Keyboard shortcuts to work on the Windows XP Desktop
Minimizes all open Windows and return to a clean desktop. Pressing it again restores the previous state.
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win + d
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Keyboard shortcuts to work on the Windows XP Desktop
The arrow keys navigate between objects on the desktop.
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arrow keys
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Keyboard shortcuts to work on the Windows XP Desktop
Activates the first object (top left corner) or the last object (bottom right corner) on the desktop.
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home and end
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Keyboard shortcuts to work on the Windows XP Desktop
Launches the active object.
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enter
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Keyboard shortcuts to work on the Windows XP Desktop
Activates context menu of active object. Basically replaces the right mouse button. Once in the context menu, the arrow keys will navigate you to the desired menu item (or press any letter which shows as underlined); pressing enter activates whatever you want to in the context menu.
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shift + f10
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Keyboard shortcuts to work on the Windows XP Desktop
Changes the filename of a desktop icon. Press the arrow keys to go left or right if parts of the old filename should be kept.
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F2
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Keyboard shortcuts to work on the Windows XP Desktop
On the desktop, pressing and holding the ctrl key enables to highlight multiple items. Once pressed, move around with the arrow keys and press space for every item which should be highlighted. Hitting space a second time de-selects the item. Once everything is marked as desired, release the ctrl-key.
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Hold ctrl key, navigate with arrow keys and hit space
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Keyboard shortcuts to work on the Windows XP Desktop
ctrl+c for copy, ctrl+x for cut and ctrl+v for paste should be an essential for everyone. If you so happen forget one or the other shortcut on this site, please stick with this most essential keyboard shortcut.
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ctrl + c , ctrl + x , ctrl + v ,
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Keyboard shortcuts to work on the Windows XP Desktop
alt+tab Holding the alt key and continuously press tab to move forward between open applications or folders. Then release the key when the desired object is active to launch it. The same works backwards by adding shift to the shortcut combination: Hold alt and shift and then keep pressing tab moves backwards between open applications. The direction can be changed in at any time by pressing and releasing shift
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alt + tab , alt + shift + tab
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Keyboard shortcuts to work on the Windows XP Desktop
Pressing ctrl+tab will navigate between object of the desktop: the desktop itself, the quick-launch bar (if activate) and the notification bar. This will not work when an Application Window is open, simply press win+d before pressing ctrl+tab. Again, the order can be reversed by adding shift to the combination: ctrl+shift+tab moves backwards. This is a good opportunity to access the notification bar without the mouse for example: Press win+d to get to the desktop, then ctrl+shift+tab to go directly to the Notification Bar, arrow left to go to the clock and press enter to open the Windows calendar without touching the mouse.
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win + tab , win + shift + tab then press enter
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Keyboard shortcuts to work on the Windows XP Desktop
Still on the desktop, pressing the initial letter of the name of any objects will highlight the respective application or folder. It is important to make sure that the focus is actually ON the desktop and not on the start button or taskbar. Simply press win+d twice if nothing is happening when pressing the initial letter and try it again.
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a , b , c , ...
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Keyboard shortcuts to work on the Windows XP Desktop
Access System Properties which holds system properties, computer name, device manager and so on.
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win + pause
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Keyboard shortcuts to work on the Windows XP Desktop
alt+tab is not the only way to navigate between open applications and windows. The win+tab keyboard shortcut is actually a more powerful way to switch between application than the good old" alt+tab. The difference is that win+tab is not opening a dedicated window for choosing the desired object: moving forward and backwards between applications is happening directly on the taskbar. To launch an application you press enter to activate the respective element. Combine it with shift and you reverse the order."
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win + tab win + shift + tab then press enter
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