The Wonders of the Windows Key

MattVortex · **Posted:** June 9th, 2007, 12:53 am

Most of you will know that when you press the Windows Key, you get the start menu pop up. It has been like that since Windows 95, and will probably be like that for a lot longer still.

But what about key combinations with the Windows key?

Win - opens start menu

Win + L - locks the screen (in a multi-user environment, shows the Welcome screen)

Win + D - Hides all open windows and shows the desktop (press again the show the windows again)

Win + M - Minimises all non-minimised Windows.

Win + Shift + M - Restore windows to how they were before you pressed Win + M

Win + Tab - In Vista, this makes the Flip3D interface appear. In XP, you cycle through items on your taskbar

Win + E - Opens and Explorer window

Win + Pause/Break - Displays System Properties

Win + R - Opens the 'Run' box.

Win + F - Opens a Search in Explorer

Win + F1 - Opens the Help and Support Centre

I use Win + L frequently to stop brothers and parents from screwing with my comp, and Win + R finds itself used occasionally.

Did you know about these? Which ones do you use?

Adbot · **Posted:** June 9th, 2007, 12:53 am

Shane · **Posted:** June 9th, 2007, 1:33 am

Yea known about them for quite some time

Use Win, Win L, Win D, Win R daily.

Jeff · **Posted:** June 9th, 2007, 9:47 am

Yea, I use Win+D the most. Pretty often I will also open up Win+E to find some files.

Evelyn · **Posted:** June 9th, 2007, 5:35 pm

Win + E and Win + L

I could start using Win + D soon.