Today is the eighth day of Diduary. You can see links to all of the published articles in the series here.
Sure, you’ve used the Windows key to open the Start menu. Maybe you even used it with the L key to lock your machine. You’re already WAY ahead of most people, who don’t know the value this little key provides us out of the box in Windows 7. Some of these have been around a while, but very few people know they’re there.
Here’s a nice list of all of the things your Windows key can do for you. Almost all of these will toggle back to whatever the previous state was by repeating the keystroke. For example, if you use Windows Key + D, it shows the desktop. If you do it again, it will return all of your windows the way they were.
| Press These Keys | To Do This |
 |
Open or close the Start menu. |
| + D |
Show the desktop. |
| + E |
Open “Computer” |
| + F |
Search for a file. Basically opens the search dialog. |
| + G |
Cycle through the desktop gadgets you have open. |
| + L |
Locks your computer so your colleagues don’t goat you. |
| + M |
Minimizes all of your open windows. |
| + Shift + M |
Restores your minimized windows from the previous command. |
| + P |
Choose a presentation display mode (usually for projectors) |
| + R |
Open the “Run…” dialog box. |
| + T |
Cycle through the programs in the taskbar. |
| + U |
Opens the Ease of Access Center. |
| + X |
Opens Windows Mobility Center. |
| + Pause |
Opens the System Properties box. (Think Windows Experience Index). |
| + Tab |
Cycle through your open programs using Aero Flip 3D. |
| + Space |
Previews the desktop (only while the keys are held). |
| + Up Arrow |
Maximize the current window. |
| + Left Arrow |
Maximize the current window to the left half of the screen. (Also cycles through other half positions on your monitor(s). |
| + Right Arrow |
Maximize the current window to the right half of the screen. (Also cycles the other direction from the Left Arrow). |
| + Down Arrow |
Minimize the current window. A good one to know when you’ve got a snooping boss. |
| + Home |
Minimize all BUT the active window. |
| + Shift + Right (or Left) |
Moves the active window to your other monitor. |
| + Shift + Up Arrow |
Stretch the active window to the top and bottom of the screen. |
| + a number key |
Open the program in the numbered spot in your taskbar. Only seems to work with the first 10. For example, + 1 will start Internet Explorer if you haven’t moved it. |
| + Shift + a number key |
Open a new instance of the program in the numbered spot in your taskbar. |
| + Ctrl + a number key |
Switch to the last active window of the program in the numbered spot in your taskbar. |
| + Alt + a number key |
Open the Jump List of the program in the numbered spot in your taskbar. |
| + Ctrl + B |
Switch to the program that displayed a message in the notification area. |
| + Ctrl + F |
Search for other computers (if you’re on a network). |
JEFF BLANKENBURG 
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