As a former mainframe programmer, I was always using keyboard shortcuts (we had no mouse!). So, I continue to discover and use keyboard shortcuts for my work. I have heard that using keyboard shortcuts will enhance your computer prouductivity by 40%! Here are some of my favorites for Windows and Windows Applications:
Cut, Copy, Paste – Ctrl-X, Ctrl-C, Ctrl-V – highlight item you want to cut or copy first
Ctrl-A – Select everything
Shift-arrow keys – Highlight specific text
Windows Key-D – Look at your desktop
Windows Key-M – Minimize all windows
Windows Key-L – Lock your computer so it needs to have your password — reboot bypasses this
Windows Key – E – displays Windows Explorer
Alt-Tab – quickly switch Windows applications
Alt-F4 – Closes an application — used to close Windows, but doesn’t with XP anymore.
Shift-Del – delete, but don’t send to the Recycle Bin
F1 – Help
Visual Basic.NET
Ctrl-Space — type a few letters in of a variable then press Ctrl-Space; it will give you a list to choose from. Alt-rightarrow does the same thing. Press the Tab key to make a selection.