Windows Shortcuts & Registry Tips

Taskbar  ALT + ESC = Cycle forward through ALL open (top

level) windows
Action Keys  ALT + SHIFT + ESC = Cycle backwards through ALL
Open the Start menu Ctrl + Esc open (top level) windows
Find a file or folder F3 or Esc + F3  ALT + TAB = Move to next active
Minimize all windowsWins + M application/window.

Keyboard Shortcuts For Desktop, Explorer, In Explorer:

Folder/Drive Windows, Common Dialog Boxes
 CTRL + G = Select Go To command
Action Keys  CTRL + A = Select all files (folders) in highlighted
Find a file in Explorer folder (drive)
F3
or folder window  CTRL + ENTER = Go to incompletely typed URL
Open drop-down folder/drive list F4 name in URL box (valid ONLY for www.?.com URLs!)
Move up one level in  BACKSPACE = Go up (back) one level
Backspace
Explorer/folder window
 SHIFT + F10 = Select right-click Context Menu for
Refresh or update a window F5
highlighted drive/folder/file/link
Select all items Ctrl + A
Select multiple contiguous items Hold Shift + cursor keys  Hold SHIFT = Move (instead of copy) highlighted
Select multiple noncontiguous itemsHold Ctrl + cursor keys file/folder while dragging it between different drives
See shortcut menu for selected item Shift + F10  * or + [Numeric Pad only] = expand highlighted folder
Delete selected item without tree (if it contains any subfolders)
Shift + Del
sending to Recycle Bin  - [Numeric Pad only] = collapse highlighted folder
Open properties sheet tree (if it contains any subfolders).
Alt + Enter
for selected item
Rename selected item F2->change name ->Enter Windows key + R = Run menu
This is usually followed by: cmd = Command Prompt
Keyboard Shortcuts While Windows GUI loads iexplore + "web address" = Internet Explorer
compmgmt.msc = Computer Management
Action Keys dhcpmgmt.msc = DHCP Management
dnsmgmt.msc = DNS Management
Do NOT launch Startup folder executablesHold CTRL or SHIFT
services.msc = Services
Do NOT Autorun the cd-rom Hold SHIFT
eventvwr = Event Viewer
dsa.msc = Active Directory Users and Computers
More useful keyboard shortcuts (hot "combos") in dssite.msc = Active Directory Sites and Services
Windows 95/98/ME Windows key + E = Explorer
ALT + Tab = Switch between windows
ALT, Space, X = Maximize window
 Hold CTRL = Copy a file/folder when dragging it
CTRL + Shift + Esc = Task Manager
 Hold CTRL + SHIFT = Create a shortcut when Windows key + Break = System properties
dragging a file/folder
Windows key + F = Search
 Hold SHIFT = While closing a folder to close its parent Windows key + D = Hide/Display all windows
folders too CTRL + C = copy
 CTRL + TAB = Move through pages/tabs in a CTRL + X = cut
Properties dialog box CTRL + V = paste
 Hold SHIFT = Do NOT Autorun CD-ROM/DVD Also don't forget about the "Right-click" key next to the right
 F1 = Help Menu Windows key on your keyboard. Using the arrows and that key
 F5 = Refresh Desktop settings (with any Desktop icon can get just about anything done once you've opened up any
highlighted) program.
 F10 = Menu mode
Keyboard Shortcuts
 CTRL + C = Copy [Alt] and [Esc] Switch between running applications
 CTRL + V = Paste [Alt] and letter Select menu item by underlined letter
 CTRL + X = Cut [Ctrl] and [Esc] Open Program Menu
 CTRL + Z = Undo [Ctrl] and [F4] Close active document or group windows (does
 DEL = Delete file/folder/shortcut/link not work with some applications)
 SHIFT + DEL = Bypass Recycle Bin (permanent [Alt] and [F4] Quit active application or close current window
DELETE!) [Alt] and [-] Open Control menu for active document
Ctrl] Lft., Rt. arrow Move cursor forward or back one word
 ALT + ENTER = Properties
Ctrl] Up, Down arrow Move cursor forward or back one
 ALT + Double-click = Properties paragraph
 SHIFT + Right-click = Show Open With on Context [F1] Open Help for active application
menu Windows+M Minimize all open windows
 SHIFT + Double-click = Explore Shift+Windows+M Undo minimize all open windows
 SHIFT + Close button (upper right corner X) = Close Windows+F1 Open Windows Help
all open windows Windows+Tab Cycle through the Taskbar buttons
 CTRL + ESC = Display Start Menu Windows+Break Open the System Properties dialog box

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 Windows Shortcuts & Registry Tips
in My Computer, simply delete this DWORD item. It's .reg file
acessability shortcuts is as follows:
Right SHIFT for eight seconds........ Switch FilterKeys on and
off. REGEDIT4
Left ALT +left SHIFT +PRINT SCREEN....... Switch High
Contrast on and off.
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Cur
Left ALT +left SHIFT +NUM LOCK....... Switch MouseKeys on
rentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
and off.
SHIFT....... five times Switch StickyKeys on and off.
NUM LOCK...... for five seconds Switch ToggleKeys on and off. "NoDrives"=dword:03ffffff

2) Pop a banner each time Windows Boots :

explorer shortcuts
END....... Display the bottom of the active window. To pop a banner which can contain any message you want to
HOME....... Display the top of the active window. display just before a user is going to log on, go to the key:
NUM LOCK+ASTERISK....... on numeric keypad (*) Display all
subfolders under the selected folder. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
NUM LOCK+PLUS SIGN....... on numeric keypad (+) Display \CurrentVersion\WinLogon
the contents of the selected folder.
NUM LOCK+MINUS SIGN....... on numeric keypad (-)
Now create a new string Value in the right pane named
Collapse the selected folder.
LegalNoticeCaption and enter the value that you want to see in
LEFT ARROW...... Collapse current selection if it's expanded, or
the Menu Bar. Now create yet another new string value and
select parent folder.
name it: LegalNoticeText. Modify it and insert the message you
RIGHT ARROW....... Display current selection if it's collapsed,
want to display each time Windows boots. This can be
or select first subfolder.
effectively used to display the company's private policy each
time the user logs on to his NT box. It's .reg file would be:
Type the following commands in your Run Box (Windows Key
+ R) or Start Run
devmgmt.msc = Device Manager REGEDIT4
msinfo32 = System Information
cleanmgr = Disk Cleanup [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Window
ntbackup = Backup or Restore Wizard (Windows Backup s\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
Utility)
mmc = Microsoft Management Console "LegalNoticeCaption"="Caption here."
excel = Microsoft Excel (If Installed)
msaccess = Microsoft Access (If Installed)
powerpnt = Microsoft PowerPoint (If Installed) 3) Secure your Desktop Icons and Settings :
winword = Microsoft Word (If Installed)
frontpg = Microsoft FrontPage (If Installed) You can save your desktop settings and secure it from your
notepad = Notepad nerdy friend by playing with the registry. Simply launch the
wordpad = WordPad Registry Editor go to:
calc = Calculator
msmsgs = Windows Messenger HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Cur
mspaint = Microsoft Paint rentVersion\Policies\Explorer
wmplayer = Windows Media Player
rstrui = System Restore
In the right pane create a new DWORD Value named
netscp6 = Netscape 6.x
NoSaveSettings and modify it's value to 1. Refresh and restart
netscp = Netscape 7.x
for the settings to get saved.
netscape = Netscape 4.x
waol = America Online
control = Opens the Control Panel 4) Deleting System Options from the Start menu :
control printers = Opens the Printers Dialog
You can actually remove the Find and Run options from the
1) Disabling Display of Drives in My Computer : start menu by performing a simple registry hack. Again like
always Launch the registry editor and scroll down to the below
key:
This is yet another trick you can play on your geek friend. To
disable the display of local or networked drives when you click
My Computer go to : HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Cur
rentVersion\Policies\Explorer
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Cur
rentVersion\Policies\Explorer Right-click on the right pane and select New, DWORD Value.
Name it NoFind.(To remove the RUN option name it NoRun).
Double-click the newly create DWORD to edit it's value and
Now in the right pane create a new DWORD item and name it
enter 1 as its value. This will disable the FIND option of the
NoDrives. Now modify it's value and set it to 3FFFFFF
Start Menu and will also disable the default Shortcut key(F3 for
(Hexadecimal) Now press F5 to refresh. When you click on My
Find.)
Computer, no drives will be shown. To enable display of drives

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 Windows Shortcuts & Registry Tips
To restore the Run or find command modify the value of the
DWORD to 0 or simply Delete the DWORD value.
5) Cleaning Recent Docs Menu and the RUN MRU :
The Recent Docs menu can be easily disabled by editing the
Registry. To do this go to the following Key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Cur
rentVersion\Policies\Explorer
Now in the right pane, create a new DWORD value by the
name: NoRecentDocsMenu and set it's value to 1. Restart
Explorer to save the changes.
You can also clear the RUN MRU history. All the listings are
stored in the key:
HKEY_USERS\.Default\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre
ntVersion\Explorer\RunMRU
You can delete individual listings or the entire listing. To delete
History of Find listings go to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Cur
rentVersion\Explorer\Doc Find Spec MRU and delete.
6) Other Similar Useful Tricks :
Launch Regedit and go to the following Registry Key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/CurrentVersion
/Policies
Under this key, there will definitely be a key named explorer.
Now under this explorer key we can create new DWORD
values and modify it's value to 1 in order to impose the
restriction. If you want to remove the Restriction, then you can
simply delete the respective DWORD values or instead change
their values to 0. The following is a list of DWORD values that
can be created under the Explorer Key-:
NoDeletePrinter: Disables Deletion of already installed Printers
NoAddPrinter: Disables Addition of new Printers
NoRun : Disables or hides the Run Command
NoSetFolders: Removes Folders from the Settings option on
Start Menu (Control Panel, Printers, Taskbar)
NoSetTaskbar: Removes Taskbar system folder from the
Settings option on Start Menu
NoFind: Removes the Find Tool (Start >Find)
NoDrives: Hides and does not display any Drives in My
Computer
NoNetHood: Hides or removes the Network Neighborhood
icon from the desktop
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NoDesktop: Hides all items including, file, folders and system
folders from the Desktop
NoClose: Disables Shutdown and prevents the user from
normally shutting down Windows.
NoSaveSettings: Means to say, 'Don't save settings on exit'
DisableRegistryTools: Disable Registry Editing Tools (If you
disable this option, the Windows Registry Editor(regedit.exe)
too will not work.)
NoRecentDocsHistory: Removes Recent Document system
folder from the Start Menu (IE 4 and above)
ClearRecentDocsOnExit: Clears the Recent Documents system
folder on Exit.
Nolnternetlcon: Removes the Internet (system folder) icon from
the Desktop
Under the same key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/CurrentVersion
/Policies you can create new subkeys other than the already
existing Explorer key. Now create a new key and name it
System. Under this new key, system we can create the
following new DWORD values(1 for enabling the particular
option and 0 for disabling the particular option):
 NODispCPL: Hides Control Panel
 NoDispBackgroundPage: Hides Background page.
 NoDispScrsavPage: Hides Screen Saver Page
 NoDispAppearancePage: Hides Appearance Page
 NoDispSettingsPage: Hides Settings Page
 NoSecCPL: Disables Password Control Panel
 NoPwdPage: Hides Password Change Page
 NoAdminPaqe: Hides Remote Administration Page
 NoProfilePage: Hides User Profiles Page
 NoDevMgrPage: Hides Device Manager Page
 NoConfigPage: Hides Hardware Profiles Page
 NoFileSysPage: Hides File System Button
 NoVirtMemPage: Hides Virtual Memory Button
Similarly, if we create a new subkey named WinOldApp, we
can add the following DWORD values under it(1 for enabling
the particular option and 0 for disabling the particular option):
Disabled: Disable MS-DOS Prompt
NoRealMode: Disable Single-Mode MS-DOS.