A Pain in the Whatchamacallit
By Tiny Ruisch
I remember back in the last century when the computer mouse was invented. I resisted buying one because I thought it was useless technology that wasted time. After all, you had to remove one of your hands from the keyboard to use it. Back then we could do it all with the CTRL and ALT keys. Other tasks were easily accomplished with a batch file.
Back then, we were mostly limited to CTRL – cut and paste. Now, the old saying has come true, “We’ve come a long way baby!”
When the Windows 95 operating system was released, a new key was added to the keyboard. For me, the windows key has always been a “super” key. It has so many useful functions that I find it hard to believe how many people fail to use the flag key.
Here’s a list of the shortcuts I personally use the most often. This list works in almost all versions of Windows. Just hit your windows key and the key(s) in the left column to enable the right column action. It’s a heck of a lot faster than moving the mouse and clicking.
| + (nothing) | Open/Close start menu |
| + Home | Minimizes all but the current window |
| + Left Arrow | Tiles the window on the left side of the screen |
| + Right Arrow | Tiles the window on the right side of the screen |
| + T | Cycles through the items on the Taskbar |
| + # key | Switches to a running program on the Taskbar in the position indicated by the number |
| + M | Minimizes all windows |
| + D | Show/Hide Desktop (minimizes/restores all windows) |
| + L | Locks the computer |
| + E | Open the File Explorer |
| + I | Open Settings |
| + Comma | Temporary peek at the desktop |
| + Tab | Accesses Windows Flip 3D and cycles forward through open programs |
| + Plus Key | Open the Magnifier |
| + Up Arrow | Maximizes the current window |
| + Down Arrow | Minimizes the current window |
| + Home | Minimizes all but the current window |
| + Left Arrow | Tiles the window on the left side of the screen |
| + Right Arrow | Tiles the window on the right side of the screen |
In this article, I’ve focused on shortcuts using the Windows Logo Key. There are many other keyboard shortcuts. Some are not common and can improve your keyboard skills. Windows shortcuts can be difficult to use at first. After you use them a few times, they become a force of habit and you utilize them without thinking about it.
A search of the internet will find many sites with lists of keyboard shortcuts. I recommend using Microsoft’s Windows Keyboard Shortcuts List. Not only is it always up to date, but it is complete and easy to use. Select your operating system in the drop down menu. Then you will see expandable lists for all shortcuts.
I don’t think that it’s possible for anyone to memorize all the keyboard shortcuts. I suggest you search the internet and make your own shortcut list. I’m sure that you’ll enjoy your computer more when you waste less time reaching for the mouse.
That’s about all I’ve got to say this month. I think that it’s time for me to either ALT+TAB or ALT+F4 away from my word processor.
Thanks for reading.