Comments on: A couple of lesser-known Windows-key shortcuts http://www.spugbrap.com/blog/2007/12/a-couple-of-lesser-known-windows-key-shortcuts/ This is a repository for my favorite scripts, regexes, commandlines, utilities, code snippets, tips, and other geeky things that might be useful to someone googling for an obscure solution some day. It's also a place to share my thoughts about companies I've dealt with, my favorite lifehacks, observations of interesting human behavior, clever and/or evil marketing schemes I've run across, and anything else I feel compelled to write about. Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:56:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.3 By: ClintJCL http://www.spugbrap.com/blog/2007/12/a-couple-of-lesser-known-windows-key-shortcuts/#comment-1687 ClintJCL Sun, 30 Dec 2007 14:48:22 +0000 http://www.spugbrap.com/blog/2007/12/a-couple-of-lesser-known-windows-key-shortcuts/#comment-1687 Ohhhhhhhh, good distinction. I didn't catch that! :) Oh, another one: Windows-Break. Brings you to system properties. I read this many times over the years but could never remember it until 2007 when I invented this mnemonic: "If you want to break windows, hit Windows-Break." Ohhhhhhhh, good distinction. I didn’t catch that! :)

Oh, another one:

Windows-Break. Brings you to system properties. I read this many times over the years but could never remember it until 2007 when I invented this mnemonic: “If you want to break windows, hit Windows-Break.”

]]> By: spugbrap http://www.spugbrap.com/blog/2007/12/a-couple-of-lesser-known-windows-key-shortcuts/#comment-1682 spugbrap Sun, 30 Dec 2007 01:37:52 +0000 http://www.spugbrap.com/blog/2007/12/a-couple-of-lesser-known-windows-key-shortcuts/#comment-1682 Actually, Windows-Tab focuses the first thing on your <b>taskbar</b>, and Windows-B focuses the first thing in your <b>system tray</b>. So, it's not duplicated functionality, and they're both useful keyboard shortcuts to know. Thanks! Keep 'em coming. :) Actually, Windows-Tab focuses the first thing on your taskbar, and Windows-B focuses the first thing in your system tray.

So, it’s not duplicated functionality, and they’re both useful keyboard shortcuts to know.

Thanks! Keep ‘em coming. :)

]]> By: ClintJCL http://www.spugbrap.com/blog/2007/12/a-couple-of-lesser-known-windows-key-shortcuts/#comment-1667 ClintJCL Fri, 28 Dec 2007 16:35:35 +0000 http://www.spugbrap.com/blog/2007/12/a-couple-of-lesser-known-windows-key-shortcuts/#comment-1667 Windows-Tab does the Windows-B thing too. There was no reason for them to duplicate this functionality in XP! :) but in 2K, windows-tab would always focus you on the FIRST taskbar task; no longer true in 2K. (It made windows-tab,enter an easy combination for guaranteed focus on the first program in your taskbar. BUt no more. Damn you XP!!) Windows-Tab does the Windows-B thing too. There was no reason for them to duplicate this functionality in XP! :)

but in 2K, windows-tab would always focus you on the FIRST taskbar task; no longer true in 2K. (It made windows-tab,enter an easy combination for guaranteed focus on the first program in your taskbar. BUt no more. Damn you XP!!)

]]> By: spugbrap http://www.spugbrap.com/blog/2007/12/a-couple-of-lesser-known-windows-key-shortcuts/#comment-1665 spugbrap Fri, 28 Dec 2007 14:09:25 +0000 http://www.spugbrap.com/blog/2007/12/a-couple-of-lesser-known-windows-key-shortcuts/#comment-1665 @ClintJCL: Ah-hah! Thank you for Windows-B! It puts the cursor focus on the system tray, something I never knew was possible using only the keyboard. Sweet! I just checked if any of those other Win-key combos that you use for your Winamp had any function on my system, and found that Windows-G pops up the Google Desktop search dialog. I prefer double-tapping Ctrl to bring that up, though. Not a Windows feature, but still falls within the scope of this post's title, as it's a Windows-key shortcut. :) btw I did mention Ctrl-Esc. See the "Windows key (by itself)" paragraph. Thanks, Clint! @ClintJCL:
Ah-hah! Thank you for Windows-B! It puts the cursor focus on the system tray, something I never knew was possible using only the keyboard. Sweet!

I just checked if any of those other Win-key combos that you use for your Winamp had any function on my system, and found that Windows-G pops up the Google Desktop search dialog. I prefer double-tapping Ctrl to bring that up, though. Not a Windows feature, but still falls within the scope of this post’s title, as it’s a Windows-key shortcut. :)

btw I did mention Ctrl-Esc. See the “Windows key (by itself)” paragraph.

Thanks, Clint!

]]> By: ClintJCL http://www.spugbrap.com/blog/2007/12/a-couple-of-lesser-known-windows-key-shortcuts/#comment-1658 ClintJCL Thu, 27 Dec 2007 18:04:08 +0000 http://www.spugbrap.com/blog/2007/12/a-couple-of-lesser-known-windows-key-shortcuts/#comment-1658 And Win-V used to mute it, but Winamp let me reserve that, so I can't test that. You might also want to mention Control-Escape for those who end up with a keyboard without a windows key (or they pried it off). Also, there is a program called IHateThisKey which disabled the windows key, but then you have to mess around with your damn registry to get it back. (Or at least, I did.) And Win-V used to mute it, but Winamp let me reserve that, so I can’t test that.

You might also want to mention Control-Escape for those who end up with a keyboard without a windows key (or they pried it off).

Also, there is a program called IHateThisKey which disabled the windows key, but then you have to mess around with your damn registry to get it back. (Or at least, I did.)

]]> By: ClintJCL http://www.spugbrap.com/blog/2007/12/a-couple-of-lesser-known-windows-key-shortcuts/#comment-1657 ClintJCL Thu, 27 Dec 2007 18:03:15 +0000 http://www.spugbrap.com/blog/2007/12/a-couple-of-lesser-known-windows-key-shortcuts/#comment-1657 Windows-B does SOMEthing. Winamp can't reserve it in XP, but it can in 2K. Since winamp uses ZXCVB for control, I make my global hotkeys (for controlling winamp when it is not focused or minimized) Win-Z, Win-X, Win-C, Win-V, Win-B (same keys). But as of XP, I hvae to use Win-G instead. Just another thing to hate about XP! Windows-B does SOMEthing. Winamp can’t reserve it in XP, but it can in 2K. Since winamp uses ZXCVB for control, I make my global hotkeys (for controlling winamp when it is not focused or minimized) Win-Z, Win-X, Win-C, Win-V, Win-B (same keys). But as of XP, I hvae to use Win-G instead. Just another thing to hate about XP!

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