General Windows XP keyboard shortcuts
Copy – CTRL+C
Cut – CTRL+X
Paste – CTRL+V
Undo – CTRL+Z
Delete – DELETE
Delete selected item permanently without placing the item into the Recycle Bin – SHIFT+DELETE
Copy selected item – CTRL while dragging an item
Create shortcut to selected item – CTRL+SHIFT while dragging an item
Rename selected item – F2
Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next word – CTRL+RIGHT ARROW
Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous word – CTRL+LEFT ARROW
Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next paragraph – CTRL+DOWN ARROW
Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous paragraph – CTRL+UP ARROW
Highlight a block of text – CTRL+SHIFT with any of the arrow keys
Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text within a document – SHIFT with any of the arrow keys
Select all – CTRL+A
Search for a file or folder – F3
View properties for the selected item – ALT+ENTER
Close the active item, or quit the active program – ALT+F4
Opens the shortcut menu for the active window – ALT+SPACEBAR
Close the active document in programs that allow you to have multiple documents open simultaneously – CTRL+F4
Switch between open items – ALT+TAB
Cycle through items in the order they were opened – ALT+ESC
Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop – F6
Display the Address bar list in My Computer or Windows Explorer – F4
Display the shortcut menu for the selected item – SHIFT+F10
Display the System menu for the active window – ALT+SPACEBAR
Display the Start menu – CTRL+ESC
Display the corresponding menu – ALT+Underlined letter in a menu name
Carry out the corresponding command – Underlined letter in a command name on an open menu
Activate the menu bar in the active program – F10
Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu – RIGHT ARROW
Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu – LEFT ARROW
Refresh the active window – F5
View the folder one level up in My Computer or Windows Explorer – BACKSPACE
Cancel the current task – ESC
Prevent the CD from automatically playing – SHIFT when you insert a CD into the CD-ROM drive
Windows XP keyboard shortcuts for dialog boxes
Move forward through tabs – CTRL+TAB
Move backward through tabs – CTRL+SHIFT+TAB
Move forward through options – TAB
Move backward through options – SHIFT+TAB
Carry out the corresponding command or select the corresponding option – ALT+Underlined letter
Carry out the command for the active option or button – ENTER
Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box – SPACEBAR
Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons – Arrow keys
Display Help – F1
Display the items in the active list – F4
Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box – BACKSPACE
If you have a Microsoft Natural Keyboard, or any other compatible
keyboard that includes the Windows logo key and the Application key,
you can use these keyboard shortcuts:
Display or hide the Start menu – WIN Key
Display the System Properties dialog box – WIN Key+BREAK
Show the desktop – WIN Key+D
Minimize all windows – WIN Key+M
Restores minimized windows – WIN Key+Shift+M
Open My Computer – WIN Key+E
Search for a file or folder – WIN Key+F
Search for computers – CTRL+WIN Key+F
Display Windows Help – WIN Key+F1
Lock your computer if you are connected to a network domain, or switch
users if you are not connected to a network domain – WIN Key+ L
Open the Run dialog box – WIN Key+R
Open Utility Manager – WIN Key+U
Accessibility keyboard shortcuts
Switch FilterKeys on and off – Right SHIFT for eight seconds
Switch High Contrast on and off – Left ALT+left SHIFT+PRINT SCREEN
Switch MouseKeys on and off – Left ALT +left SHIFT +NUM LOCK
Switch StickyKeys on and off – SHIFT five times
Switch ToggleKeys on and off – NUM LOCK for five seconds
Open Utility Manager – WIN Key+U
Shortcuts you can use with Windows Explorer
Display the bottom of the active window – END
Display the top of the active window – HOME
Display all subfolders under the selected folder – NUM LOCK+ASTERISK on numeric keypad (*)
Display the contents of the selected folder – NUM LOCK+PLUS SIGN on numeric keypad (+)
Collapse the selected folder – NUM LOCK+MINUS SIGN on numeric keypad (–)
Collapse current selection if it’s expanded, or select parent folder – LEFT ARROW
Display current selection if it’s collapsed, or select first subfolder – RIGHT ARROW
