Basic PC shortcut keys The below basic shortcut keys are a listing of shortcut keys that will work

with almost all IBM compatible computers and software programs. It is highly recommended that all users keep a good reference of the below shortcut keys or try to memorize the below keys. Doing so will dramatically increase your producti ity. Shortcut Keys !lt " # !lt " $ #% Ctrl " ! Ctrl " # Ctrl " , )hift " Del Ctrl " C Ctrl " Ins Ctrl " )hift " Ins Ctrl " P 'ome Ctrl " 'ome $nd Ctrl " $nd )hift " 'ome )hift " $nd Ctrl " /eft arrow Ctrl " 0ight arrow Description #ile menu options in current program. $dit options in current program &ni ersal 'elp in almost e ery (indows program. )elect all te*t. +pen find window for current document or window. Cut selected item. Cut selected item. Copy selected item. Copy selected item Paste Paste Print the current page or document. .oes to beginning of current line. .oes to beginning of document. .oes to end of current line. .oes to end of document. 'ighlights from current position to beginning of line. 'ighlights from current position to end of line. Mo es one word to the left at a time. Mo es one word to the right at a time.

1. Get Rid Of Bad Habits

.etting rid of your bad typing habits is probably the hardest thing to do. 1ou2 e probably been using the same typing method since you started using a keyboard3 right down to where you place your palms. If you2re an #P) 4#irst Person )hooter5 gamer you2re probably used to placing your left hand on the (!)D keys3 and may ha e stronger fingers on your left hand than your right 4speaking from e*perience here5.

(Image Source: Fotolia) +thers may type only with two fingers3 ho ering o er ten 4or more5 keys each3 always ha ing to keep their eyes on the keyboard to get the right keys. !lthough you might be typing fast with only half of the needed fingers3 you ha e to put down your foot 4or your hands5 and break that habit immediately.

2. Use All 1 !in"ers

The ne*t step is to relearn the correct fin"er place#ent on the $eyboard. If you take a closer look at your keyboard3 you2ll notice raised bumps on each of the # key and 6 key. This is to help you find the correct finger placement without ha ing to look at the keyboard. Ideally3 your inde* fingers should rest on the # and 6 keys and the other fingers will fall into place naturally. In the picture below3 you2ll notice color7coded areas showing the keys co ered by each finger. 1ou2ll notice that the middle fingers and ring fingers are used for only a few keys

on the keyboard3 while your inde* fingers co er the middle section of the keyboard. 8a igational3 punctuation and function keys are controlled mostly by the little finger.

(Image Source: Keybr) If this confuses you3 head o er to websites like the TypingClub or Typing (eb where they take you through each step to familiarize yourself with the keyboard. )ome of their e*ercises only in ol e 9 fingers and as you go through their program3 you2ll slowly master the way of faster and proper keyboard typing.

%. &earn 'o 'ouch 'ype

8e*t up: Touch typing. It2s when you type (ithout ha)in" to loo$ at the $eyboard. In fact3 for seasoned typists3 looking at the keyboard actually slows them down. To get there takes practice3 and we2re not talking about hours here. It could be weeks before you condition your fingers to take control of the keys ;they2 are responsible for. $ en if it slows you down3 do not re ert to how you used to type. 8ow3 try typing sentences without looking at the keyboard3 and try to remember the position of each letter. If you ha e to sneak a peek at the keyboard3 you can3 but gi e the same word or sentence another run3 this time without looking at the keyboard. It takes a while but if you are determined3 it gets easier e ery day. $ entually3 you will know where each key is and from then on3 it2s <ust a matter of picking up in terms of speed.

*. +a)i"ate ,ith Basic Keyboard Shortcuts

It2s no surprise why (indows and Mac +) ha e many keyboard shortcuts. )ince both your hands are already on the keyboard3 why spend time using a mouse to na igate= 1ou don2t ha e to remember e ery shortcut3 <ust the more common ones. Common shortcuts below are mostly used in word processing programs:

)hortcuts Ctrl " C Ctrl " , Ctrl " Ctrl " > Ctrl " ) Ctrl " # Ctrl " ! )hift " /eft !rrow or 0ight !rrow Ctrl " )hift " /eft !rrow or 0ight !rrow Ctrl " /eft !rrow or 0ight !rrow 'ome $nd Page up Page Down

Descriptions Copy Cut Paste &ndo )a e )earch for word 'ighlight e erything 'ightlight ne*t letter 'ighlight ne*t word 8a igate te*t cursor to ne*t word without highlight .o to beginning of line .o to end of line )croll up )croll down

1ou can also use shortcut keys while browsing the web. 'ere are some shortcuts you could use to na igate in web browsers. )hortcuts Ctrl " Tab Ctrl " )hift " Tab Ctrl " T Ctrl " ( Ctrl " )hift " T Ctrl " 0 Ctrl " 8 Backspace )hift " Backspace Descriptions )witch to ne*t tab )witch to pre ious tab +pen new tab Close current tab +pen pre iously closed tab refresh current webpage +pen new web browser window .o back one page .o forward one page

#inally3 here are some common keyboard shortcuts for more general 4(indows5 na igation. )hortcuts !lt " Tab !lt " )hift " Tab !lt " #? Descriptions )witch to ne*t opened window )witch to pre ious opened window Close current window

&sing these shortcut keys will re@uire the little finger a lot as many of the modifier keys like Ctrl3 !lt and )hift are closest to your little finger.

-. .ractice ,ith Apps

Practicing typing on a keyboard need not be stressful 4although it may feel like it at times5. 1ou can practice with a lot of typing games. 'ere are a few websites where you can learn how to con@uer the keyboard and ha e fun at the same time.

System unit
The system unit is the core of a computer system. &sually itAs a rectangular bo* placed on or underneath your desk. Inside this bo* are many electronic components that process information. The most important of these components is the central processing unit 4CP&53 or microprocessor3 which acts as the BbrainB of your computer. !nother component is random access memory 40!M53 which temporarily stores information that the CP& uses while the computer is on. The information stored in 0!M is erased when the computer is turned off. !lmost e ery other part of your computer connects to the system unit using cables. The cables plug into specific ports 4openings53 typically on the back of the system unit. 'ardware that is not part of the system unit is sometimes called a peripheral de ice or de ice. )ystem unit

Storage
1our computer has one or more disk dri esCde ices that store information on a metal or plastic disk. The disk preser es the information e en when your computer is turned off.

Hard dis$ dri)e

1our computerAs hard disk dri e stores information on a hard disk3 a rigid platter or stack of platters with a magnetic surface. Because hard disks can hold massi e amounts of information3 they usually ser e as your computerAs primary means of storage3 holding almost all of your programs and files. The hard disk dri e is normally located inside the system unit.

'ard disk dri e

/D and D0D dri)es

8early all computers today come e@uipped with a CD or D-D dri e3 usually located on the front of the system unit. CD dri es use lasers to read 4retrie e5 data from a CD3 and many CD dri es can also write 4record5 data onto CDs. If you ha e a recordable disk dri e3 you can store copies of your files on blank CDs. 1ou can also use a CD dri e to play music CDs on your computer.

CD D-D dri es can do e erything that CD dri es can3 plus read D-Ds. If you ha e a D-D dri e3 you can watch mo ies on your computer. Many D-D dri es can record data onto blank D-Ds.

'ip

If you ha e a recordable CD or D-D dri e3 periodically back up 4copy5 your important files to CDs or D-Ds. That way3 if your hard disk e er fails3 you wonAt lose your data.

!loppy dis$ dri)e

#loppy disk dri es store information on floppy disks3 also called floppies or diskettes. Compared to CDs and D-Ds3 floppy disks can store only a small amount of data. They also retrie e information more slowly and are more prone to damage. #or these reasons3 floppy disk dri es are less popular than they used to be3 although some computers still include them.

#loppy disk

(hy are floppy disks BfloppyB= $ en though the outside is made of hard plastic3 thatAs <ust the slee e. The disk inside is made of a thin3 fle*ible inyl material. Top of page

Mouse
! mouse is a small de ice used to point to and select items on your computer screen. !lthough mice come in many shapes3 the typical mouse does look a bit like an actual mouse. ItAs small3 oblong3 and connected to the system unit by a long wire that resembles a tail. )ome newer mice are wireless.

Mouse ! mouse usually has two buttons: a primary button 4usually the left button5 and a secondary button. Many mice also ha e a wheel between the two buttons3 which allows you to scroll smoothly through screens of information.

(hen you mo e the mouse with your hand3 a pointer on your screen mo es in the same direction. 4The pointerAs appearance might change depending on where itAs positioned on your screen.5 (hen you want to select an item3 you point to the item and then click 4press and release5 the primary button. Pointing and clicking with your mouse is the main way to interact with your computer. #or more information3 see &sing your mouse. Top of page

Keyboard
! keyboard is used mainly for typing te*t into your computer. /ike the keyboard on a typewriter3 it has keys for letters and numbers3 but it also has special keys:

The function keys3 found on the top row3 perform different functions depending on where they are used. The numeric keypad3 located on the right side of most keyboards3 allows you to enter numbers @uickly. The na igation keys3 such as the arrow keys3 allow you to mo e your position within a document or webpage.

Deyboard 1ou can also use your keyboard to perform many of the same tasks you can perform with a mouse. #or more information3 see &sing your keyboard. Top of page

Monitor
! monitor displays information in isual form3 using te*t and graphics. The portion of the monitor that displays the information is called the screen. /ike a tele ision screen3 a computer screen can show still or mo ing pictures. There are two basic types of monitors: C0T 4cathode ray tube5 monitors and /CD 4li@uid crystal display5 monitors. Both types produce sharp images3 but /CD monitors ha e the ad antage of being much thinner and lighter. C0T monitors3 howe er3 are generally more affordable.

/CD monitor 4left5E C0T monitor 4right5 Top of page

Printer
! printer transfers data from a computer onto paper. 1ou donAt need a printer to use your computer3 but ha ing one allows you to print e7mail3 cards3 in itations3 announcements3 and other materials. Many people also like being able to print their own photos at home.

The two main types of printers are ink<et printers and laser printers. Ink<et printers are the most popular printers for the home. They can print in black and white or in full color and can produce high7@uality photographs when used with special paper. /aser printers are faster and generally better able to handle hea y use.

Ink<et printer 4left5E laser printer 4right5 Top of page

Speakers
)peakers are used to play sound. They may be built into the system unit or connected with cables. )peakers allow you to listen to music and hear sound effects from your computer.

Computer speakers Top of page

Modem
To connect your computer to the Internet3 you need a modem. ! modem is a de ice that sends and recei es computer information o er a telephone line or high7speed cable. Modems are sometimes built into the system unit3 but higher7speed modems are usually separate components.

Cable modem