Windows 8 Shortcut keys

Continuing my experience with Win8, here are the shortcut keys available in Win8 which would make your experience with Win8 better:

• Win : switch between the Start screen and the last-running Windows 8 app
• Win + C : displays the Charms: the Settings, Devices, Share and Search options
• Win + D : launches the desktop
• Win + E : launches Explorer
• Win + F : opens the File Search pane
• Win + H : opens the Share pane
• Win + I : opens Settings
• Win + K : opens the Devices pane
• Win + L : locks your PC
• Win + M : minimises the current Explorer or Internet Explorer window (works in the full-screen IE, too)
• Win + O : toggles device orientation lock on and off
• Win + P : switch your display to a second display or projector
• Win + Q : open the App Search pane
• Win + R : opens the Run box
• Win + U : open the Ease of Access Centre
• Win + V : cycle through toasts (notifications)
• Win + W : search your system settings (type POWER for links to all power-related options, say)
• Win + X : displays a text menu of useful Windows tools and applets
• Win + Z : displays the right-click context menu when in a full-screen app
• Win + + : launch Magnifier and zoom in
• Win + - : zoom out
• Win + , : Aero peek at the desktop
• Win + Enter : launch Narrator
• Win + PgUp : move the current screen to the left-hand monitor
• Win + PgDn : move the current screen to the right-hand monitor
• Win + PrtSc : capture the current screen and save it to your Pictures folder
• Win + Tab : switch between running apps

Windows 8 Tips and Tricks

Despite of other people advising me not to do, I have chosen to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 8. To be honest, it was not optimal.

First thing encountered which I really did not expect was getting the hardware to work with Windows 8. I succeeded in this only 90%. In my Chronos 7 laptop, I still cannot get the Fn-Keys for keyboard backlit to work.For some reason the Samsung does not see my keyboard and brightness settings:

Anyway, I manage to live with that and will later in time try to fix that issue.

Second point of irritation is of course the new interface: Metro. I have clicked so many times accidently on the IE icon, presuming it was the start button. After a few days, I now I have become familiar with the new Interface and actually it is not that bad. I do miss the Aero glass/transparent look of Windows 7.

Here are some shortcuts I have learned to use in the past few days:

Windows-X: Quick access menu giving quick access to commonly used settings

Windows-Q: My favorite shortcuts; similar to Windows 7 Start menu text input. Allows to search for applications while you type

Windows-C: Default charms, similar to moving to the mouse to the right/left top of your main screen.

Windows-I: Shows the settings charm. Very useful to reboot or shutdown your computer. You can also use the ALT-F4 on the desktop to come up with the shutdown dialog.

Windows-Tab: Switch between the metro apps

As always Ctrl-Shift-Esc for Task manager

Metro related tips:

App groups: In the metro interface you can zoom out (ctrl-mousescroll) and right click on the group to rename it.

Closing (metro) applications: If you have to believe Microsoft, there is no need to close the application as they are suspended. If you would to do anyway, ALT-F4 works but also you can move your mouse to the top (pointer becomes a hand) and drag all the way to the bottom.

Running applications side by side, which is called immersive.This can be done by swiping however when you don’t have a touchscreen, you can use the mouse by moving to the top (just like closing) and move the app to the right or left. Opening a new metro app will now fill the rest of the screen.

 

To be continued…