Secrets of the 'Win' key in Windows, including Windows 7

If you think you know them all, I've got a surprise for you. There are even more in Windows 7, the new version of Windows coming out this fall.

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Secrets of the 'Win' key in Windows, including Windows 7

August 30, 2009

By Al Fasoldt
Copyright © 2009, Al Fasoldt
Copyright © 2009, The Post-Standard

   If you're a Windows user, you might already know that the Win key -- the keyboard key with the Windows logo on it -- opens the Start Menu. That's very handy, especially on a laptop. But the Win key holds a lot of secrets, too.
   If you think you know them all, I've got a surprise for you. There are even more in Windows 7, the new version of Windows coming out this fall.
   We'll get to the Windows 7 keys shortly. Let's get back to the standard Win keys.
   My favorite is Win-R, which opens a tiny window ready for you to type a command. It doesn't have to be anything fancy. The name of a program works fine. So when I want to open Notepad, I press Win-R and immediately type NOTEPAD and press Enter.
   There are about two dozen other Win key combinations. You'll find a complete list below, further down in this article.
   My second-most-favorite Win key combination is Win-M, which minimizes all open windows. When I've got lots of programs running, nothing clears the clutter away as quickly as Win-M. To bring all those windows back on screen, you add Shift to the mix (Win-Shift-M).
   In third place is Win-E, which opens an Explorer window. Explorer (not Internet Explorer -- just Explorer) is the file manager for Windows. Having it pop open by pressing two keys together is a big plus for me.
   Fourth place goes to Win-Ctrl-F, which opens the network Find Computer dialog box. My Windows (and Mac) computers are nearly always networked to each other, and I love being able to locate a networked computer quickly.
   In fifth place is a combination that works only on a Microsoft Natural keyboard (and possibly on others that use the same key codes). It's Win-L, which starts logging you off Windows.
   For Windows 7's early adopters, here are two new Win shortcuts:
      Win-Shift-Up Arrow maximizes the window in the vertical direction only (and Win-Shift-Down Arrow restores the previous state).
      Win-P opens the Projector Settings window for setting up presentations on a projector.
   More Windows 7 shortcuts are below.

   All the Win key shortcuts
   WIN: Open Start Menu
   WIN-D: Maximize (restore) or minimize all open windows or open Desktop menu [Win98/2000/ME/XP/2003 only]
   WIN-E: Start Windows Explorer
   WIN-F: Start Find Files/Folders dialog box
   WIN-L: Start Welcome screen [WinXP-Fast User Switch XP Power Toy only] or Lockup Workstation [Win2000/XP/2003 only]
   WIN-M: Minimize or maximize (restore) all open windows
   WIN-R: Start Run dialog box
   WIN-F1: Start Help Menu and Support Center [Win98/2000/ME/XP/2003 only]
   WIN-Tab: Cycle and select (press Enter) through all open apps/games Taskbar buttons
   WIN-Ctrl-Tab: Cycle through all open apps/games Taskbar buttons, Tray icons, Start Menu and Quick Launch toolbars (press Right or Left arrows to Cycle through Toolbar and Tray items)
   WIN-Pause/Break: Start Systems Properties Control Panel applet
   WIN-Ctrl-F: Start Find Computer dialog box
   WIN-Shift-M: Undo Minimize (restore) all open windows
   WIN-L-Enter: Logoff Windows [Win98/ME only] or Lockup Workstation [Win2000/XP/2003 only]
   WIN-Q: Cycle and select (press Enter) through all users [Win2000/XP/2003 only] or Fast User Switch [WinXP-Fast User Switch XP Power Toy only]
   WIN-U: Start Utility Manager [Win2000/XP/2003 only]
   WIN-U-R-Enter: Restart Windows [Win95/98/ME only]
   WIN-U-S-Enter: Shut down Windows [Win95/98/ME only]
   WIN-Space: Scroll down one page at a time (same as Page Down) in any web browser
   WIN-Back Space: Scroll up one page at a time (same as Page Up) in any web browser For users of a Microsoft Natural keyboard:
   WIN-A: Start Accessibility Options Control Panel applet (if installed)
   WIN-C: Start Control Panel
   WIN-I: Start Mouse Properties Control Panel applet
   WIN-K: Start keyboard Properties Control Panel applet
   WIN-L: Log off Windows
   WIN-P: Start Print Manager
   WIN-S: Toggle Caps Lock ON or OFF
   WIN-V: Start Clipboard
   WIN-Space: Display Microsoft IntelliType shortcut key list

   Additional Windows 7 Win keys
   WIN-Left Arrow and WIN-Right Arrow: dock a window to the left or right edge of the screen.
   WIN-Up Arrow and WIN-Down Arrow: Maximize and restore or minimize.
   WIN-Shift-Up Arrow and WIN-Shift-Down Arrow: Maximize and restore the vertical size only.
   Win-P: Open Projector Settings Window.
   Win-X: Open the Windows Mobility Center, which lets you quickly immobilize instant messaging clients, screen savers and desktop wallpaper.