Windows Commands, Keystrokes, and Shortcuts

 

Prepared/Modified by Floyd Jay Winters 04/24/09

 

 

 

Command

Keystrokes

Shortcut - the [Windows] key is located between [Ctrl] and [Alt]

1

Open Windows Explorer

Rt-click My Computer, choose Explore

Simultaneously tap [Windows] & [E] (or Rt-click (start) button, choose Explore)

2

Find a file or folder

Rt-click My Computer, choose Search

Simultaneously tap [Windows] & [F]

3

Minimize all Windows

Rt-click Taskbar, choose Show the Desktop

Simultaneously tap [Windows] & [M] or [Windows] & [D]

4

Logoff/Logon or Turn Off

Start, choose Log Off Username or Turn Off

Simultaneously tap [Windows] & [L]

5

Rename a file

Right-click file, choose Rename

Double-click file name slowly to highlight, then edit file name

6

Delete a file

Right-click file, choose Delete

Select file and tap [Delete] key

7

Undelete a file

Open Recycle Bin, Rt-click, choose Restore

Immediately tap [Ctrl] & [Z] after deleting the file

8

Copy a file

Right-click file, choose Copy

Select file and tap [Ctrl] & [C] key

9

Paste a copied file

Right-click an empty area, choose Paste

Select an empty area in Explorer or Desktop and tap [Ctrl] & [V] key

10

See a file's size

Right-click file, choose Properties

In the Windows Explorer, select View, and choose Details

11

Backup a file

Click, Select and Drag the file to a different drive (a [+] will appear under the file name indicating a new copy)

12

Move a file

Click, Select and Drag the file to a different folder on the same drive (a [+] will NOT appear under the file name)

13

Make a File Read Only

Right-click file, choose Properties, check the Read-only box

14

Select multiple files to copy...

Click first file, then hold [Ctrl] key down as you select each additional file, then do keystrokes to copy or delete

15

Select All files in a folder

In the Windows Explorer, select Edit and choose Select All; or tap [Ctrl] & [A]

16

Sort files by Date

Select View, choose Details, then click on the Date Modified header in the File View window

17

Preview image files

In Windows Explorer, select View, choose Thumbnails

18

See all file name extensions

Open Windows Explorer – choose: Tools, Folder Options, View tab, uncheck Hide extensions for known file types

19

Create a new folder

Open Windows Explorer or Desktop, right-click an empty area, choose New, Folder or choose File, New, Folder

20

Open Paint or Notepad or …

Click Start > Programs > Accessories, choose Paint or Notepad or Calculator…

21

Create a Shortcut to Paint…

Click Start > Programs > Accessories, right-click Paint, choose Send To, choose Desktop (create shortcut)

22

Switch between Applications

Click the application's icon on the Taskbar

Press [Alt] & [Tab] to display, then [Tab] to rotate between open applications 

23

Getting Help

Click Start and choose Help and Support

In the Windows Explorer, select Help and Support Center or tap [F1]

24

Change Date

Start > Settings > Control Panel, Date and Time

Double-click date in System Tray (in lower-right corner)

25

Screen Capture

To capture a picture of an Error Message (or any other screen) press [Print Screen], then you can paste the screen into Word

26

See free RAM, Windows version

Right-click My Computer, choose Properties, click the General tab

27

See free Hard drive space

Open My Computer, right-click drive C, choose Properties, click the General tab

28

Open file with different program

Right-click the file, choose Open With and choose the desired program (you may have to Browse)

29

Enable Quick Launch Toolbar

Right-click the Taskbar, choose Toolbars, click Quick Launch

30

Put shortcut in Quick Launch

Drag shortcut from Desktop or a folder to the Quick Launch Toolbar

31

Use "Classic" Start Menu

Right-click (start) button, choose Properties, click Start Menu tab, click Classic Start menu button

32

See two windows side by side

If only two applications are open, right-click the Taskbar and choose Tile Windows Vertically

33

UnZip a compressed file

WinZip files have a .zip extension. Double-clicking the file will open a menu, choose Extract and pay attention to the path

34

Defragment your drive

Click Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools, and choose Disk Defragmenter

35

Delete Temp files, recover spacee

Click Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools, choose Disk Cleanup; or rt-click drive C, choose Properties, see General tab

36

Change Desktop/Screen

Right-click an empty area on the Desktop and choose Properties to change resolution, screen background…

37

Uninstall Software

Click Start, Settings, Control Panel, choose Add or Remove Programs (Do not just delete folder or shortcut)

38

Boot to Safe Mode

For Startup Menu for Troubleshooting or to use Last Known Good Configuration - tap [F8] as soon as Windows starts to load

39

Use Task Manager

Simultaneously press [Ctrl] & [Alt] & [Del] to access the Task Manager to shut down or end a hung-up application

40

Check drive for errors

Open My Computer, right-click drive C, choose Properties, click Tools tab, click the Check Now button

41

Troubleshoot

Open My Computer, rt-click drive C, choose Properties, click Hardware tab, click desired device, click Troubleshoot

42

Check for Hardware Conflicts

Right-click My Computer, choose Properties, click the Hardware tab, click the Device Manager button

43

Update Windows

Click Start, choose Windows Update or open Control Panel and click on Automatic Updates

44

Restore Points - undo changes

To create or use a Restore point: click Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, choose System Restore

45

Quickly Test Sound

Open Windows folder, choose Media folder, double-click a sound file. Or open Sounds and Audio Devices in Control Panel.

46

Change Startup options

Click Start, (choose Run in XP), type cmd in the Start Search box, and at the command prompt type msconfig

47

Check your IP Address

Click Start, (choose Run in XP), type cmd in the Start Search box, and at the command prompt type ipconfig or ipconfig/all

48

Setup Network connection

Click Start > (Settings in XP) > Control Panel, choose Network Setup Wizard

49

Add accounts and passwords

Click Start > (Settings in XP) > Control Panel, choose User Accounts

50

Turn on Firewall

Click Start > (Settings in XP) > Control Panel, choose Windows Firewall

 

More Network diagnostics:

http://faculty.mccfl.edu/WinterF/0ClassFolders/1600Network/NetDiags.htm

 

[Windows] + [Tab]Vista: [Windows] [Tab]

Bring up Flip 3D in Windows Vista (you need a good graphics card.)