Basic Shortcuts for windows 7

1. Managing 'Windows' in Windows 7

 Move and Resize Active Window

Win+Arrow Down   Set window to Restored (if Maximized) or Minimized (if Restored)

Win+Arrow Up   Maximize window (if Restored)

Win+Shift+Arrow Down/Win+Shift+Arrow Up   Maximize Restored window vertically / Restore window to previous state

Win+Arrow Right/Win+Arrow Left   Move Restored window to left/center/right. Works across multiple monitors

Win+Shift+Arrow Right/Win+Shift+Arrow Left   Move window to left monitor / to right monitor when using multiple monitors

Alt+Space   Opens the title bar menu

Alt+Space+Enter   Restore Window

Alt+Space+x   Maximize Window

Alt+Space+n   Minimize Window

F11   Turn full page view on or off

'Maximized' means full screen, 'Restored' means variable window size, and 'Minimized' means minimized to taskbar.

Switch between Applications

Alt+tab,

alt+Shift+Tab   Cycles through open programs in taskbar. Hold alt and continuously press tab to move forward between applications. Release keys to switch to application selected. Add shift to reverse direction.

Alt+Ctrl+tab, then use arrow keys to select application   Cycles through open programs  in taskbar without needing to hold alt continuously. Press alt+ctrl+tab once, then continue with arrow keys and press enter on application.

Alt+Esc/Alt+Shift+Esc   Cycle through programs on taskbar in the order they were opened or accessed

Win+Tab   Cycle through programs using Aero Flip 3D

Ctrl+Win+Tab   Cycle through programs on Taskbar using Aero Flip 3D

Win+g   Cycle through Gadget Window

Manage Multiple Windows

Win+d   Minimize all windows on all Monitors. Press again to restore previous state

Win+m   Minimize all windows on current Monitor

Win+Shift+m   Restore previously minimized windows on current Monitor Win+Home   Set all windows to Minimized on current Monitor except active

Win+Space   Preview Desktop / make windows transparent (May not work with all Settings)2. 

2.Accessing Windows Features

Win+e   Start Windows Explorer (in My Computer)

Win+r   Open the Run window

Win+f   Open Windows Search. f3 on empty desktop works, too.

Win+l   Lock the keyboard/ computer

Win+F1   Display Windows Help Alt+Shift   Change keyboard language layout if multiple language layouts are active*

shift when inserting CD or DVD   Prevent CD or DVD from automatically playing

Win+p   Choose Presentation Display Mode

Win+x   Open Mobility Center *  When working with multiple keyboards Layouts (e.g. Spanish/English/German). Add unlimited Layouts under Regional settings and activate language bar in Taskbar to see current language. Switch with shortcut any time.

 3. Windows 7 Taskbar 

Win or ctrl+Esc   Activate Start Button. Then use arrow keys, space and enter to navigate within Start Menu

Win+t   Go to first item in taskbar, continue with arrow keys

Win+b   Go to first item in system tray

Shift+click on a taskbar item   Start new instance of taskbar item

Ctrl+Shift+click on a taskbar item   Start new instance of taskbar item as administrator

Shift+right-click on a taskbar item   Show the window menu for the program

Win+1...9   Switch to application in position N on taskbar (or launch pinned application)

Shift+Win+1...9   Start new instance of taskbar item in position N on taskbar

Unfortunately, Microsoft removed the possibility to select multiple taskbar items in Windows 7

4. Navigating Desktop

Arrow Keys   Navigate between and select single icons on desktop (when focus is on the desktop)

Home/End   Select first / select last object on desktop

Enter   Launch active icon

Shift+F10   Activate context menu of active icon by simulates right mouse button. Once in the context menu use arrow keys, a-z and enter to select item

tab, shift+tab on empty desktop   Navigate between desktop, the quick-launch  bar, task bar and notification bar. Then use arrow keys and enter or space to activate specific icons

a, b, c, ...   Pressing the initial letter of the name of any objects will highlight the respective application or folder. Continue typing the object name if multiple objects start with the same letter     

5. Windows Explorer

Basics 

Win+e   Start Windows Explorer (My Computer)

Alt+Arrow Up   Go up one folder

Alt+Arrow Left/Alt+Arrow Right   Go to previous folder / go to next folder Tab/Shift+Tab   Switch focus forward/ backward between Address bar, Search Bar, Toolbar, Navigation Pane, and File List (Default is usually File List)

Alt+d or f4   Jump to the Address bar and select absolute address. Copy address with ctrl+c if desired

Ctrl+e or ctrl+f   Jump to Search Box in Explorer

Ctrl+n   Open new instance of Windows Explorer

F11   Maximize window

Navigate File List and Navigation Pane

Arrow Keys   Navigate between files and folders

Enter   Open folder or start application

Home/End   Jump to first / jump to last item

F2   Change the file name of active item

f2, then arrow left/Arrow Right   Move one character to the left / to the right in item name

f2, then ctrl+Arrow Left/Ctrl+Arrow Right   Jump one word to the left / to the right of item name

f2, then home /End   Jump to beginning / jump to end of item name

f2, then ctrl+a   Select complete object name including suffix (default excludes suffix)

Arrow Left/Arrow Right   Expand folder / collapse folder (navigation pane only)

File List

Alt+p   Display or hide Preview Pane

Alt+v then d   View details. Check View menu for more options

Alt+v then x   View extra-large icons. Check View menu for more options

Ctrl+mouse scroll wheel   Change size of icons

Select Items in File List and Navigation Pane

Shift+Arrow Up/Arrow Down   Select multiple adjacent items (directly above or below)

ctrl  with arrow keys and space   Select multiple non-adjacent items. Hold ctrl, use arrow keys to move to next item, and press space to add/remove from selection

Ctrl+a   Select all

a ...z and 1..9   Press the initial letter any item to jump to it. Continue typing the full name if multiple items start with the same letter

Manipulate Items in Explorer

Ctrl+c, ctrl+x, ctrl+v   ctrl+c for copy, ctrl+x for cut and ctrl+v for paste

Ctrl+z   Undo an action

Ctrl+y   Redo an action

Delete   Delete an item and place it into the Recycle Bin

Shift+Delete   Delete an item permanently without placing it into the Recycle Bin

Shift+F10   Activate context menu of active object. Replaces the right mouse button. Once in the context menu use arrow keys, a-z and enter to get to the selection

Ctrl+Shift+n   Create new folder

Alt+Enter   Open Properties dialog box

6. Photo Viewer

Arrow Left/Arrow Right   Go to next / go to previous photo

Ctrl+.   Rotate photo clockwise
Ctrl+,   Rotate photo counter-clockwise

• /-   Zoom in / zoom out (or mouse wheel)

Ctrl+0 (zero)   Fit to Window

Delete   Delete current photo

Shift+Delete   Permanently delete current photo

Alt+Enter   Show properties of current photo

Alt+e or ctrl+s   Email current photo

Ctrl+c   Copy current photo file to clipboard

Alt+o   Open current photo in other application (e.g. Paint of Office)

7. Dialog Boxes

Crl+Tab/Ctrl+Shift+Tab   Move forward / move backwards through tabs

Tab/Shift+Tab   Move forward / move backwards through options

Alt+underlined letter   Perform the command (or select the option) that goes with that letter

Enter   Replaces clicking the mouse for many selected commands

Space   Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box

Arrow Keys   Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons

F4   Display the items in the active list

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

8. Windows Admin

 Admin Tasks

Ctrl+Win+f   Search for Computers (with Active Directory activated)

Win+pause/break   Display System Properties which holds system properties, computer name, device manager and so on

Ctrl+Shift+Esc   Opens Windows Task Manager

Remote Desktop

Alt+Page Up/Alt+Page Down   Move between programs from left to right / from right to left

Alt+Insert   Cycle through programs in the order that they were started in

Alt+Home   Display the Start menu

Ctrl+Alt+pause/break   Switch between a window and full screen

Ctrl+Alt+End   Display the Windows Security dialog box

Alt+Delete   Display the system menu

9. Windows Help

 Tab   Move between links

Alt+c   Display the Table of Contents

Alt+n   Display the Connection Settings menu

F10   Display the Options menu

Alt+Arrow Left/Alt+Arrow Right   Move back / move forward to the previously/ next viewed topic

Alt+a   Display the customer support page

Alt+Home   Display the Help and Support home page

Home/End   Move to the beginning / to the end of a topic

Ctrl+f   Search the current topic. Press tab to leave

Ctrl+p   Print a topic

F3   Move the cursor