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Windows Vista Hot Keys - Keyboard Shortcuts

Windows Vista, a Microsoft computer operating system released in early 2007, is becoming more and more common in office and educational environments. While most of the keyboard shortcuts carried over from Microsoft's previous operating system, Windows XP, there have been additions and changes. Below, you will find a full listing of these shortcuts, or "hot keys" for Windows Vista, but first a quick review of the basics.

What is an operating system?
An operating system is a computer's master control program through which all its software programs run. Windows Vista and Windows XP are just two examples. Others include Apple's Mac OS X and older systems such as Windows 98 and Mac OS.

What is a hot key?
Hot keys, or shortcuts, are keys or sets of keys that can be used to perform specific funtions that would typically be done by using a mouse to click through various menus. By using these shortcuts, the user is not only saving time, but for a visually impaired user, this also makes the system more accessible.

List of hot keys:
Below is a full listing of the hot keys associated with Windows Vista. Each operating system has its own hot keys, so if you are not using Vista, be sure to check the manufacturers website for listings specific to your program.

Ease of Access Shortcuts

• Right SHIFT for eight seconds
  Turns filter keys off or on

• Left ALT + left SHIFT + PRINT SCREEN
  Turns the High Contrast feature off or on

• Left ALT + left SHIFT + NUM LOCK
  Turns Mouse Keys off or on

• SHIFT five times
  Turns Sticky Keys off or on (Sticky Keys are a feature that allow a user to press certain keys such as SHIFT, ALT, or CTRL and have it remain active until the next time that key is pressed)

• NUM LOCK for five seconds
  Turns Toggle Keys off or on (Toggle Keys are an accessibility feature designed to play sound cues when certain locking keys are pressed. For example: CAPS LOCK, NUM LOCK, or SCROLL LOCK)

• Windows logo key +U
  Opens the Ease of Access Center, which is defined on the Microsoft website as "a centralized location where you can get quick access to adjust accessibility settings and manage assistive technology programs."

General Keyboard Shortcuts

• CTRL+C
  Copies the selection

• CTRL+X
  Cuts the selection

• CTRL+V
  Pastes the selection

• CTRL+Z
  Undoes an action

• CTRL+Y
  Redoes an action

• DELETE
  Deletes the selection and moves it to the Recycle Bin

• SHIFT+DELETE
  Deletes the selection permanently without moving it to the Recycle Bin

• F2
  Renames object

• CTRL + RIGHT ARROW
  Moves the cursor to the beginning of the next word

• CTRL + LEFT ARROW
  Moves the cursor to the beginning of the previous word

• CTRL + DOWN ARROW
  Moves the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph

• CTRL + UP ARROW
  Moves the cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph

• CTRL + SHIFT + an ARROW key
  Selects a block of text

• SHIFT + an ARROW key
  Selects more than one item in a window or on the desktop; or selects text within a document

• CTRL + A
  Selects all items in a document or window

• F3
  Searches for a file or folder

• ALT + ENTER
  Displays properties for the selected item

• ALT + F4
  Closes the active item, or exits the active program

• ALT + SPACEBAR
  Opens the shortcut menu for the active window

• CTRL + F4
  Closes the active document (in programs that allow you to have multiple documents open at the same time)

• ALT + TAB
  Switches between open items

• CTRL + ALT + TAB
  Uses the arrow keys to switch between open items

• Windows logo key + TAB
  Cycles through programs on the taskbar by using Windows Flip 3-D (a tool new to Windows Vistathat allows a user to view live thumbnails of all open windows in a 3-D setting)

• CTRL + Windows logo key + TAB
  Uses the arrow keys to cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Windows Flip 3-D

• ALT + ESC
  Cycles through items in the order in which they were opened

• F6
  Cycles through screen elements in a window or on the desktop

• F4
  Displays the Address bar list in Windows Explorer

• SHIFT + F10
  Displays the shortcut menu for the selected item

• CTRL + ESC
  Opens the Start menu

• ALT + underlined letter (of options in the menu bar for that application)
  Displays the corresponding menu

• ALT + underlined letter (of options within each menu within an application)
  Performs the menu command (or other underlined command)

• F10
  Activates the menu bar in the active program

• RIGHT ARROW
  Opens the next menu to the right (once F10 has been pushed), or opens a submenu

• LEFT ARROW
  Opens the next menu to the left (once F10 has been pushed), or closes a submenu

• F5
  Refreshes the active window

• ALT + UP ARROW
  Views the folder one level up in Windows Explorer

• ESC
  Cancels the current task

• CTRL + SHIFT + ESC
  Opens Task Manager

• SHIFT when you insert a CD
  Prevents the CD from automatically playing

Dialog Box Keyboard Shortcuts

• CTRL + TAB
  Moves forward through tabs

• CTRL + SHIFT + TAB
  Moves back through tabs

• TAB Moves forward through options
  SHIFT + TAB Moves back through options

• ALT + underlined letter
  Performs the command (or selects the option) that corresponds with that letter

• ENTER
  Replaces clicking the mouse for many selected commands

• SPACEBAR
  Selects or clears the check box if the active option is a check box

• Arrow keys
  Selects a button if the active option is a group of option buttons

• F1
  Displays Help

• F4
  Displays the items in the active list

• BACKSPACE
  Opens a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box

Microsoft Keyboard Shortcuts

• Windows logo key
  Opens or closes the Start menu

• Windows logo key + BREAK
  Displays the System Properties dialog box

• Windows logo key + D
  Displays the desktop

• Windows logo key + M
  Minimizes all windows

• Windows logo key + SHIFT + M
  Restores minimized windows to the desktop

• Windows logo key + E
  Opens My Computer

• Windows logo key + F
  Searches for a file or folder

• CTRL + Windows logo key + F
  Searches for computers (if you are on a network)

• Windows logo key + L
  Locks your computer or switches users

• Windows logo key + R
  Opens the Run dialog box

• Windows logo key + T
  Cycles through programs on the taskbar

• Windows logo key + TAB
  Cycles through programs on the taskbar by using Windows Flip 3-D

• CTRL + Windows logo key + TAB
  Uses the arrow keys to cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Windows Flip 3-D

• Windows logo key + SPACEBAR
  Brings all gadgets to the front and selects Windows Sidebar (a panel on the desktop that keeps your selected gadgets organized and always accessible. This is a new feature to Windows Vista)

• Windows logo key + G
  Cycles through Sidebar gadgets

• Windows logo key + U
  Opens Ease of Access Center

• Windows logo key + X
  Opens Windows Mobility Center (available on premium versions of Vista only, this is where a user can manage their mobile PC settings)