user" in Windows XP (haven't tested if it works with other OS's, there it would then be "Log off").

[Tedob1]

i called it the logo key because i wanted to. if you choose to be m$ correct feel free.

[lucktsm]

How many of you accidentally hit the Windows Menu key and screw something up? I know certain games I am in when that happens and they go out of focus - it causes problems. There's a handy program called WindowsKeyKill that disables that.

Does anyone know of another way to disable this "feature"

[ZeroOne]

True hackers disable the windows key directly from the registry: http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/903

A handy tool is WinKey, http://www.copernic.com/winkey/ :
The Windows Keyboard Enhancer for Win95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP

* Allows you to create shortcuts with the Windows key
* Starts your favorite applications, folders and Web pages instantly
* Automatically creates more than 10 useful shortcuts
* Supports about 200 key combinations
* Bundles a unique Task Manager (Win95/98 only)

[Nokia]

The one i use most and most comp engineers will use most i think is Logo + pause/break
only works with windows, i'll let u see what it does.

[FrameWork]

This post is really old nokia, try not to dig up such old threads. The flashing dates indicate an older thread.

[kr4y3]

Originally posted here (http://www.AntiOnline.com/showthread.php?threadid=#post) by Nokia
The one i use most and most comp engineers will use most i think is Logo + pause/break
only works with windows, i'll let u see what it does.

yea i fix windows computers a lot an use the hell outta that

[Und3ertak3r]

dunno.. some times the old posts need to be dragged back to the top.. And to be a minor contributer.. a contributer none the less..
not a prob from me Nokia

Cheers

[kapish.popli]

i likd ur information

[xierox]

Please do not reply to old threads unless you have something very good or pertinent to add to them. " i likd ur information" does not meet this requirment. While it's nice comment, it would be better to assign the author (Tedob1) some positive AntiPoints (Read the FAQ if you don't know how) and put your comment in there, than to do as you did.

- Xierox

[Tedob1]

thanks kapish.popli i really appreciate your comment and i hope you find the information useful but xierox is right. some folks really get bent out of shape by old posts being brought up again

[Lightning_Girl]

I gotta say, he knows his stuff!!! One time I was on the laptop, the keypad was turned off & the mouse wasn't working so i had to learn how to use the tab button & all the shortcuts. It really is so much easier & faster.

[Kidd_Zero]

I dont know if sumone has already posted this but you can set a ctrl+alt+any letter shortcut to any program by just lookin at the properties.

[Jo-W]

in win2k and higher you can specifiy a folder where in executables (and shortcuts) can be ran without having to specify a path.

for winXP:
goto system settings (windows key + pause/break)
goto advanced
hit enviroment variables
under system variables select "path" and hit edit
Here you can add a path (for example "C:\path"), seperated by semi colons (" ; "), the last path does not need a semicolon

example: %SystemRoot%\system32;%SystemRoot%;%SystemRoot%\System32\Wbem;C:\path

Like this you can place shortcuts and executables in C:\path, which do not require a path in windows key + R, the command prompt, and such (instead of typing C:\path\program.exe you can type program.exe)