Windows 7 shortcuts

One thing that is clear from the feedback on my previous article on hidden Windows 7 features: we love our keyboard shortcuts. So here are a few more selected shortcuts.

Press this key To do this
Desktop Shortcuts
win logo key Open or close the Start menu.
win logo key + R Open the Run dialog box.
win logo key + D Display the desktop.
win logo key + Spacebar Preview the desktop.
win logo key + P Choose a presentation display mode.
Window Management
win logo key + M Minimize all windows.
win logo key + Shift + M Restore minimized windows to the desktop.
win logo key + Up Arrow Maximize the window.
win logo key + Left Arrow Maximize the window to the left side of the screen.
win logo key + Right Arrow Maximize the window to the right side of the screen.
win logo key + Down Arrow Minimize the window.
win logo key + Home Minimize all but the active window.
win logo key + Shift + Up Arrow Stretch the window to the top and bottom of the screen.
win logo key + Shift + Left Arrow or Right Arrow Move a window from one monitor to another.
Task Switching
win logo key + T Cycle through programs on the taskbar.
win logo key + Tab Cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Aero Flip 3-D.
Ctrl + win logo key + Tab Use the arrow keys to cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Aero Flip 3-D.
Ctrl + win logo key + B Switch to the program that displayed a message in the notification area.
win logo key + G Cycle through gadgets.
Taskbar Shortcuts
win logo key + number Start the program pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number. If the program is already running, switch to that program.
Ctrl + win logo key + number Switch to the last active window of the program pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number.
Alt + win logo key + number Open the Jump List for the program pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number.
Windows Explorer Shortcuts
win logo key + Pause Display the System Properties dialog box.
win logo key + E Open Computer.
win logo key + F Search for a file or folder.
win logo key + L Lock your computer or switch users.

If you are interested in drinking from the fire hose, here is the definitive list of shortcuts.

Windows 7, hidden features

It’s been over 6 months, and Windows 7 still surprises me, pleasantly. The last time I felt the same about Windows was in 1995. Let me share a few things I found, which are generally not discussed.

Note: I never used Vista, so if some of these were present in Vista, I wouldn’t know.

The Windows Explorer

I think the explorer has seen the most refinement, there are nice things in all corners. My favourite features:

Pin to Windows Explorer

You might have heard about ‘pin to task bar’, but did you know that you can pin to windows explorer, which adds a folder to the Windows Explorer task bar shortcuts jump list. Wow, those were too many words but still doesn’t explain it right, so here’s a picture instead.

Drag a folder to the task bar

Pin to Explorer

And the folder shows up in the jump list

(right click on the icon)

Jump List

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