Getting used to using your keyboard exclusively and leaving your mouse behind will make you much more efficient at performing any task on any Windows system. I use the following keyboard shortcuts every day: Windows key + R = Run menu This is usually followed by: cmd = Command Prompt iexplore + "web address" = Internet Explorer compmgmt.msc = Computer Management dhcpmgmt.msc = DHCP Management dnsmgmt.msc = DNS Management services.msc = Services eventvwr = Event Viewer dsa.msc = Active Directory Users and Computers dssite.msc = Active Directory Sites and Services Windows key + E = Explorer ALT + Tab = Switch between windows ALT, Space, X = Maximize window CTRL + Shift + Esc = Task Manager Windows key + Break = System properties Windows key + F = Search Windows key + D = Hide/Display all windows CTRL + C = copy CTRL + X = cut CTRL + V = paste Also, don't forget about the "Right-click" key next to the right Windows key on your keyboard. Using the arrows and that key can get just about anything done once you've opened up any program. Keyboard Shortcuts [Alt] and [Esc] Switch between running applications [Alt] and letter Select menu item by underlined letter [Ctrl] and [Esc] Open Program Menu [Ctrl] and [F4] Close active document or group windows (does not work with some applications) [Alt] and [F4] Quit active application or close the current window [Alt] and [-] Open Control menu for active document Ctrl] Left., Rt. arrow Move cursor forward or back one word Ctrl] Up, Down arrow Move cursor forward or back one paragraph [F1] Open Help for active application Windows+M Minimize all open windows Shift+Windows+M Undo minimize all open windows Windows+F1 Open Windows Help Windows+Tab Cycle through the Taskbar buttons Windows+Break Open the System Properties dialog box accessibility shortcuts Right SHIFT for eight seconds........ Switch FilterKeys on and off. Left ALT +left SHIFT +PRINT SCREEN....... Switch High Contrast on and off. Left ALT +left SHIFT +NUM LOCK....... Switch MouseKeys on and off. SHIFT....... five times Switch StickyKeys on and off. NUM LOCK...... for five seconds Switch ToggleKeys on and off. explorer shortcuts END....... Display the bottom of the active window. HOME....... Display the top of the active window. NUM LOCK+ASTERISK....... on numeric keypad (*) Display all subfolders under the selected folder. NUM LOCK+PLUS SIGN....... on numeric keypad (+) Display the contents of the selected folder. NUM LOCK+MINUS SIGN....... on numeric keypad (-) Collapse the selected folder. LEFT ARROW...... Collapse current selection if it's expanded, or select parent folder. RIGHT ARROW....... Display current selection if it's collapsed, or select the first subfolder. Type the following commands in your Run Box (Windows Key + R) or Start Run devmgmt.msc = Device Manager msinfo32 = System Information cleanmgr = Disk Cleanup ntbackup = Backup or Restore Wizard (Windows Backup Utility) mmc = Microsoft Management Console excel = Microsoft Excel (If Installed) msaccess = Microsoft Access (If Installed) powerpnt = Microsoft PowerPoint (If Installed) winword = Microsoft Word (If Installed) frontpg = Microsoft FrontPage (If Installed) notepad = Notepad wordpad = WordPad calc = Calculator msmsgs = Windows Messenger mspaint = Microsoft Paint wmplayer = Windows Media Player rstrui = System Restore netscp6 = Netscape 6.x netscp = Netscape 7.x netscape = Netscape 4.x waol = America Online control = Opens the Control Panel control printers = Opens the Printers Dialog
