Welcome to Free PC Help, a free PC Help forum to get help with your computer problems.

Free PC Help is a community that offers free computer help and support for all users, all ages, worldwide.

In order to start asking questions or contribute on someone else's post you will first need to register. Don't worry - it's quick and easy and once you have registered you will have instant access to the entire forum.

If you do decide to join the forums you will not have the option to send Private Messages [ PMs ] or add a Signature until you have made 5 posts or more. This is an attempt to try to stop Spammers using the PM system or adding links to their Signature.

XP Shortcuts and Run Commands

DirtyPolo

FPCH Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2008
Messages
705
Location
West Midlands
Here is a list of different shortcuts that you can use in Windows XP, and some work in Vista aswell.

They can either be used by clicking on "start", then "Run..." and typing in the command,
Or alternatively, open Task Manger with "Ctrl" + "Alt" + "Del" or you can use "Ctrl" + "Shift" + "Esc" as a quicker way of ppening Task Manager, click on "File", then "New Task (Run...)" which will bring up a box allowing you to type in the same commands as if it was the Run box.

Here is the list, if you find any that do not work, or find ones that are not in the list and should be, feel free to PM me with the title of "XP Shortcut List"

Note: Only use these commands if you are sure of what they do, some can be harmful if used without knowledge of the results! If not sure, ask! :)

About Windows - winver
Accessibility Controls - Access .cpl
Accessibility Wizard - Accwiv
Add Hardware Wizard - Hdwwiz.cpl
Add/Remove Programs - Appwiz.cpl
Administrative Tools - Control admintools
Assembly language programming tool - Debug
Automatic Updates - wuaucpl.cpl

Bluetooth Transfer Wizard - fsquirt

Calculator - Calc
Certificate Manager - Certmgr.msc
Character Map - Charmap
CheckDisk [Repair damaged files] - Chkdisk
Clean Hard Drives - Cleanmgr
Clipboard Viewer - Clipbrd
Command Window - Cmd [cmd.exe]
Component Services - dcomcnfg
Computer Management - Compmgmt
Control Panel - Control

Date and Time Properties - timedate.cpl
DCOM User Security - Dcomcnfg
DDE Shares - ddeshare
Device Manager - Devmgmt.msc
Direct X Control Panel (If Installed)* - directx.cpl
Direct X Troubleshooter - Dxdiag
Disk Cleanup Utility - Cleanmgr
Disk Defragment - Dfrg.msc OR Defrag
Disk Management - Diskmgmt.msc
Disk Partition Manager - Diskpart
Display Properties - Control desktop OR desk.cpl
Dr. Watson System Troubleshooting Utility - Drwtsn32
Driver Verifier Utility - Verifier

Event Viewer - eventvwr.msc

File Signature Verification Tool - sigverif
Findfast - findfast.cpl
Folder Sharing Management - Fsmgmt.msc
Fonts Folder - fonts
FTP.exe program - Ftp

Game Controllers - joy.cpl
Graphical Font Viewer - Frontview
Group Policy - XP Pro Only - gpedit.msc

Iexpress Wizard - iexpress
Indexing Service - ciadv.msc
Internet Connection Wizard - icwconn1
Internet Information Services - iis.msc
Internet Options - inetcpl.cpl
Internet Setup Wizard - inetwiz
ISDN Config Wizard - cfgwiz32

Java Control Panel (If Installed) - jpicpl32.cpl OR javaws

Local Security Settings - secpol.msc
Local Users And Groups - lusrmgr.msc
Log Out Of Windows - logoff

Malicious Software Removal Tool - mrt
Microsoft Chat - winchat
Microsoft Command-line Loader for Java classes - Jview
Microsoft Configuration - Msconfig
Microsoft Management Console - MMC
Microsoft System Information Utility - Msinfo32
Microsoft Windows Update - Wupdmgr

Net Configurations - mscorcfg.msc
Network Connections - ncpa.cpl
Network Properties - ncpl.cpl
Network Setup Wizard - netsetup.cpl
Notepad - notepad
Nview Desktop Manager (If Installed) - nvtuicpl.cpl

Object Packager - packager
ODBC Data Source Administrator - odbccp32.cpl
On Screen Keyboard - osk
Open AC3 Filter (If Installed) - ac3filter.cpl

Password Properties - password.cpl
Performance Monitor - perfmon.msc OR perfmon
Phone and Modem Options - telephon.cpl
Power Configuration - powercfg.cpl
Programs - appwiz
Printers Folder - printers
Private Character Editor - eudcedit

Quicktime (If Installed) - QuickTime.cpl

Regional Settings - intl.cpl
Registration Wizard - Regwiz
Registry Editor - regedit OR regedit32
Remote Assistance - msra
Remote Desktop - mstsc
Removable Storage - ntmsmgr.msc
Removable Storage Operator Requests - ntmsoprq.msc
Resultant Set of Policy (XP Prof) - rsop.msc

Scanners and Cameras - sticpl.cpl
Security Center(SP2) - wscui.cpl
Services - services.msc
Shut Down Windows - shutdown
Sound Recorder - Sndrec32
Sounds And Audio - mmsys.cpl
SQL Client Configuration - cliconfg
System Configuration Editor - sysedit
System Configuration Utility - msconfig
System File Checker - Sfc OR Scannow
System Properties - sysdm.cpl OR control system
System Restore - rstrui

Task Manager - Taskmgr
Telnet Program - Telnet

User Account Management - nusrmgr.cpl
Utility Manager - utilman

Volume Controls - Sndvol32

Windows Explorer - Explorer
Windows Firewall(SP2) - firewall.cpl
Windows Magnifier - magnify
Windows Management - wmimgmt.msc
Windows System Security Tool - syskey
Windows XP Tour Wizard - tourstart
Wordpad - write


The Following Commands Are To Be Used In The Command Box [CMD]

Display the computers name - Hostname

IP Configuration (Display Connection Configuration) - ipconfig /all
IP Configuration (Display DNS Cache Contents) - ipconfig /displaydns
IP Configuration (Delete DNS Cache Contents) - ipconfig /flushdns
IP Configuration (Release All Connections) - ipconfig /release
IP Configuration (Renew All Connections) - ipconfig /renew
IP Configuration (Refreshes DHCP & Re-Registers DNS) - ipconfig /registerdns
IP Configuration (Display DHCP Class ID) - ipconfig /showclassid
IP Configuration (Modifies DHCP Class ID) - ipconfig /setclassid

Display all active network connections - Netstat
Return your local DNS server - Nslookup

Send data to a specified host/IP - Ping

Register/de-register DLL/OCX/ActiveX - Regsvr32

System File Checker Utility (Scan Immediately) - sfc /scannow
System File Checker Utility (Scan Once At Next Boot) - sfc /scanonce
System File Checker Utility (Scan On Every Boot) - sfc /scanboot
System File Checker Utility (Return to Default Setting) - sfc /revert
System File Checker Utility (Purge File Cache) - sfc /purgecache
System File Checker Utility (Set Cache Size to size x) - sfc /cachesize=x

Trace and display all paths required to reach an internet host - Tracert


Windows Environment Commands - These Are Entered Normally Through Run Or Task Manager

%ALLUSERSPROFILE% - Open the All User's Profile
%HomeDrive% - Opens your home drive e.g. C:\
%UserProfile% - Opens you User's Profile
%temp% - Opens temporary file Folder
%systemroot% - Opens Windows folder

General keyboard shortcuts - These Are Combinations Of Keys To Press

CTRL+C (Copy)
CTRL+X (Cut)
CTRL+Z (Undo)
DELETE (Delete)
SHIFT+DELETE (Delete the selected item permanently without placing the item in the Recycle Bin)
CTRL [while dragging an item] (Copy the selected item)
CTRL+SHIFT [while dragging an item] (Create a shortcut to the selected item)
F2 key (Rename the selected item)
CTRL+RIGHT ARROW (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next word)
CTRL+LEFT ARROW (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous word)
CTRL+DOWN ARROW (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next paragraph)
CTRL+SHIFT [with any of the arrow keys] (Highlight a block of text)
CTRL+UP ARROW (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous paragraph)
SHIFT [with any of the arrow keys] (Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text in a document)
CTRL+A (Select all)
F3 key (Search for a file or a folder)
ALT+ENTER (View the properties for the selected item)
ALT+F4 (Close the active item, or quit the active program)
ALT+ENTER (Display the properties of the selected object)
ALT+SPACEBAR (Open the shortcut menu for the active window)
CTRL+F4 (Close the active document in programs that enable you to have multiple documents open simultaneously)
ALT+TAB (Switch between the open items)
ALT+ESC (Cycle through items in the order that they had been opened)
F6 key (Cycle through the screen elements in a window or on the desktop)
F4 key (Display the Address bar list in My Computer or Windows Explorer)
SHIFT+F10 (Display the shortcut menu for the selected item)
ALT+SPACEBAR (Display the System menu for the active window)
CTRL+ESC (Display the Start menu)
ALT+Underlined letter in a menu name (Display the corresponding menu)
ALT+Underlined letter in a command name on an open menu (Perform the corresponding command)
F10 key (Activate the menu bar in the active program)
RIGHT ARROW (Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu)
LEFT ARROW (Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu)
F5 key (Update/Refresh the active window)
BACKSPACE (View the folder one level up in My Computer or Windows Explorer)
ESC (Cancel the current task)
SHIFT when you insert a CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive (Prevent the CD-ROM from automatically playing)
CTRL+SHIFT+ESC (Open Task Manager)

Dialog box keyboard shortcuts

If you press SHIFT+F8 in extended selection list boxes, you enable extended selection mode. In this mode, you can use an arrow key to move a cursor without changing the selection. You can press CTRL+SPACEBAR or SHIFT+SPACEBAR to adjust the selection. To cancel extended selection mode, press SHIFT+F8 again. Extended selection mode cancels itself when you move the focus to another control.

CTRL+TAB (Move forward through the tabs)
CTRL+SHIFT+TAB (Move backward through the tabs)
TAB (Move forward through the options)
SHIFT+TAB (Move backward through the options)
ALT+Underlined letter (Perform the corresponding command or select the corresponding option)
ENTER (Perform the command for the active option or button)
SPACEBAR (Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box)
Arrow keys (Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons)
F1 key (Display Help)
F4 key (Display the items in the active list)
BACKSPACE (Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box)

Microsoft natural keyboard shortcuts

Windows Logo+BREAK (Display the System Properties dialog box)
Windows Logo+D (Display the desktop)
Windows Logo+M (Minimize all of the windows)
Windows Logo+SHIFT+M (Restore the minimized windows)
Windows Logo+E (Open My Computer)
Windows Logo+F (Search for a file or a folder)
CTRL+Windows Logo+F (Search for computers)
Windows Logo+F1 (Display Windows Help)
Windows Logo+ L (Lock the keyboard)
Windows Logo+R (Open the Run dialog box)
Windows Logo+U (Open Utility Manager)
 
Last edited:
Hey .Thanls for those shortcuts .They are really useful .
 
Great list, thanks DirtyPolo.

and
control userpasswords2 to log on at home without having to enter your password
F6 in your browser to jump to the address bar
F11 in your player to go to FullScreen.
 
Back
Top