Appendix D. The Master Keyboard Shortcut List

Here it is, by popular, frustrated demand: The master list of every secret (or not-so-secret) keystroke in Windows Vista. Clip and post to your monitor (unless, of course, you got this book from the library).

Explorer windows

Highlight the Address bar	Alt+D
Open Previous Locations list (Address bar)	F4
Refresh the window	F5
Open this folder's parent window	Alt+Up arrow
Back (previous window)	Alt+Left arrow or Backspace
Forward	Alt+Right arrow
Cancel the current task or search	Esc
Make menu bar visible	F10 or Alt
Close window	Alt+F4 or Ctrl+W
Open Search window	F3, Ctrl+F, or +F
Open another window for this folder	Ctrl+N
Full Screen Mode on/off	F11
Open this window's Control menu	Alt+Space
Cycle through open windows	Alt+Tab
Cycle through open windows without closing the menu	Ctrl+Alt+Tab
Open Start menu	or Ctrl+Esc
Open Task Manager	Ctrl+Shift+Esc
Resize columns to fit their contents	Ctrl+Plus sign (+) on numeric keypad

Instant Search box (top of each Explorer window)

Select the Instant Search box ( next to Address bar)	Ctrl+E
Search and open Search Pane	Alt+Enter
Search in Internet Explorer	Shift+Enter
Open a selected program elevated (Start Menu searches)	Ctrl+Shift+Enter

Working with icons

Select all icons in a document or window	Ctrl+A
Select last icon in the window	End
Select first item in the window	Home
Move to last item in the window without selecting it	Ctrl+End
Move to first item in the window without selecting it	Ctrl+Home
Select non-adjacent icons	Ctrl+Arrow keys to move, Space bar to select
Select adjacent icons	Shift+arrow keys Shift with any arrow key
Open a selected icon's shortcut menu	Shift+F10
Rename the selected icon	F2
Open Properties dialog box for the selected icon	Alt+Enter
Move selected icon to the Recycle Bin	Delete or Ctrl+D
Delete selected icon without moving it to the Recycle Bin first	Shift+Delete

Navigation pane

Open all subfolders of selected folder	Num Lock+Asterisk (*) on numeric keypad
Display contents of the selected folder	Num Lock+Plus sign (+) on numeric keypad
Collapse the selected folder	Num Lock+Minus sign (-) on numeric keypad
Collapse folder (if expanded), or select parent folder (if not)	Left arrow
Display folder's contents (if collapsed ), or select first subfolder (if not)	Right arrow
View previous folder	Alt+Left arrow
View next folder	Alt+Right arrow

Windows-key shortcuts

Open or close the Start menu
Open icon in Quick Launch toolbar	+1 (first item), +2 (second item), etc.
Open System Properties dialog box	+Break key
Display the desktop, hide all windows	+D
Minimize all Explorer windows	+M
Restore minimized windows to the desktop	+Shift+M
Open Computer window	+E
Search for a file or folder	+F
Search for computers (on a network domain)	Ctrl+ +F
Lock your computer or switch users	+L
Run dialog box	+R
Cycle through programs on the taskbar	+T
Open Windows Flip 3-D	+Tab
Bring Windows Sidebar to the front	+Space
Cycle through Sidebar gadgets	+G
Open Ease of Access Center	+U
Open Windows Mobility Center	+X

Login screen

Open Restart/Sleep/Hibernate/Shut Down menu	Alt+S
Highlight other account-holder tiles	Arrow keys

Security screen

Change password	Alt+C
Lock machine	Alt+K
Log off	Alt+L
Open Task Manager	Alt+T
Switch user	Alt+W

Miscellaneous/Editing

Copy	Ctrl+C
Cut	Ctrl+X or Shift+Delete
Paste	Ctrl+V
Undo	Ctrl+Z
Redo	Ctrl+Y
Help	F1
Cycle through parts of a window or dialog box	F6
Create shortcut	Ctrl+Shift-drag an icon
Highlight a block of text	Ctrl+Shift with arrow keys
Move insertion point to next word	Ctrl+Right arrow
Move insertion point beginning of previous word	Ctrl+Left arrow