Using the Keyboard

Although you will generally use the mouse to activate Windows controls, you often have the ability to activate a control by using the keyboard. Press the ALT key to activate the underlined control label. Whenever a control label has an underlined character, you may activate that control by pressing and holding the ALT key while pressing and releasing the keyboard character that is underlined.

As an example, in the Tools menu the “T” is underlined. Thus, holding down the ALT key and pressing the “T” key on the keyboard activates the menu. Once the menu selections “drop down”, use your down arrow on the keyboard to scroll down to the desired command and press ENTER, or simply press the key on the keyboard for the underlined letter of the command you wish to activate. For example, if you want to activate Windows Update, you would press the “U” key on the keyboard while the drop-down menu is displayed.