Learning to use shortcuts for Windows and other programs
Revised 8-29-08

On the keyboard, there is a special key between the Ctrl and Alt keys with a windows picture on it. This key is used as a shortcut to some of the windows operations. Touching the key activates the start menu/task bar. Holding the windows key down and following with another key produces additional functions as follows:

• Windows key = Displays taskbar and Start menu
• Windows key + E = Starts Windows Explorer
• Windows key + F = Finds files or folders
• Ctrl + Windows key + F = Finds a computer
• Windows key + M = Minimizes all windows
• Shift + Windows key + M = Undoes Minimize All Windows
• Windows key + R = Displays the Run dialog box
• Windows key + Tab = Cycles through the taskbar buttons
• Windows key + Break = Displays the System Properties sheet

For other common keyboard shortcuts click here:

Some other useful ways to learn to use shortcuts is by typing them into the run line. Try this as an example: Click Start, Run and type "sol". (without the quotes). Now is that easier than clicking Start, Programs, Accessories, Games, Solitaire? Now add what you learned above and do it without the mouse entirely on the keyboard.

First I will tell you how to find out what to type to start any program and then give you a starting list.

Win 95 method: Right click on Start, click Explore. Expand the Programs list. Find the link to the program you want and right click the icon and choose Properties.

Win 98, Me method: Click Start, Programs and STOP. Find the menu item you want to know about and right click it directly and choose Properties. In XP & Vista look for All Programs.

In either case, the properties dialog box lists the name of the file that is activated by the shortcut. Write it down and try using Run to activate it.

Here is a list of some I found in no particular order: (none are case sensitive)

Sol = Solitaire (note- this does not work on Vista- see this page)
Wordpad (obvious) Works in Vista
Calc = Calculator (Works in Vista)
Explorer = Windows Explorer (same as the Windows + E above) Works in Vista
Iexplore = Internet Explorer (Works in Vista with IE7)
Winword = Microsoft Word (Works in Vista- any version of word)
Wab = Windows Address Book (same as used in Outlook and Outlook Express) In Vista, it opens a folder called Contacts which replaces WAB.
MSPaint = Microsoft Paint (Works in Vista)
MSHearts = Microsoft Hearts (Not in Vista) Heats is there, but not mshearts.
Kodakimg = Kodak Imaging (included with Windows)-not in Vista. All the graphics changed drastically. Check this out.
Freecell = the game (link does not work in Vista- game is still there)
Sndvol32 = volume control (not in Vista)
Charmap = Character map ( If you haven't tried this, do so. Here's Instructions) Works in Vista
Defrag = Disk Defragmenter (Works in Vista)
Cleanmgr = Disk Cleanup Don't know what this is? Click Here or just try it. (Still works in Vista)

Well that should be enough to give you the idea. The items in the above list should be on every Windows computer except as noted for Vista. You have a lot of added programs unique to your computer. Look through the programs to see what you do have and make a list.