MS Windows XP - Tips and Tricks - Keyword Shortcuts
Microsoft Windows XP - Advanced Tips and Tricks
How to Start Windows XP (and other windows) in Safe Mode
Many times in order to remove a piece of spyware or for troubleshooting and diagnostic purposes, you'll have to start Windows in Safe Mode. While in Safe Mode, only specific programs and files needed to run the operating system are loaded. Some functions, such as connecting to the Internet, will not be active in Safe Mode and a standard video driver will be loaded causing a washed out look and a possible change in resolution.
However, because just the essential programs and files are loaded in Safe Mode, this allows us to remove some spyware, adware, viruses and such that cannot be removed in Normal Mode. Follow the instructions below to Start Safe Mode for your specific version of Windows.
If the computer is running, shut down Windows, and then turn off the power
Wait 30 seconds, and then turn the computer on.
Start tapping the F8 key. The Windows Advanced Options Menu appears. If you begin tapping the F8 key too soon, some computers display a "keyboard error" message. To resolve this, restart the computer and try again.
Ensure that the Safe mode option is selected.
Press Enter. The computer then begins to start in Safe mode.
When you are finished with all troubleshooting, close all programs and restart the computer as you normally would.
To use the System Configuration Utility method
Close all open programs.
Click Start, Run and type MSCONFIG in the box and click OK
The System Configuration Utility appears, On the BOOT.INI tab, Check the "/SAFEBOOT" option, and then click OK and Restart your computer when prompted.
The computer restarts in Safe mode.
Perform the troubleshooting steps for which you are using Safe Mode.
When you are finished with troubleshooting in Safe mode, open MSCONFIG again, on the BOOT.INI tab, uncheck "/SAFEBOOT" and click OK to restart your computer
Note: The [Start] or Windows key is located between the Ctrl and Alt keys on most new keyboards.
But some old vendor keyboards and some laptops do not have this key.
Key
Function
[Start]
Opens the Start menu
[Start] + E
Opens My Computer in Windows Explorer
[Start] + Pause/Break
Opens the System Properties dialog box
[Start] + U
Opens the Utility Manager
[Start] + R
Opens the RunÂ… prompt
[Start] + F
Opens the Search for Files and Folder window
[Start] + Ctrl + F
Opens the search for computers on the network
[Start] + M
Minimize all windows
[Start] + Shift + + M
Maximize all windows (after minimizing them)
[Start] + D
Minimize all windows to the desktop, and then restore all
Windows
[Start] + L
Lock Computer
[Start] + Tab
Cycle through the open programs on the Taskbar
[Start] + B
Selects the first item in the System Tray; use the arrow
keys to cycle through the items and use the Enter key to open a selected
item in the SysTray
Alt + Tab
Switch between open programs
Alt + F4 (in a program)
Closes the program
Alt + F4 (from desktop)
Opens the Windows Shutdown/Restart dialog box
Alt + Enter
Opens the Properties page of a selected item
Alt + Esc
Cycle between open programs in the order that they were
opened
Alt + Spacebar
In the active window, this brings up the corner dialog box
for Move, Size, Minimize, Maximize, or Close
Shift + Insert CD/DVD
Inserts a CD/DVD without triggering Autoplay or Autorun
Shift + Delete
Permanently deletes an item (rather than sending it to the
Recycle Bin)
Ctrl + Shift + Esc
Opens the Windows Task Manager
Ctrl + drag an icon
Copies that item
Ctrl + Shift + drag an icon
Creates a shortcut for the item
Windows XP - Tips and Tricks
Right-click + drag a file
Brings up a menu to copy, move, or create a shortcut
PrtScn
Takes a screen shot of the entire screen; go into a photo
program (the Windows program "Paint" will also work) and hit Paste to edit
and save the screen shot
Alt + PrtScn
Takes a screen shot of only the active Window; hit Paste in
a photo program to edit and save the screen shot
F1
Opens the Windows XP Help
F2
Rename selected item
F3
Opens Windows search for files and folders
F5 (or Ctrl + R)
Refresh Internet Explorer page, or refresh any other window
F6
Cycle through the different types of elements that can be
selection on a screen or window
F10
Selects the menu bar in the active program (usually
"File") so that you can use the arrow keys to navigate through the
menus and the Enter key to select
Shift + F10
For a selected item, this does the same thing as a
right-click with the mouse
Tab
Move through the different elements on a page or the fields
in a form
Shift + Tab
Move backward through the different elements on a page or
the fields in a form
Ctrl + A
Select All
Ctrl + C
Copy
Ctrl + X
Cut
Ctrl + V
Paste
Ctrl + Z
Undo
Ctrl + Y
Redo
Ctrl + P
Print
Ctrl + O
Open
Ctrl + Esc
Opens the Start menu
Ctrl + Backspace
Deletes the entire word to the left
Ctrl + Delete
Deletes the entire word to the right
Ctrl + Right arrow
Moves the cursor to the beginning of the next word
Ctrl + Left arrow
Moves the cursor to the beginning of the previous word
Ctrl + Down arrow
Moves the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph
Ctrl + Up arrow
Moves the cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph
Ctrl + Shift + Arrow keys
Highlight a block of text
Click Shift 5 times
Turns StickyKeys on or off
Hold down the right Shift key for 8 seconds
Turns FilterKeys on or off
Hold down Num Lock for 5 seconds
Turns ToggleKeys on or off
Make your own custom keystroke for a program
Right-click on the icon of a program or shortcut > select
Properties > choose the Shortcut tab and type your keystroke
in "Shortcut key" field (you only can select combos that aren't already taken)
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