Repair Rundown

Handy Shortcuts for Speedier Computing & Web Surfing
By Mike Gardner

Web Browsing

Here are a few keyboard shortcuts that can speed up your web browsing with Internet Explorer.  You probably won’t need all of them nor will you be able to remember them all at first.  The best method is to open Internet Explorer and go through each of the shortcuts.  Write down the ones you like (or print them) and put them next to your keyboard.  Work on one at a time forcing yourself to use them and before long you will have the list of shortcuts you like memorized.

[CTRL] and [ENTER] - This will add a "www" and a ".com" to what you have typed in the address bar.
Example: In the address bar you type: “weather”, then hold down the [CTRL] key and then hit [ENTER].  It will change what you typed into: “www.weather.com.

[ALT] and [D] - If you are browsing and want to get up the address bar where you can type in another URL, simply hold down [ALT] and hit the [D] key.  You cursor will move to the address line and be ready for you to type.

[ALT] and [HOME] - When browsing if you wish to go back to the home page that comes up when you start your browser, simply hold down [ALT] and then hit the [HOME] key.

[ESC] - If you are browsing a page and it is taking a long time to load and you wish to stop it from loading, simply hit the [ESC] key.

[CTRL] and [W] - When you want to close your browser window you can hold down [CTRL] and then hit the [W] key.  This will close the current browser window.  Same will happen with [ALT] and [F4] (except the latter will work on any program).

[CTRL] and [E] - This toggles the search bar on and off or puts your cursor in the search box for IE7.

[CTRL] and [I] - Displays the Favorites bar.

[CTRL] and [H] - Displays the History bar.

[CTRL] and [D] - If you are at a web page you want to keep, hold down the [CTRL] key and then press [D] to have it added to your favorites list.

[CTRL] and [B] - When you want to organize your favorites list (move links or delete them) simply hold down the [CTRL] key and press the [B] key.  That will open the Organize Favorites window.

[F4] - When you want to see the list of URLs you have typed drop down below the address bar (like will happen when you hit the down arrow next to the address) just hit the [F4] key.

[SHIFT] and (click) - When you want to open a link on a web page in a new window, simply hold down the [SHIFT] key while you click the link.  That will open a new window. 

General Windows Keyboard Shortcuts

The '[WIN]' is the Windows key, that key on your keyboard that has a little Windows flag on it.  You should press all the keys at one time for the feature you wish to activate.  Hitting just the '[WIN]' key will Display your Start Menu.  When you hit the '[WIN]' key and the '[E]' at the same time it will launch Microsoft Explorer.

Additional WIN Key Combinations:

[WIN KEY] and [BREAK] - Goes to System Properties

[WIN] and [D] - Shows Desktop

[WIN] and [E] - Launch Explorer

[WIN] and [F] - System Find window

[WIN] and [CTRL] and [F] - System Find Computers Window

[WIN] and [M] - Minimize all windows

[WIN] and [Shift] and [M] - Restores to normal the windows you minimized

[WIN] and [R] - Bring up the RUN dialog box to run command line applications

[WIN] and [F1] - Display Windows Help

[WIN] and [U] - Utilities Window (controls on screen keyboard, narrator, and magnifier) 

Happy keyboarding!