Windows – Hidden commands on Windows

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Everybody has their secrets and Windows has them too.. I've been using these for a while and wanted to share them and I'd like to see some more I don't know yet.

  1. To get to the 'Shut Down Windows' screen in Windows Vista is not straightforward too, and this is how I got there, Ctrl + ESC, Esc, Alt + F4**. This is useful too when you can't see your screen, and if you're lucky enough you can press, R or S, and then Alt + K to restart or shutdown a blind Windows (no screen).
  2. Shutdown Windows Explorer: you have to get to the logoff screen then press Ctrl + Alt + Shift and simultaneously Cancel, that will close Windows Explorer without ending the session. That helped me a lot when some Windows Explorer window goes crazy and doesn't want to respond. I think this has worked since Windows 95, but I'm not sure.

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  1. Ctrl + Shift + Esc, brings Task Manager to the focus and if it's not running it starts it, this is helpful when you have Windows Explorer closed (the point 1) and want to start a new one, going to file / new task, and running 'explorer'.

Best Answer

I'm not sure these are properly documented anywhere official, but I'm a big fan of the Windows Key shortcuts:

  • Windows key alone - Start menu (follow this by shortcut keys to access the start menu with the keyboard - U to shut down, for example)
  • Windows key + Pause/break - System control panel
  • Windows key + R - Run
  • Windows key + L - Lock the computer
  • Windows key + E - Open new explorer window
  • Windows key + D - Show desktop
  • Windows key + F - Find
  • Windows key + M - Minimize all
  • Windows key + Shift + M - Restore all

Edit: I guess they are documented somewhere official after all.

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