Common Keyboard Shortcuts

Shortcut Keys
Function

( Windows Key)
Display or hide the Start menu.

+BREAK
Display the System Properties dialog box.

+D
Minimizes all Windows and shows the Desktop

+E
Open Windows Explorer

+F
Search for a file or folder.

+F+CTRL
Search for computers.

+F1
Display Windows 2000 Help.

+L
Locks the desktop

+M
Minimize or restore all windows.

+R
Open the Run dialog box.

+TAB
Switch between open items.

+U
Open Utility Manager

ALT+- (ALT+hyphen)
Displays the Multiple Document Interface (MDI) child window's System menu.

ALT+ENTER
View properties for the selected item.

ALT+ESC
Cycle through items in the order they were opened.

ALT+F4
Close the active item, or quit the active program.

ALT+SPACEBAR
Display the System menu for the active window.

ALT+TAB
Switch between open items.

ALT+Underlined letter in a menu name
Display the corresponding menu.

BACKSPACE
View the folder one level up in My Computer or Windows Explorer.

CTRL+A
Select all.

CTRL+B
Bold

CTRL+C
Copy.

CTRL+I
Italics

CTRL+O
Open an item.

CTRL+U
Underline

CTRL+V
Paste.

CTRL+X
Cut.

CTRL+Z
Undo.

CTRL+F4
Close the active document in programs that allow you to have multiple documents open simultaneously.

CTRL while dragging an item
Copy selected item.

CTRL+SHIFT while dragging an item
Create shortcut to selected item.

CTRL+RIGHT ARROW
Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next word.

CTRL+LEFT ARROW
Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous word.

CTRL+DOWN ARROW
Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next paragraph.

CTRL+UP ARROW
Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous paragraph.

CTRL+SHIFT with any of the arrow keys
Highlight a block of text.

DELETE
Delete.

SHIFT+DELETE
Delete selected item permanently without placing the item in the Recycle Bin.

ESC
Cancel the current task.

F1
Displays Help

F2
Rename selected item.

F3
Search for a file or folder.

F4
Display the Address bar list in My Computer or Windows Explorer.

F5
Refresh the active window.

F6
Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop.

F10
Activate the menu bar in the active program.

SHIFT+F10
Display the shortcut menu for the selected item.

CTRL+ESC
Display the Start menu.

SHIFT+CTRL+ESC
Launches Task Manager

Underlined letter in a command name on an open menu
Carry out the corresponding command.

RIGHT ARROW
Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu.

LEFT ARROW
Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu.

SHIFT with any of the arrow keys
Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text within a document.

SHIFT when you insert a CD into the CD-ROM drive
Prevent the CD from automatically playing.