Sean Walther's Blog

The “Windows” Key

I just read an article at ZDNet called Do you use the “Windows” Key?.  

Of course the article is pointing out that many computer “experts” do not use the “Windows” key.  The authoer points out that there are things he didn’t know, and he is probably an extremely competent compuer user.

In just the past 5 years have I started extensive use of the windows key.  Until about 2003 I didn’t know many of the useful things that the windows key did.  There was one basic thing I knew the key did, open the Start menu.  

Back then I had created keyboard shortcuts to everything on my desktop giving me access to my frequent shared files, FTP software, notepad, various browsers, etc. 

For everyone’s benefit, here are my favorite Windows key uses:

 

• Windows + R – Opens up the Windows “Run” application, for executing shortcuts (this is by far my favorite way to use the Windows key, I can’t imagine how many times I’ve typed “Windows + R, cmd, enter”)
• Windows + D – Minimizes all windows, and show just the desktop (press it again to restore all of the windows)
• Windows + E – Launches the windows explorer window
• Windows + L – Locks your computer
• Windows + (1 – 9) – Access your Quickbar shortcuts on Windows Vista only (at least I’ve only used this on Vista), Windows + 1 is the first icon, Windows + 2 is the second, etc.

 

Additionally, here are some other Windows key functions that I don’t use as much:

• Windows + F – Opens up the find dialog box
• Windows + M – Minimizes all open windows (not sure how this is different than Windows + D)
• Windows + Shift + M – Restores all previously open windows to how they were before you Minimized them
• Windows + F1 – Windows Help
• Windows + Pause/Break – Opens up the system properties
• Windows + Tab (Vista Only) – Opens up the “visual” application tabs 

I did cheat and look the “additional” keyboard shortcuts up, and found them at: 

http://www.seoconsultants.com/windows/key/

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Tags: Keyboard Shortcut, Shortcut, windows, Windows Key

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