Microsoft WindowsXP shortcut keys

Alt + Tab Switch between open applications.

Alt + Shift + Tab Switch backwards between open applications.

Alt + double-click Display the properties of the object you double-click on. For example, doing this on a file would display its properties.

Ctrl + Tab Switches between program groups or document windows in applications that support this feature.

Ctrl + Shift + Tab Same as above but backwards.

Alt + Print Screen Create a screen shot only for the program you are currently in.

Ctrl + Alt + Del Reboot the computer and/or bring up the Windows task manager.

Ctrl + Esc Bring up the Windows Start menu.

Alt + Esc Switch Between open applications on taskbar.

F1 Activates help for current open application.

F2 Renames selected Icon.

F3 Starts find from desktop.

F4	Opens the drive selection when browsing.
F5	Refresh Contents.
F10	Activates menu bar.
Shift + F10	Simulates right-click on selected item.
F4	Select a different location to browse in the Windows Explorer toolbar.
Alt + F4	Closes Current open program.
Ctrl + F4	Closes Window in Program.
F6	Move cursor to different Windows Explorer pane.
Ctrl + Space bar	Drops down the window control menu.
Ctrl + (the '+' key on the keypad)	Automatically adjust the widths of all the columns in Windows explorer
Alt + Enter	Opens properties window of selected icon or program.
Shift + Del	Delete programs/files without throwing them into the recycle bin.
Holding Shift	Boot Safe Mode or by pass system files as the computer is booting.
Holding Shift	When putting in an audio CD, will prevent CD Player from playing.
Enter	Activates the highlighted program.
Alt + Down arrow	Display all available options on drop down menu.
* (on the keypad)	Expands all folders on the currently selected folder or drive in Windows Explorer.
+ (on the keypad)	Expands only the currently selected folder in Windows Explorer.
- (on the keypad)	Collapses the currently selected folder in Windows Explorer.

F1 through F12 keys

F1

• Almost always used as the help key, almost every program will open the help screen when this key is pressed.
• Windows Key + F1 would open the Microsoft Windows help and support center.
• Open the Task Pane.

F2

• In Windows commonly used to rename a highlighted icon or file.
• Alt + Ctrl + F2 opens a new document in Microsoft Word.
• Ctrl + F2 displays the print preview window in Microsoft Word.

F3

• Often opens a search feature for many programs including Microsoft Windows.
• Shift + F3 will change the text in Microsoft Word from upper to lower case or a capital letter at the beginning of every word.

F4

• Open find window.
• Repeat the last action performed (Word 2000+)
• Alt + F4 will close the program currently active in Microsoft Windows.
• Ctrl + F4 will close the open window within the current active window in Microsoft Windows.

F5

• In all modern Internet browsers pressing F5 will refresh or reload the page or document window.
• Open the find, replace, and go to window in Microsoft Word.
• Starts a slideshow in PowerPoint.

F6

• Move the cursor to the Address bar in Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox.
• Ctrl + Shift + F6 opens to another open Microsoft Word document.

F7

• Commonly used to spell check and grammar check a document in Microsoft programs such as Microsoft Word, Outlook, etc.
• Shift + F7 runs a Thesaurus check on the word highlighted.
• Turns on Caret browsing in Mozilla Firefox.

F8

• Function key used to enter the Windows startup menu, commonly use to get into Windows Safe Mode.

F9

• Opens the Measurements tool bar in Quark 5.0.

F10

• In Microsoft Windows activates the of an open application.
• Shift + F10 is the same as right-clicking on a highlighted icon, file, or Internet link.

F11

• Full-screen mode in all modern Internet browsers.

F12

• Open the Save as window in Microsoft Word.
• Shift + F12 save the Microsoft Word document.
• Ctrl + Shift + F12 prints a document in Microsoft Word.

Basic PC shortcut keys

Alt + F	File menu options in current program.
Alt + E	Edit options in current program
F1	Universal Help in almost every Windows program.
Ctrl + A	Select all text.
Ctrl + X	Cut selected item.
Shift + Del	Cut selected item.
Ctrl + C	Copy selected item.
Ctrl + Ins	Copy selected item
Ctrl + V	Paste
Shift + Ins	Paste
Home	Goes to beginning of current line.
Ctrl + Home	Goes to beginning of document.
End	Goes to end of current line.
Ctrl + End	Goes to end of document.
Shift + Home	Highlights from current position to beginning of line.
Shift + End	Highlights from current position to end of line.
Ctrl + Left arrow	Moves one word to the left at a time.
Ctrl + Right arrow	Moves one word to the right at a time.