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Article: Essential Keyboard Shortcuts
If I asked you to open up Windows Media Player, how would you do it? You probably would tell me that you take your mouse, click on the start button, the go to All Programs, then go to Accessories, then click on Windows Media Player. Easy enough. But what if I added that you could not use your mouse at all, only your keyboard? Would you be able to?

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Unfortunately attempting to navigate through your computer is not as obvious as you might think, that is, unless you know some essential keyboard shortcuts. In this article I have listed some of the most essential shortcuts. Knowing these will enable you to perform any function on your computer with only your keyboard.
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(Please Note: I do realize that there are many other shortcuts that I have not listed, however, the ones that are not listed are not necessary. The list below of shortcuts can perform any function on your computer)

[tr] [td] In An Active Window or Program

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Open System Menu

[/td] [td] ALT + SPACEBAR

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] In Active Window, Set Focus to Menu Bar

[/td] [td] ALT

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] In Active Window, Set Focus to Menu Bar -
Alternative Way

[/td] [td] F10

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] ***Once Focus is Set on Menu Bar, Expand Menu

[/td] [td] DOWN ARROW KEY

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] ***Once Focus is Set on Menu Bar, Navigate to Other Menu Items

[/td] [td] ARROW KEYS

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] ***Alternate Way To Navigate to Menu Bar Items

[/td] [td] On Every Menu Option One Letter is Underlined, hit ALT + that Letter Key

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Display Help For Active Window/Program

[/td] [td] F1

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Close Active Window or Program

[/td] [td] ALT + F4

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Minimize All Open Windows/Programs to View Desktop

[/td] [td] WINDOWS KEY + D

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [/tr]
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[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Start Menu

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Open Start Menu

[/td] [td] WINDOWS KEY

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Open Start Menu,
Alternatvie
Way

[/td] [td] CONTROL + ESC

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] ***Once Start Menu is Open, Navigate Through Menu

[/td] [td] ARROW KEYS

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] ***Once Start Menu is Open, Open All Programs

[/td] [td] Use Arrow keys to Select All Programs Then hit Right Arrow Key

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] ***Once Start Menu is Open, Launch Program

[/td] [td] Use Arrow keys to Select Program, Then Hit Enter And Program Will Launch

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]

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[/td] [td]

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Desktop

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Cycle through Icons On Desktop

[/td] [td] TAB

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Cycle through Icons On Desktop -
Alternative Way

[/td] [td] F6

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] ***Open/Launch Selected Desktop Item

[/td] [td] After Item is Selected (using TAB) , hit Enter To Open/Launch

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] ***View Properties of Selected Desktop Item

[/td] [td] After Item is Selected (using TAB) hit ALT+ENTER

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Select More Than One Item

[/td] [td] Hold SHIFT and use Arrow Keys To Select

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Display Shortcut Key For Selected Item

[/td] [td] Menu Key

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Display Shortcut Key For Selected Item -
Alternative Way

[/td] [td] SHIFT + F10

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Switch Selected Tab In a Dialog Box (Properties Box)

[/td] [td] Tab

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Add/Remove Check Mark Into A Option Box

[/td] [td] With Box Selected, hit SPACEBAR

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Delete Selected Item

[/td] [td] After Item is Selected (using TAB) hit DELETE

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Delete Selected Item Permanently (Item does not go to Recycle Bin)

[/td] [td] After item is Selected (using TAB) hit SHIFT + DELETE

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Open My Computer

[/td] [td] Windows Key + E

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Rename Selected Item

[/td] [td] F2

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Open System Search

[/td] [td] Windows Key + F

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Open System Search -
Alternative Way

[/td] [td] F3

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Open Run

[/td] [td] Windows Key + R

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Open Utility Manager

[/td] [td] Windows Key + U

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Start Windows Help

[/td] [td] Windows Key + F1

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Lock Computer

[/td] [td] Windows Key + L

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Minimize All Windows

[/td] [td] Windows Key + M

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Restore Minimized Windows

[/td] [td] Windows Key + Shift + M

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]

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[/td] [td]

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Universal

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Open Task Manager

[/td] [td] CONTROL + ALT + DELETE

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Cut

[/td] [td] CONTROL + X

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Copy

[/td] [td] CONTROL + C

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Paste

[/td] [td] CONTROL + V

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Select All

[/td] [td] CONTROL + A

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Undo

[/td] [td] CONTROL + Z

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Delete

[/td] [td] DELETE

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Cancel Task

[/td] [td] ESC

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Switch Between Open Windows/Programs

[/td] [td] ALT + TAB

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]
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[/td] [td]

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Miscellaneous

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Mouse Keys On/Off (allows you to move cursor with keyboard)

[/td] [td] LEFT ALT + LEFT SHIFT + NUM LOCK

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Switch High Contrast on and off.

[/td] [td] Left ALT +left SHIFT +PRINT SCREEN

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Switch FilterKeys
on and off.

[/td] [td] Right SHIFT for eight seconds

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Switch StickyKeys
on and off.

[/td] [td] SHIFT five times

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Switch ToggleKeys
on and off.

[/td] [td] NUM LOCK for five seconds

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Prevent the CD from automatically playing.

[/td] [td] SHIFT when you insert a CD into the CD-ROM drive

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Refresh the active window.

[/td] [td] F5

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Display the items in the active list in a dialog box.

[/td] [td] F4

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Search For Computers On Network

[/td] [td] CONTROL + Windows Key + F

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Display the top of the active window.

[/td] [td] HOME

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Display the bottom of the active window.

[/td] [td] END

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Carry out the command for the active option or button in a dialog box.

[/td] [td] ENTER

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] In Windows Explorer, Display all subfolders under the selected folder.

[/td] [td] NUM LOCK+ASTERISK on numeric keypad (*)

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] In Windows Explorer, Collapse the selected folder.

[/td] [td] NUM LOCK+MINUS SIGN on numeric keypad (-)

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] In Windows Explorer, Display the contents of the selected folder.

[/td] [td] NUM LOCK+PLUS SIGN on numeric keypad (+)

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Display the top of the active window.

[/td] [td] HOME

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Set focus on a notification.

[/td] [td] Windows Key + B

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Move backward through tabs in a dialog box.

[/td] [td] CTRL+SHIFT+TAB

[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] Move forward through tabs in a dialog box.

[/td] [td] CTRL+TAB

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