Here are a few useful keyboard shortcuts ("hot combos") valid for all MS Windows 95/98/NT/2000/ME/XP/.Net 32/64-bit OSes, MS Internet Explorer 3/4/5/6 (and newer) releases + MS Windows 16/32/64-bit applications/programs.

Note that most are available system wide, but some may work ONLY with specific MS OSes and/or particular applications/programs.

BEWARE: User assigned custom keyboard shortcuts for Desktop/Startup Menu/Taskbar items/links/shortcuts/toolbars may take precedence over (override) default system/software assigned "hot" key(s) combinations.

• Hold SHIFT = Do NOT Autorun CD/DVD or launch Startup folder shortcut(s)/executable(s) (Windows startup or insert CD/DVD) or move instead of copy selected file(s)/folder(s) while dragging it/them or close parent folder(s) while closing selected subfolder (Explorer, MS IE + File Manager) (same as hold CTRL)
• Hold SHIFT + Arrow keys = Select multiple contiguous items (Explorer)
• SHIFT + Right-click = Show Open With on Context menu (Explorer)
• SHIFT + Double-click = Open selected URL in new window (MS IE)
• SHIFT + Close button (upper right corner X) = Close all open windows
• SHIFT + DEL = Permanent DELETE (bypass Recycle Bin!) selected file(s)/folder(s)/shortcut(s)/link(s) (Explorer + MS IE)
• SHIFT + FIRST letter = Cycle through and select available drive/folder (Explorer)
• SHIFT + F10 = Select right-click Context Menu for selected drive/file/folder/shortcut/link (Explorer + MS IE)
• F1 = Open Help Menu
• F2 = rename selected/highlighted Desktop/Start Menu shortcut or file(s)/folder(s) (Explorer)
• F3 = Find files(s) (Explorer) or text string (editing) (same as CTRL + F) or open Search window (Explorer + MS IE) (same as CTRL + E)
• F4 = Open Desktop/drive/folder (Explorer) or Go To URL address (MS IE) command line box/history list
• F5 = Refresh/update selected/highlighted display/screen (Desktop, Explorer + File Manager) or reload current URL (MS IE) (same as CTRL + R)
• F6 = Cycle forward among drives/folders/files/items (Desktop, Explorer + File Manager) or links/pages/frames (MS IE)
• F10 = Menu mode
• F11 = Toggle between full screen without Menu (kiosk mode) and windowed screen with Menu (MS IE)
• ESC = Cancel/stop current action or close foreground (active) application/window (if supported)
• HOME = Go to top of current file/folder/item/shortcut/link (Desktop, Dialog box, Explorer + File Manager) or web/ftp page (MS IE)
• END = Go to bottom of current file/folder/item/shortcut/link (Desktop, Dialog box, Explorer + File Manager) or web/ftp page (MS IE)
• DEL = Delete selected/highlighted file(s)/folder(s)/shortcut(s)/link(s) (Explorer, File Manager + MS IE)
• ENTER = Run/open selected/highlighted application/executable/shortcut/link (Desktop, Start Menu, Explorer, File Manager + MS IE)
• SHIFT or Page Up = Scroll up one screen/page at a time (Explorer + MS IE)
• SPACE or Page Down = Scroll down one screen/page at a time (Explorer + MS IE)
• BACK Space = Go up (backwards) one level (Explorer + File Manager) or back to previous web/ftp page (MS IE)
• TAB = Cycle backwards among drives/partitions/folders/files/items (Desktop, Explorer + File Manager) or links/pages/frames (MS IE)
• FIRST letter = Select/access file/folder/item/shortcut/link (Desktop, Dialog box, Explorer + File Manager)
• Hold CTRL = Do NOT Autorun CD/DVD or launch Startup folder shortcut(s)/executable(s) (Windows startup or insert CD/DVD) or move instead of copy selected file(s)/folder(s) while dragging it/them or close parent folder(s) while closing selected subfolder (Explorer, MS IE + File Manager) (same as hold SHIFT)
• Hold CTRL + Arrow keys (or SPACE) = Select multiple noncontiguous items (Explorer)
• Hold CTRL + SHIFT = Create shortcut while dragging file/folder (Explorer)
• CTRL + TAB = Scroll through pages/tabs/items in a Properties dialog box
• CTRL + A = Select all files/folders (Explorer) or text/image (editing)
• CTRL + B = Open Organize Favorites (Explorer + MS IE) (same as Ctrl + I)
• CTRL + C = Copy selected/highlighted file(s)/folder(s) (Explorer) or text/image to Clipboard memory (editing)
• CTRL + D = Delete selected/highlighted file(s)/folder(s) (Explorer) (same as Del) or add to Favorites (bookmark) current URL (MS IE)
• CTRL + E = Open Search window (Explorer + MS IE) (same as F3)
• CTRL + F = Find files(s) (Explorer + MS IE) or text string (editing) (same as F3)
• CTRL + G = Go To URL box (MS IE)
• CTRL + H = Open History folder (Explorer + MS IE) or select/access installed local/remote drive/partition (File Manager)
• CTRL + I = Organize Favorites (Explorer + MS IE) (same as Ctrl + B)
• CTRL + L = Open Location dialog box (Explorer + MS IE) (same as Ctrl + O)
• CTRL + N = Open new browser window (MS IE)
• CTRL + O = Open Location dialog box (Explorer + MS IE) (same as Ctrl + L)
• CTRL + P = Print current file or selected/highlighted screen/image/text (editing) or web/ftp page (MS IE)
• CTRL + R = Refresh/update selected/highlighted display/screen (Desktop, Explorer + File Manager) or reload current URL (MS IE) (same as F5)
• CTRL + S = Save current file/image/text (editing) or web/ftp page (MS IE)
• CTRL + V = Paste saved text/image from Clipboard memory (editing)
• CTRL + W = Close foreground (active) application/window (Desktop + Taskbar) (same as ALT + F4)
• CTRL + X = Cut selected/highlighted text/image (editing)
• CTRL + Z = Undo last Copy/Cut/Paste action (editing)
• CTRL + ENTER = Go to incompletely typed URL in MS IE Go To URL box (valid ONLY for www.?.com URLs!) [Thank you Jordan!]
• CTRL + ESC = Display Start Menu or select Start Menu option or minimize all open windows (same as ALT + M)
• CTRL + DRIVE letter = Select/access installed local/remote drive/partition (File Manager)
• CTRL + ALT + SHIFT + F4 = Close all open windows
• ALT = Toggle bottom Status Bar on/off (Explorer + File Manager)
• ALT + FIRST letter = Select tab/button/item/menu (Desktop, Dialog box, Explorer, File Manager + MS IE)
• ALT + ENTER = Open selected drive/file/folder/shortcut/link Properties (Explorer + File Manager) (same as ALT + Double-click)
• ALT + Double-click = Open selected drive/file/folder Properties (Explorer + File Manager) (same as ALT + ENTER)
• ALT + LEFT Arrow = Go Back to previous URL (MS IE)
• ALT + RIGHT Arrow = Go Forward to previous URL (MS IE)
• ALT + F4 = Close foreground (active) application/window (Desktop + Taskbar) (same as CTRL + W) or shut down/power off Windows
• ALT + ESC = Cycle forward through ALL open (top level) windows (Desktop + Taskbar)
• ALT + SHIFT + ESC = Cycle backwards through ALL open (top level) windows (Desktop + Taskbar)
• ALT + TAB = Select next foreground (active) application/window (Desktop + Taskbar)
• + or * [Numeric Pad only] = expand selected folder tree (if it contains any subfolders) (Explorer, File Manager + MS IE)
• - [Numeric Pad only] = collapse selected folder tree (if it contains any subfolders) (Explorer, File Manager + MS IE).