If you are an experienced Windows user, you probably already know that you push the Windows Key to bring up the Start menu. But in addition to that, there are a bunch of standard Windows Key shortcuts. (Notethat this table also includes a couple of shortcuts that don’t require the Windows key.)
Vista Shortcuts using the Windows key
| Shortcut Key(s) | What It Does |
| Windows Key+B | Sets focus to first icon in the notification area. You can use arrow keys to move among the icons in the notification area or press Tab to move around on the taskbar. |
| Windows Key+D | Show Desktop (without the Sidebar). |
| Windows Key+E | Windows Explorer (opens to Computer). |
| Windows Key+F | Find Files or Folders (aka Search). |
| Windows Key+M | Minimize All windows (Sidebar not included). |
| Windows Key+Shift+M | Undo Minimize All Windows. |
| Windows Key+R | Open the Run dialog box. |
| Windows Key+Tab | 3-D Flip (flips you through your applications but with a cool graphic instead of the standard Alt+Tab). Requires the use of the Aero user interface. |
| Windows Key+Pause/Break | System Properties. |
| Windows Key+F1 | Windows Help. |
| Windows Key+L | Locks workstation. If the user account has a password, it must be reentered to unlock the system again. |
| Windows Key+U | Ease of Access Settings. |
| Windows Key+Spacebar | This shows the Sidebar (the Sidebar must be open, but minimized). |
| Ctrl+Windows Key+Tab | Brings up Flip-3D, but it will stay on the desktop so you can scroll up, down, left and right. |
| Windows Key+T | Allows you to tab between application buttons on the taskbar. |
| Ctrl+Shift+Esc | Opens Task Manager. |
| Alt+Tab | Windows Flip. Allows you to choose an open application to switch to by repeatedly pressing the Tab key. |
Some keystrokes are not exactly shortcuts. They are keystrokes to get you where you want to be. For example, to shut down or switch users and so forth.
User Logging Shortcuts
| Shortcut Key(s) | What It Does |
| Windows Key+(and then) three right arrows and Enter | To Shut down |
| Windows Key+(and then) three right arrows and U | To Shut down |
| Windows Key+(and then) three right arrows and R | To Restart |
| Windows Key+(and then) three right arrows and W | To Switch Users |
| Windows Key+(and then) one right arrow and Enter | To Sleep |
With as many shortcut keys as Windows has, there are bound to be some functions you use on a daily basis that don’t have a convenient shortcut. Fortunately, you can create your own. Go to the Start orb and find an application for which you want to create the shortcut (let’s say Notepad, for example). Right-click the application and then select Properties. On the shortcut tab, you can select the Shortcut key box and type the shortcut key you want to use to activate the application.
It might initially look like you are not able to change the shortcut because nothing happens when you put the cursor in the box, but after you type the keys you want to use for the shortcut, it should update the box.
The Shortcut tab enables you to establish additional shortcut keys.
You might, at times, have difficulties changing these shortcuts depending on how programs are installed on your system or whether you are on a network. This is because Vista’s User Account Control (UAC) might stop you from assigning shortcuts to items on the Start menu you did not personally create. The reason for this is that these items might exist in the All Users folders and you are not the owner of those programs; therefore, you don’t have the right to change the shortcuts for these applications.
Granted, you could disable UAC if you knew how and had the rights. But if you do have the right, there is also a less drastic measure you can take that does not compromise your system’s security. Open Windows Explorer with your administrative account (click Start, Programs, Accessories, and then right-click Windows Explorer and select Run as Administrator). From here, you can find your way to the Start menu programs, right-click the program, go to Properties, and then change the shortcut from there.
Another option if you are having problems with shortcuts is to find the executable for the application for which you want to establish the shortcut key. Right-click the application icon, select Send, and then choose the option to send it to the desktop as a shortcut. Because you created this specific shortcut, you can right-click, open its Properties, and then enter whatever shortcut key you like. It is yours so you own it and can work with it without UAC getting involved.
The Start menu for all users is located as C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu with the ProgramData folder being hidden by default as a system folder. For the current user you can look under c:\users\
There has always been a market for tools that can help you make your working experience more customizable with Windows. In the world of shortcut keys, a great tool we used to work with was WinKey (the latest and final version is 2.8 from Copernic). You can still find this on the Web if you run a search for “winkey.”
You can also look for other tools on sites such as download.com and so forth. One nice tool is AutoHotkey (it is a little tricky for newbies in the world of scripting, though). It is a free, open-source utility for Windows that is constantly evolving. Here are some of the self-proclaimed uses from the AutoHotKey website (www.autohotkey.com):
- Automate almost anything by sending keystrokes and mouse clicks. You can write a mouse or keyboard macro by hand or use the macro recorder.
- Create hotkeys for your keyboard, joystick, and mouse. Virtually any key, button, or combination can become a hotkey.
- Expand abbreviations as you type them. For example, typing “btw” can automatically produce “by the way.”
- Create custom data entry forms, user interfaces, and menu bars.
- Remap keys and buttons on your keyboard, joystick, and mouse.
- Respond to signals from handheld remote controls via the WinLIRC client script.
- Convert any script into an EXE file that can be run on computers that don’t have AutoHotkey installed.
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