Windows Vista Tips & Tricks: Keyboard and Desktop Shortcuts
A Windows Vista Keyboard and Desktop Shortcuts Cheat Sheet
Vangie Beal
A year ago, when I turned on my Windows Vista machine for the first time, it didn’t take long to realize that unless I mastered keyboard and desktop shortcuts I would be wasting a lot of computing time maneuvering through what seems to be an endless parade of Vista screens.
Case in point: under Windows XP you can use the CTRL + ALT + DEL combination to instantly bring up the Windows Task Manager if you want to check what processes or applications are running. In Vista, this key combination only takes you halfway to the Task Manager and leaves you with additional windows to navigate through.
It’s not that you can’t access the Task Manager with a shortcut in Vista, it’s just that the shortcut is a different combination of keys than in Windows XP.
ยป Keyboard Shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts save time in Vista and help you get exactly where you want to be in seconds. The tables below provide a handy cheat sheet for some common functions and tasks in Vista.
| Keyboard Shortcut | Function |
| CTRL + ESC | Opens the Start menu |
| CTRL + ALT + DEL | Login screen: Lock Computer, Switch User, Log Off, Change a Password, Task Manager |
| CTRL + SHIFT + ESC | Windows Task Manager |
| ALT + TAB | Switch between open items |
| SHIFT (when inserting a CD ) | Stop auto play |
| Windows Logo Key + D | Show desktop |
| ALT + SPACEBAR | Open the shortcut menu for the active window |
| Windows Key Shortcut | Function |
| Windows Logo Key + F | Search for a file or folder |
| CTRL+ Windows Logo Key + F | Search for computers (if you are on a network) |
| Windows Logo Key + TAB | Cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Windows Flip 3-D |
| Windows Logo Key + G | Cycle through Sidebar gadgets |
| Windows Logo Key + E | Open Computer |
Read the full article on WinPlanet…
Related posts: