Windows 7 Task Manager Windows Start Menu Search Box for Opening Programs and Moving Between Them

Windows Vista and Windows 7 have a "Search" edit box in the Start menu. When you hit the Windows key one time to bring up the Windows Start menu you are immediately placed in this "Search Box." Windows XP and Windows 8 do not have this same type of "Search" box. With both Windows XP and Windows 8 the Windows "Run" command (Windows key r) works well. The following activities are directed specifically to the Windows Vista and Windows 7 operating systems. Do the following activities to gain skill in using key commands to open programs quickly, Alt Tab through the Windows Task Manager, and Alt F4 to close running programs. There are headings on this page. Use the letter h to move forward through the headings, or Shift h to move backward through the headings. When you hear a heading you want to work with, use the down arrow key or screen reader "Read All" key command. There is a link to an audio demonstration (MP3 format) of opening programs and moving between them. You can Enter or click on the link to listen, or download to put on another device. When you are finished move to the link at the bottom of this page titled "BACK" to go to the "Simple Windows Lessons" web page.

 

Windows 7 Opening Programs and Moving Between Them Activity

  1. Hit the Windows key one time.
  2. Type word
  3. Down arrow until you hear something like "Microsoft Word."
  4. Hit the Enter key one time. If you use Word 2013 hit the Escape key one time to open a blank document.
  5. Hit the Windows key one time.
  6. Type excel
  7. Down arrow until you hear something like "Microsoft Excel."
  8. Hit the Enter key one time. If you use Excel 2013 hit the Escape key one time to open a blank document.
  9. Hit the Windows key one time.
  10. Type www.google.com
  11. Hit the Enter key one time.
  12. Hit the letter e to move to the Google "Search" edit box.
  13. Hit the Windows key one time.
  14. Type notepad
  15. Down arrow until you hear something like "notepad."
  16. Hit the Enter key one time.
  17. Press and hold the alt key and tap the tab key until you hear “word.”
  18. Release both keys and Microsoft Word opens.
  19. Press and hold the alt key and hit the tab key until you hear “excel.”
  20. Release both keys and Microsoft Excel opens.
  21. Press and hold the alt key and hit the tab key until you hear “Google.”
  22. Release both keys and the www.google.com web page will open.
  23. Press and hold the alt key and hit the tab key until you hear “notepad.”
  24. Release both keys and Microsoft Notepad will be open.
  25. Press and hold down the Windows key and hit the letter m—all of your programs will still be running, but will be minimized to the bottom of the computer screen in the Task Manager area.
  26. Press and hold the alt key and hit the tab key until you hear “word.”
  27. Release both keys.
  28. Press and hold the alt key and hit the F4 key—Word will close.
  29. Press and hold the alt key and hit the tab key until you hear “excel.”
  30. Release both keys.
  31. Press and hold the alt key and hit the F4 key—Excel will close.
  32. Press and hold the alt key and hit the tab key until you hear “www.google.com.”
  33. Release both keys.
  34. Press and hold the alt key and hit the F4 key—Google will close.
  35. Press and hold the alt key and hit the tab key until you hear “notepad.”
  36. Release both keys.
  37. Press and hold the alt key and hit the F4 key—notepad will close.
  38. Practice the above steps until you are quick and accurate.

 

Audio Demonstration of Opening Programs and Moving Between Them

Audio Demonstration of Opening Programs and Moving Between Them Link

 

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