Windoze Keyboard Shortcuts

Ted Felix

I was surprised and dismayed as I searched the Web for a complete list of Windows shortcut keys. There is none. So, here's my attempt at gathering one together. If I missed any, let me know.

Note that since MDI (Multiple Document Interface) is now passe, those shortcuts are somewhat useless. Tabbed interfaces are now the rage.

Shortcut Key Function
F1 Help
Tab Moves between fields in a dialog box
Shift-Tab Moves backwards between fields in a dialog box
Ctrl-A Select all
Ctrl-C Copies the current selection to the clipboard
Ctrl-X Cuts the current selection to the clipboard
Ctrl-V Pastes from the clipboard
Ctrl-Z Undo
Shift-Delete Delete without recycle bin
PrintScreen, PrtSc, PrtScn (it is called different things on different keyboards) Screen Capture. Copies the entire screen to the clipboard. You can then paste it into your favorite imaging application like Paint or Photoshop.
Alt-PrintScreen Window Capture. Copies the contents of the current window to the clipboard. You can then paste it into your favorite imaging application like Paint or Photoshop.
Shift-UpArrow, Shift-DownArrow, Shift-LeftArrow, Shift-RightArrow, Shift-Home, Shift-End, Shift-PageUp, Shift-PageDown Select text
Alt-DownArrow Opens the drop down list in a combo box. Try it in your browser's "Address" field.
Alt-UpArrow Closes the drop down list in a combo box
Alt-Tab Switch between applications in "cool" mode
Alt-Esc Switch between applications
Alt-F4 Closes the current window. If the desktop is the current window, this shuts down Windows.
Alt-Ctrl-Delete Brings up the Windows Security dialog or the task manager
Ctrl-Shift-Esc Brings up the task manager
Ctrl-Esc Brings up the Start menu
F10 Jumps focus to the current window's menu. Press the down arrow key to open the menu.
Shift-F10 Brings up the context (right-click) menu for the currently selected item
Alt-Space Brings up the system menu for the current window
Alt-Hyphen Brings up the system menu for the current document window in an MDI (Multiple Document Interface) application.
Alt-Enter Switches a DOS program between windowed and full-screen modes
Ctrl-Tab, Ctrl-F6 Cycles through the windows in an MDI (Multiple Document Interface) application. Ctrl-Tab also cycles through the tabs in a tabbed dialog box.
Shift-Ctrl-Tab, Shift-Ctrl-F6 Cycles backwards through the windows in an MDI (Multiple Document Interface) application. Shift-Ctrl-Tab also cycles backwards through the tabs in a tabbed dialog box.
Ctrl-F4 Closes an MDI window in an MDI application.
Shift CD Hold down shift while inserting a CD to avoid autorun.

Links

Q126449 - Microshaft's list has more, but isn't complete either.

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Copyright ©2005, Ted Felix. Disclaimer.