Windows Vista Shortcut Keys

Managing Windows

Alt+F4	Close the active window
Alt+Tab	Switch to previous active window
Alt+Esc	Cycle through all open windows
Win+Tab	Flip 3D
Ctrl+Win+Tab	Persistent Flip 3D
Win+T	Cycle through applications on taskbar (showing its live preview)
Win+M	Minimize all open windows
Win+Shift+M	Undo all window minimization
Win+D	Toggle showing the desktop

Starting Programs

Win+1	Open the first program on your Quick Launch bar
Win+2	Open the second program on your Quick Launch bar
Win+n	Open the nth program on your Quick Launch bar
Win+U	Open the ease of access center
Win+F	Open the search window
Win+X	Open the Mobility Center
Win+E	Open Explorer
Win+R	Open the Run window
Win+B	Move focus to notification tray (the right-most portion of the taskbar)
Win+Pause	Open the System Properties portion from the Control Panel
Ctrl+Shift+Esc	Open Windows Task Manager

Logging In And Out

While the below shortcuts seem unwieldy because of their length, they're quite easy to remember once you try them out a few times. The → symbol stands for the right arrow key.

Win, →, →, →, Enter	Shutdown
Win, →, →, →, U	Shutdown
Win, →, →, →, R	Restart
Win, →, Enter	Sleep
Win, →, →, →, W	Switch Users
Win+L	Locks computer

Viewing Folders With Explorer

Alt+←	Go back
Alt+→	Go forward
Alt+↑	Go up a directory
Alt+D	Move focus to address bar
Alt+D, Tab	Move focus to search bar
Alt+Enter	Open the Properties window of the current selection
Ctrl+Mousewheel	Change the view type (extra large, small, list view, detail, etc.)

Windows Sidebar And Gadgets

Windows Sidebar provides instant access to gadgets that display a huge variety personalizable information. The below shortcuts allow you to navigate between these gadgets. I suggest just using this table as a reference, since people don't need to navigate gadgets too often.

Move focus to Sidebar	Win+Space
Cycle through visible gadgets	Win+G