Most people at the time I am writing this are using Windows XP. Almost everybody is aware of the basic keyboard shortcuts, such as copy and paste. Not everybody knows there are far more keyboard shortcuts and even less people know exactly what all of these shortcuts do. In this guide I am going to list as many keyboard shortcuts and their function in Windows XP as possible, as keyboard shortcuts can greatly enhance your Windows XP experience and the speed at which you work or perform certain tasks.

Windows XP General Keyboard Shortcuts: 

Shortcut - Function

F1 - Help on active item/window.
F2 - Rename selected item.
F3 - Load file/folder search.
F4 - Display address bar list in Windows Explorer.
F5 - Refresh/Update active window.
F6 - Cycle through desktop or window elements.
F10 - Activate menu bar in a window/program.

CTRL + A - Select all items in active window.
CTRL + C - Copy selected item(s) to clipboard.
CTRL + F - Display "search" dialog box.
CTRL + G - Display "go to folder" dialog box.
CTRL + N - Display "new" dialog box.
CTRL + O - Display "open" dialog box.
CTRL + P - Display "print" dialog box.
CTRL + S - Display "save" dialog box.
CTRL + V - Paste copied item(s) from clipboard.
CTRL + X - Cut selected item(s) to clipboard.
CTRL + Z - Undo last action.
CTRL + ESC - Display "start" menu.
CTRL + F4 - Close active document.
CTRL + F6 - Open "next document" window in active application.
CTRL + SHIFT + Arrow Keys - Quick select a block of text.
CTRL + Drag an item - Copy item.

ALT + ENTER - Properties for selected item.
ALT + ESC - Cycle through windows in the order that they have been opened.
ALT + F4 - Close active item, window or application.
ALT + SPACEBAR - Open shortcut menu for active window.
ALT + TAB - Switch between open windows and applications.

Windows Logo - Open or close the "start menu".
Windows Logo + D - Show desktop.
Windows Logo + E - Open "My Computer".
Windows Logo + F - Search for files and folders.
Windows Logo + F + CTRL - Search for computers.
Windows Logo + L - Lock keyboard.
Windows Logo + M - Minimize all windows.
Windows Logo + M + SHIFT - Restore minimized windows.
Windows Logo + R - Open "Run".
Windows Logo + U - Open "Utility Manager".
Windows Logo + F1 - Windows Help.
Windows Logo + BREAK - Display "System Properties".

Windows XP Dialog Box Keyboard Shortcuts:

Shortcut - Function

F1 - Help.
F4 - Display active list.
ALT + Underlined letter - Perform corresponding command / select corresponding option.
Arrows - Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons.
BACKSPACE - Go back one folder / Go to parent folder.
ENTER - Perform command for active option or button.
SPACEBAR - Toggle active check box on/off.
TAB - Cycle forward through options.
SHIFT + TAB - Cycle backwards through options.
CTRL + TAB - Cycle forward through tabs.
CTRL + SHIFT + TAB - Cycle backwards through tabs.