26 Microsoft Windows XP

Lesson 1-8: Using the Keyboard

Esc key Function keys or ‘F’ keys
Figure 1-16
A standard keyboard
(Your computer may have Num Caps Scroll

a slightly different layout Esc F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 F6 F7 F8 F9 F10 F11 F12 Print Scroll

Pause Lock Lock Lock
Screen Lock

than the one pictured

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Backspace Insert Home Page
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Q W E R T Y U I O P { } | 7 8 9
Figure 1-17
Tab Delete End Page
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Ctrl Alt Alt Ctrl
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Ctrl key Shift key Alt key Shift key Numeric keypad
Figure 1-16 Alt key Ctrl key
Arrow keys

Figure 1-17

Now that you’ve mastered the mouse, it’s time to move on to the other device that you use to
control your computer: the keyboard. The keyboard may seem more familiar and easy to use
than the mouse at first, but don’t be fooled! Computer keyboards sneak in some extra keys
that you need to know about. This lesson explains what these extra keys on the keyboard are
and when to use them.

1. Press and hold down the <Alt> key, press the <F4> key, and release both
buttons.
Pressing <Alt> + <F4> closes the currently running program. Since you’re using the
Windows Desktop, the Shut Down Windows dialog box appears, as shown in Figure
1-17.
We’re not ready to shut Windows down just yet (we’ll cover that in a future lesson).
Follow the next step to back out of the Shut Down Windows dialog box without
selecting anything.
2. Press the <Esc> key.
Pressing <Esc> does the same thing as clicking the Cancel button. The Shut Down
Windows dialog box disappears and you’re back at the Windows desktop.
Table 1-6: Special Keys and Their Functions describes the <Alt> and <Esc> keys you just
used, as well some of the other confusing keys on the keyboard.

 2002 CustomGuide, Inc.