"Weather forecast for tonight: dark." -- George Carlin



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Some shortcut keys are application / window specific and may not work in some applications / windows
To Do This: Press This:
Activate the menu bar in programs F10
View an item's properties ALT + ENTER or ALT + DOUBLE-CLICK
Close the current window or quit a program ALT + F4
Display the system menu for MDI programs ALT + HYPHEN (-)
Move backward to a previous view ALT + LEFT ARROW
Move forward to a previous view ALT + RIGHT ARROW
Display the current window's system menu ALT + SPACEBAR
Switch to the window you last used ~~OR~~ Switch to another window by holding down ALT while repeatedly pressing TAB ALT + TAB
Carry out the corresponding command on the menu ALT + underlined letter in menu
Display the item's shortcut menu APPLICATION key
View the folder one level up BACKSPACE
Select all items CTRL + A
Copy CTRL + C
Display the Start menu CTRL + ESC Or Windows logo key
Close the current window in Multiple Document Interface (MDI) programs. CTRL + F4
Create a shortcut CTRL + SHIFT while dragging the file
Paste CTRL + V
Display Find: Computer CTRL + Windows logo key + F
Cut CTRL + X
Undo CTRL + Z
Copy a file CTRL while dragging the file
Delete DELETE
Display Help on the selected dialog box item F1
Rename an item F2
Display Find: All Files F3
Refresh the contents of a window F5
Switch between left and right panes F6
Collapse the current selection if it is expanded ~~OR~~ Select the parent folder LEFT ARROW
Expand all folders below the current selection NUM LOCK + *
Collapse the selected folder NUM LOCK + MINUS SIGN (-)
Expand the selected folder NUM LOCK + PLUS SIGN (+)
Expand the current selection if it is collapsed ~~OR~~ Select the first subfolder RIGHT ARROW
Delete an item immediately without placing it in the Recycle Bin SHIFT + DELETE
Display the shortcut menu for the selected item SHIFT + F10
Undo minimize all windows SHIFT +Windows logo key + M
Close the selected folder and all of its parent folders SHIFT while clicking the Close button (My Computer only)
Bypass AutoPlay when inserting a compact disc SHIFT while inserting the CD-ROM
Toggle Follow mouse cursor. Windows logo key + PAGE DOWN
Toggle Invert Colors. Windows logo key + PAGE UP
Increase magnification. Windows logo key + UP ARROW
Display the System Properties dialog box Windows logo key + BREAK
Minimize or restore all windows Windows logo key + D
Decrease magnification. Windows logo key + DOWN ARROW
Display Windows Explorer Windows logo key + E
Display Find: All Files Windows logo key + F
Display Help Windows logo key + F1
Display the Run command Windows logo key + R
"Copy the screen to the Clipboard, without the mouse cursor." Windows logo key + SCROLL LOCK
Cycle through buttons on the taskbar Windows logo key + TAB
"Copy the screen to the Clipboard, including the mouse cursor" Windows logo key (Windows logo) + PRINT SCREEN
Shortcuts for use within some dialogue boxes
Cancel the current task ESC
Click a button if the current control is a button ~~OR~~ Select or clear the check box if the current control is a check box ~~OR~~ Click the option if the current control is an option button SPACEBAR
Click the corresponding command ALT + underlined letter
Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box BACKSPACE
Move backward through tabs CTRL + SHIFT + TAB
Move forward through tabs CTRL + TAB
Click the selected button ENTER
Open Save In or Look In in the Save As or Open dialog box F4
Move backward through options SHIFT + TAB
Move forward through options TAB
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