Windows Vista: The Missing Manual

Appendix D. The Master Keyboard Shortcut List

Here it is, by popular, frustrated demand: The master list of every secret (or not-so-secret) keystroke in Windows Vista. Clip and post to your monitor (unless, of course, you got this book from the library).

Explorer windows

Highlight the Address bar	Alt+D
Open Previous Locations list (Address bar)	F4
Refresh the window	F5
Open this folder's parent window	Alt+Up arrow
Back (previous window)	Alt+Left arrow or Backspace
Forward	Alt+Right arrow
Cancel the current task or search	Esc
Make menu bar visible	F10 or Alt
Close window	Alt+F4 or Ctrl+W
Open Search window	F3, Ctrl+F, or +F
Open another window for this folder	Ctrl+N
Full Screen Mode on/off	F11
Open this window's Control menu	Alt+Space
Cycle through open windows	Alt+Tab
Cycle through open windows without closing the menu	Ctrl+Alt+Tab
Open Start menu	or Ctrl+Esc
Open Task Manager	Ctrl+Shift+Esc
Resize columns to fit their contents	Ctrl+Plus sign (+) on numeric keypad

Instant Search box (top of each Explorer window)

Select the Instant Search box (next to Address bar)	Ctrl+E
Search and open Search Pane	Alt+Enter
Search in Internet Explorer	Shift+Enter
Open a selected program elevated (Start Menu searches)	Ctrl+Shift+Enter

Working with icons ...