Windows Vista Keyboards shortcuts

polobradaigh

Windows XP allows shut-down through keyboard shortcut (Windows key, then letter "u" twice). Is there a similar keyboard shortcut in Vista? Any suggestions welcome.

Soundman

I know it isn't quite what you asked for but here is a list of Vista shortcuts. It might be in there somewhere...


General
These shortcuts can make your computer easier to use

ALT+double-click
Display properties for the selected item
ALT+ENTER
Display properties for the selected item
ALT+ESC
Cycle through items in the order in which they were opened
ALT+F4
Close the active item, or exit the active program
ALT+PRINT SCREEN
Copies an image of the selected window to the clipboard
ALT+SPACEBAR
Open the shortcut menu for the active window
ALT+TAB
Switch between open items
ALT+underlined letter
Perform the menu command (or other underlined command)
ALT+Up Arrow
View the folder one level up in Windows Explorer
CTRL+A
Select all items in a document or window
CTRL+ALT+DEL
Displays options for: Lock This Computer, Switch User, LogOff, Change a Password and Start Task Manager
CTRL+ALT+TAB
Use the arrow keys to switch between open items
CTRL+C
Copy the selected item
CTRL+Down Arrow
Move the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph
CTRL+ESC
Open the Start menu
CTRL+F4
Close the active document (in programs that allow you to have multiple documents open simultaneously)
CTRL+Left Arrow
Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous word
CTRL+Right Arrow
Move the cursor to the beginning of the next word
CTRL+SHIFT with an arrow key
Select a block of text
CTRL+SHIFT+ESC
Open Task Manager
CTRL+Up Arrow
Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph
CTRL+V
Paste the selected item
CTRL+X
Cut the selected item
CTRL+Y
Redo an action
CTRL+Z
Undo an action
DELETE
Delete the selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin
ESC
Cancel the current task
F1
Display Help
F10
Activate the menu bar in the active program
F2
Rename the selected item
F3
Search for a file or folder
F4
Display the Address bar list in Windows Explorer
F5
Refresh the active window
F6
Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop
Left ALT+Left SHIFT+NUM LOCK
Turn Mouse Keys on or off
Left ALT+Left SHIFT+PRINT SCREEN (or PRTSCRN)
Turn High Contrast on or off
Left Arrow
Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu
NUM LOCK for five seconds
Turn Toggle Keys on or off
PRINT SCREEN
Copies an image of the entire screen to the clipboard
Right Arrow
Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu
Right SHIFT for eight seconds
Turn Filter Keys on and off
SHIFT five times
Turn Sticky Keys on or off
SHIFT when inserting a CD
Prevent the CD from automatically playing
SHIFT with any arrow key
Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text within a document
SHIFT+DELETE
Delete the selected item without moving it to the Recycle Bin first
SHIFT+F10
Display the shortcut menu for the selected item
SHIFT+right-click
Shows alternative commands for the selected object

Microsoft Keyboard Only
The following shortcuts require the winkey key, originally found only on Microsoft brand keyboards, but now almost universal on any PC keyboard.

winkey
Open or close the Start menu
winkey + CTRL +F
Search for computers (if you are on a network)
winkey + CTRL +TAB
Use the arrow keys to cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Windows Flip 3-D
winkey +BREAK
Display the System Properties dialog box
winkey +D
Display the desktop
winkey +E
Open Computer
winkey +F
Search for a file or folder
winkey +G
Cycle through Sidebar gadgets
winkey +L
Lock your computer (if you are connected to a network domain), or switch users (if you’re not connected to a network domain)
winkey +M
Minimize all windows
winkey +R
Open the Run dialog box
winkey +SHIFT+M
Restore minimized windows to the desktop
winkey +SPACEBAR
Bring all gadgets to the front and select Windows Sidebar
winkey +T
Cycle through programs on the taskbar
winkey +TAB
Cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Windows Flip 3-D
winkey +U
Open Ease of Access Center
winkey +X
Open Windows Mobility Center

Dialog Boxes
The following shortcuts will work in dialog boxes.

ALT+underlined letter
Perform the command (or select the option) that goes with that letter
Arrow keys
Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons
BACKSPACE
Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box
CTRL+SHIFT+TAB
Move back through tabs
CTRL+TAB
Move forward through tabs
ENTER
Replaces clicking the mouse for many selected commands
F1
Display Help
F4
Display the items in the active list
SHIFT+TAB
Move back through options
SPACEBAR
Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box
TAB
Move forward through options

Windows Explorer
The following shortcuts will work in dialog boxes.

ALT+D
Select the Address bar
ALT+Left Arrow
View the previous folder
ALT+Right Arrow
View the next folder
END
Display the bottom of the active window
HOME
Display the top of the active window
Left Arrow
Collapse the current selection (if it is expanded), or select the parent folder
NUM LOCK+ASTERISK (*) on numeric keypad
Display all subfolders under the selected folder
NUM LOCK+MINUS SIGN (-) on numeric keypad
Collapse the selected folder
NUM LOCK+PLUS SIGN (+) on numeric keypad
Display the contents of the selected folder
Right Arrow
Display the current selection (if it is collapsed), or select the first subfolder

Windows Vista Media Center

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Windows Vista Media Center - Keyboard

The following shortcuts are used to navigate the keyboard.

winkey+ALT+ENTER
Open Windows Media Center or return to the Windows Media Center start screen
ALT+ENTER
Go in and go out of windowed mode
ALT+F4
Close Windows Media Center
Arrow Keys
Move left, right, up, or down
BACKSPACE
Go back to the previous screen
END
Go to the last item in a list
ENTER
Accept the selection
HOME
Go to the first item in a list
PAGE DOWN
Go to the next page
PAGE UP
Go to the previous page

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Windows Vista Media Center - Audio

The following shortcuts are used to control audio.

CTRL+B
Replay an audio file or song
CTRL+D
Display the context menu
CTRL+F
Skip to the next song
CTRL+M
Go to Music
CTRL+P
Pause or resume an audio file or song
CTRL+R
Rip a CD
CTRL+SHIFT+C
Turn on or turn off closed captioning
CTRL+SHIFT+F
Fast forward a song
CTRL+SHIFT+P
Play an audio file or song
F10
Turn up volume
F8
Mute volume
F9
Turn down volume

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Windows Vista Media Center - TV

The following shortcuts are used to control the TV.

CTRL+B
Skip back
CTRL+D
Display the context menu
CTRL+F
Skip forward
CTRL+G
Go to the Guide
CTRL+O
Go to Recorded TV
CTRL+P
Pause or resume live TV or recorded TV
CTRL+R
Record a TV show
CTRL+SHIFT+B
Rewind live TV or recorded TV
CTRL+SHIFT+F
Fast forward live TV or recorded TV
CTRL+SHIFT+P
Resume playing a TV show
CTRL+SHIFT+S
Stop recording or stop playing a TV show
CTRL+T
Go to live TV
PAGE DOWN
Go to the previous channel
PAGE UP
Go to the next channel

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Windows Vista Media Center - Radio

The following shortcuts are used to play the Radio.

CTRL+A
Go to Radio
CTRL+B
Skip back
CTRL+D
Display the context menu
CTRL+F
Skip forward
CTRL+P
Pause or resume live radio
CTRL+SHIFT+P
Resume playing radio
CTRL+SHIFT+S
Stop live radio

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Windows Vista Media Center - Pictures

The following shortcuts are used to view pictures.

CTRL+D
Display the context menu
CTRL+I
Go to Pictures
CTRL+P
Pause a slide show
CTRL+SHIFT+P
Play a slide show
CTRL+SHIFT+P
Play
CTRL+SHIFT+S
Stop a slide show
Down Arrow or Right Arrow
Skip forward to the next picture
ENTER
Zoom a picture in Picture Details
Up Arrow or Left Arrow
Skip back to the previous picture

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Windows Vista Media Center - Videos

The following shortcuts are used to play videos.

CTRL+B
Skip back
CTRL+E
Go to Videos
CTRL+F
Skip forward
CTRL+P
Pause
CTRL+SHIFT+B
Rewind
CTRL+SHIFT+F
Fast Forward
CTRL+SHIFT+S
Stop

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Windows Vista Media Center - DVDs

The following shortcuts are used to play DVDs.

Arrow Keys
Change the DVD angle
CTRL+B
Go to the previous chapter
CTRL+F
Go to the next chapter
CTRL+P
Pause
CTRL+SHIFT+A
Change the DVD audio selection
CTRL+SHIFT+B
Rewind
CTRL+SHIFT+F
Fast forward
CTRL+SHIFT+M
Go to the DVD menu
CTRL+SHIFT+P
Play
CTRL+SHIFT+S
Stop
CTRL+U
Change the DVD subtitles selection

Internet Explorer 7

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Internet Explorer 7 - General

The following shortcuts are used to view and explore web pages in Internet Explorer 7.

ALT+ENTER
Open your search query in a new tab
ALT+H
Open the Help menu
ALT+HOME
Go to your home page
ALT+J
Open the RSS menu
ALT+L
Open the Help menu
ALT+Left Arrow
Go to the previous page
ALT+M
Open the Home menu
ALT+N
Move focus to the Information bar
ALT+O
Open the Tools menu
ALT+P
Open the Page menu
ALT+R
Open the Print menu
ALT+Right Arrow
Go to the next page
ALT+T
Open the Tools menu
BACKSPACE
Go to the previous page
CTRL+0
Zoom to 100%
CTRL+A
Select all items on the current webpage
CTRL+C
Copy the selected items to the Clipboard
CTRL+Down Arrow
Open the search provider menu
CTRL+E
Go to the search box
CTRL+F
Find on this page
CTRL+F5
Refresh the current webpage, even if the time stamp for the web version and your locally stored version are the same
CTRL+H
Open History
CTRL+I
Open Favorites
CTRL+J
Open Feeds
CTRL+Minus
Decrease zoom (- 10%)
CTRL+N
Open a new window
CTRL+O
Open a new website or page
CTRL+P
Print the current page or active frame
CTRL+Plus
Increase zoom (+ 10%)
CTRL+S
Save the current page
CTRL+SHIFT+TAB
Move backward between frames (only works if tabbed browsing is disabled)
CTRL+TAB
Move forward through frames and browser elements (only works if tabbed browsing is disabled)
CTRL+V
Insert the contents of the Clipboard at the selected location
CTRL+W
Close the current window (if you only have one tab open)
CTRL+X
Remove the selected items and copy them to the Clipboard
Down Arrow
Scroll toward the end of a document
END
Move to the end of a document
ENTER
Activate a selected link
ESC
Stop downloading a page
F1
Display Help
F11
Toggle between full-screen and regular views of the browser window
F5
Refresh the current webpage
F6
Move forward through frames and browser elements (only works if tabbed browsing is disabled)
HOME
Move to the beginning of a document
PAGE DOWN
Scroll toward the end of a document in larger increments
PAGE UP
Scroll toward the beginning of a document in larger increments
SHIFT+F10
Display a shortcut menu for a link
SHIFT+TAB
Move back through the items on a webpage, the Address bar, or the Links bar
SPACE
Click the Information bar
TAB
Move forward through the items on a webpage, the Address bar, or the Links bar
Up Arrow
Scroll toward the beginning of a document

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Internet Explorer 7 - Tabs

The following shortcuts are used to work with tabs in Internet Explorer 7.

ALT+ENTER
Open a new tab in the foreground from the Address bar
CTRL+9
Switch to the last tab
CTRL+ALT+F4
Close other tabs
CTRL+click
Open links in a new tab in the background
CTRL+Q
Toggle Quick Tabs (thumbnail view) on or off
CTRL+SHIFT+click
Open links in a new tab in the foreground
CTRL+SHIFT+TAB
Switch between tabs
CTRL+T
Open a new tab in the foreground
CTRL+TAB
Switch between tabs
CTRL+W
Close current tab (or the current window if tabbed browsing is disabled)
CTRL+[n]
Switch to a specific tab number, where [n] is the number of the tab (from 1 to 8)

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Internet Explorer 7 - Print Preview

The following shortcuts are used to work with print preview in Internet Explorer 7.

ALT+A
Type the number of the page you want displayed
ALT+C
Close Print Preview
ALT+END
Display the last page to be printed
ALT+F
Specify how you want frames to print (this option is available only if you are printing a webpage that uses frames)
ALT+HOME
Display the first page to be printed
ALT+Left Arrow
Display the previous page to be printed
ALT+P
Set printing options and print the page
ALT+Right Arrow
Display the next page to be printed
ALT+U
Change paper, headers and footers, orientation, and margins for this page

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Internet Explorer 7 - Address Bar

The following shortcuts are used to work with the address bar in Internet Explorer 7.

ALT+D
Select the text in the Address bar
CTRL+ENTER
Add “www.” to the beginning and “.com” to the end of the text typed in the Address bar
CTRL+Left Arrow
When in the Address bar, move the cursor left to the next logical break in the address (period or slash)
CTRL+Right Arrow
When in the Address bar, move the cursor right to the next logical break in the address (period or slash)
Down Arrow
Move back through the list of AutoComplete matches
F4
Display a list of addresses you’ve typed
Up Arrow
Move forward through the list of AutoComplete matches

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Internet Explorer 7 - Feeds/History/Favorites

The following shortcuts are used to work with feeds, history, and favorites in Internet Explorer 7.

ALT+A
Open the Favorites menu from the menu bar
ALT+C
Open Favorites Center and display your favorites
ALT+Down Arrow
Move selected item down in the Favorites list in the Organize Favorites dialog box
ALT+I
Display all feeds (when in feed view)
ALT+M
Mark a feed as read (when in feed view)
ALT+S
Put cursor in Search box in feed view
ALT+Up Arrow
Move selected item up in the Favorites list in the Organize Favorites dialog box
ALT+Z
Open Add to Favorites menu (or open Subscribe to feed when in feed preview)
CTRL+B
Open the Organize Favorites dialog box
CTRL+D
Add the current page to your favorites (or subscribe to the feed when in feed preview)
CTRL+H
Open Favorites Center and display your history
CTRL+J
Open Favorites Center and display your feeds
CTRL+SHIFT+J
Open and dock the Favorites Center and display your feeds

Command Line
The following shortcuts are used to work within the Command Line window.

ALT+F7
Clear all entries in command buffer
Ctrl+Left Arrow
Move back one word
Ctrl+Right Arrow
Move forward one word
Down Arrow
Display next command entered
End
Move to the end of line
ESC
Erase current line
F1
Repeat first character typed in preceding line (hit again for next)
F2
Repeat first character typed in preceding line up to a character you are prompted to enter
F3
Repeat text typed in preceding line
F7
Show all entries in command buffer
F9
Allows you to directly type in the number of the command you wish to activate from the command buffer.
Home
Move to beginning of line
PAGE DOWN
Display newest command entered
PAGE UP
Display oldest command entered
Up Arrow
Display previous command entered

Biggins

Alt+F4 (with repeated use) will close down any apps/windows open till they are all gone.
It will finally then shut down the computer as a last function.

polobradaigh

Thanks Soundman and Biggins. Will try suggestions.

Loveless

I found a very handy one by accident on Windows XP:

If you're trying to login using the default Welcome Screen and the user you want isn't there, press CTRL+ALT+press DEL twice.

This switches from the Welcome Screen login to the old classic Windows login screen. This is very handy because it allows you to type in the desired username, like if you need to login as 'Administrator'.