What is the difference between a LAN, a MAN, and a WAN?

A LAN (local area network) is a group of computers and network devices connected together, usually within the same building. By definition, the connections must be high speed and relatively inexpensive (e.g., token ring or Ethernet). Most Indiana University Bloomington departments are on LANs.
A LAN connection is a high-speed connection to a LAN. On the IUB campus, most connections are either Ethernet (10 Mbps) or Fast Ethernet (100 Mbps), and a few locations have Gigabit Ethernet (1000 Mbps) connections.
A MAN (metropolitan area network) is a larger network that usually spans several buildings in the same city or town. The IUB network is an example of a MAN.
A WAN (wide area network), in comparison to a MAN, is not restricted to a geographical location, although it might be confined within the bounds of a state or country. A WAN connects several LANs, and may be limited to an enterprise (a corporation or an organization) or accessible to the public. The technology is high speed and relatively expensive. The Internet is an example of a worldwide public WAN.

Types of networks
There are three basic types of networks

LAN

• Local Area Network
• A network on one site such as a school or building
• The physical arrangement of the devices on a LAN is called the topology

WAN

• Wide Area Network
• A collection of LANs
• Connects a series of networks or servers over much larger distance, such as the internet

MAN

• Metropolitian Area Network 
• Typically no longer used as businesses can create their own LANs via an intranet over a WAN.

VPN

• Virtual Private Network
• A highly encrypted LAN that may operate over a WAN

PAN

• Personal Area Network
• Typically a connection of devices between one person
• Bluetooth is the most common connection type

LAN AND WAN NETWORK

LAN MAN&WAN NETWORK

Desktop Support Interview Questions

1) What is active directory?
Active directory authorizes and authenticates all users and computers in a window domain network, ensuring the security of the computer and software. Through active directory various functions can be managed like creating admin users, connecting to printers or external hard drives.
2) What is DHCP and what it is used for?
DHCP stands for dynamic host configuration protocol. It is used to allocate IP addresses to a large number of the computer system in a network.  It helps in managing the large number of IP’s very easily.
3) What is scope and super scope?
Scope consists of an IP address like gateway IP, subnet mask, DNS server IP. It can be used to communicate with the other PCs in the network. The superscope becomes when you combine two or more scopes together.
4) What is DNS?
DNS mean Domain Naming Service and it is used for resolving IP addresses to name and names to IP address. DNS is like a translator for computers, computers understand the number and not the alphabet. For example, if we type like hotmail.com, the computer don’t understand this so they use DNS which converts (hotmail.com) into (numbers) and then executes the command.
5) What is forward and reverse lookup in DNS?
When we convert IP address into names is called Reverse lookup, while converting names into IP address is called Forward lookup.

Desktop Support

6) What is ‘A’ record and what is ‘MX record’?
‘A’ record is also known as host record, and it has ability to map the IP address by name. It is with this record that DNS can find out the IP address of a name. While, ‘MX record’ also known as mail exchanger record, by the help of ‘MX’ record, location of the mail server is identified.  The record is also found in DNS.
7) What is IPCONFIG command?
IPCONFIG command is used to display the IP information of the computer assigned like DNS IP address and gateway IP address.
8) What would you use to connect two computers without using switches?
Cross cables are used to connect two computers without using switches.
9) What is a domain?
Domain is a set of computers which network recognizes by the internet. It can be used by centrally administer computers. It is created when you install active directory.
10) Tell me if your system is infected by a virus how you will recover the data?
You need to re-install another system, latest anti-virus software and an O.S with latest patches.  Before you start your system, connect the infected HDD as a secondary drive then scan and clean the infected hard drive. Once done, you can copy the files into the system.
11) What is the operating system?
Operating system acts as an interpreter between computer application and hardware.  It works as an user interface.
12) What are the types of operating system or O.S?
The two types of operating systems are:

• NOS : Network Operating System. Examples of NOS- Windows NT, 2000,2003
• SOS : Simple Operating System. Examples of SOS – Windows 95,98, ME

13) Explain about RAS server?
RAS means Remote Access Server.  It allows operating the tool or information that typically resides on a network or IT devices through combination of hardware and software, for example connecting to printer or file. It is usually used for mobile users who are in the network. It uses telephone line to provide connectivity to its users. It can also connect two or more than two offices in the network.
14) Explain about VPN server?
VPN means Virtual Private Network. It is a private communications network often used by companies or organizations to communicate confidentially over a public network.  This is used by the mobile users in the network.
15) What is the difference between RAS and VPN server?
RAS is truly a local area connection between two connections whereas, VPN is a local connection spread over large area.
16)  What is IAS server?
IAS means Internet Authentication Service. For many types of network access like wireless, authenticating switch and remote access dial-up they perform accounting and auditing, centralized connection authentication and authorization.
17) What is Ping command?
Between two or more devices, to check the physical IP connectivity Ping command is used.
18) What do you mean by clustering? What are the benefits?
When one or more computers work together as a single system by sharing their resources is known as clustering.  The benefits of clustering are that it reduces the load on one single system by sharing the load also it is used for redundancy of the services.
19) What is a group?
Group is a collection of the user account. It provides the simplified administration in the network.
20) What is a child domain?
A child domain is the member domain of Windows 2000 Active Directory.
21) What are the benefits of a child domain?
Benefits of child domain are:

• Low network traffic
• Low administrative overhead
• Security boundary

22) What is OU?
OU means for Organizational Unit. It is a container within Active Directory which can hold users, groups and computers.  It is the smallest unit on which administrator can assign group policy settings.
23) Explain group policy?
Group policy provides the stream line access to all the users in the network, it can be used to define the users security and networking policies.  By group policy you can keep control over certain function like not allowing the users to shut down the system or using the control panel or running the command. Group policy is applicable on active directory container like OU, site and Domain.
24) What is the difference between permission, rights and policy?
“Policy” is assigned on active directory, like site, domain and OU. The “Rights” are assign to users and groups, whereas, the “Permission” is assigned for network resources like file, folders and printers.
25) What is DC and ADC stands for?
DC stands for domain controller and ADC stands for additional domain controller.
ADC is a backup of domain controller. Domain controller is a server that checks the security measures like user id, password.
26) What is the difference between DC (Domain controller) and ADC ( Additional Domain Controller)?
There is one difference between domain controller and additional domain controller, on DC all five operational roles are available while in ADC only three operational role is available.27) What are the operational roles for DC (Domain controller) and ADC ( Additional Domain Controller)?
Operational roles for DC (Domain controller) are:

• Domain Naming Master
• Schema Master
• RID Master
• PDC Emulator
• Infrastructure Master

Operational roles for ADC (Additional Domain Controller) are:

• PDC Emulator
• RID Master
• Infrastructure Master

28) What is a “Default Gateway”?
Default gateway is the IP address of the router in the network.  In any case, if the users wants to switch on to another network, or if they cannot locate their particular network than their query will be forwarded to default gateway.
29) How you can take backup of emails in ms outlook?
To take a back-up in the ms outlook, you have to go in control panel. In control panel you have to go under mail option and then open the data file, select personal folder and click on open folder. After that, you have to copy .pst and have to paste it wherever you want the backup.
30) What is trusting domain and trusted domain?
In trusting domain resources are available, while in trusted domain user’s account is available.
31) What is BUS speed?
The rate of communication speed between microprocessor and RAM is known as BUS speed.
32) Name the Active Directory Partitions?
There are three types of active directory partitions

• Schema partition
• Configuration partition
• Domain partition

33) What is Fixboot?
Fixboot write a new partition boot sector on to the system partition.
34) How many logical drive is it possible to fit on to a physical disk?
The maximum number of the logical drive that can fit on a physical disk is 24, while the extended partition can only have 23 logical drives.
35) What is B Router?
B router means Bridge router. To provide communication between two or more different network like computer to computer or computer to internet, B Router is used.
36) What is the major difference you can mention about Gateway and Router?
Gateway works on different network architecture and router works on same network architecture.
37) What is packet?
A packet is a logical grouping of information that comprises a header which contains user data and location information.
38) What is SCSI?
SCSI stands for Small Computer System Interface. It is a standard electronic interface that allows personal computers to communicate with peripheral hardware such as disk drives, tape drives, printers, CD-ROM drives. In “SCSI” the rate of data transmission is fast.
39) How many classes are there for “IP addresses” and what are the ranges?
They are segregated into five classes

1. Class A  ===      0 -126 ( 127 is reserved for loop back)
2. Class B  ====   128- 191
3. Class C  ====   192-223
4. Class D  ====   224-239
5. Class E  ====   240-255

40) Explain the term FIXMBR?
FIXMBR it is a repair tool. It repairs the Master boot record of the Partition Boot Sector.
41) Explain the term SID?
SID stands for Security Identifier. Every computer object has a unique ID which is known as SID.
42) What is the difference between incremental backup and differential backup?
In incremental backup only incremental parts are backup and not the full back up, while in differential backup we take full back up after the normal backup.
43) What is the difference between server OS and desktop OS?
Server OS gives centralized administration for users, shared resources and security while desktop OS gives access to only local administration.
44) What is the difference between the MSI file and .EXE file?
MSI (Microsoft Installer) allows install, uninstall and repair the program with a single file, while .EXE file needs two files to install and uninstall the software. Also,.EXE file is able to detect the existing version of the software and give option to user to uninstall the program while MSI will instruct the users to use the add and remove program in control panel to remove the existing product first and then you can install the new program.
45) What is BSOD? How do you troubleshoot it?
BSOD stands for blue screen of death. When there is some fault in OS or hardware then Windows can’t run the program and gives a blue screen with a code. To resolve this problem the best way is to reboot the system.  If it doesn’t work than boot the system in the safe mode.
46) What is PTR (Program Troube Record) record?
This program record is used to check if the server name is connected with the IP address, it is exactly opposite to the ‘A’ record. This record is basically created in reverse lookup zone, so it is also known as Reverse DNS records or pointer record.
PTR record= Give me an IP address and I will give you the name
‘A’ record= Give me the name and I will give you the IP address
47)  What is reservation?
Basically the term “Reservation” is used in DHCP server. Some network equipment or computer system needs a specific IP address, in such case we make a reservation in DHCP server for that particular computer system.  By creating reservation it gives access to that particular IP address and at the same time prevents other computer system to use that IP address.
48) What is SMTP server or POP server?
SMTP stands for simple mail transfer protocol. It is basically used for sending and receiving the mail, whereas, POP stands for post office protocol it is used for mail receiving purpose in the network.
49) What is RIS and why you use RIS?
RIS stands for remote installation services. It is used to install image from a Window server to a new hardware.  We use RIS because installing OS every time using a CD would be more time consuming.
50) What is “Bootloader”?
Bootloader facilitates the loading of operating system on the system. It enables the booting process and gives OS option to the users while starting the system.

51) Which Windows OS are you most comfortable with?
 This is a very basic question and you can prepare your answer by researching which OS version is used by the company you’re applying in. Be sure to do a little reading on the systems you are familiar with, so you can showcase your skills.
52) Why do we use DHCP?
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is us to assign dynamic IP addresses to network devices, allowing them to have a different IP address each time they are connected to the network.
53) What is DNS and why do we use it on workstations?
The Domain Name System (DNS) is used to resolve human-readable hostnames like www.intenseschool.com into machine-readable IP addresses like 69.143.201.22. The DNS address is configured on workstations. Windows redirects all domain names to resolve into IP addresses.
54) What is a default gateway? What happens if I don’t have one?
A default gateway is a routing device used to forward all traffic that is not addressed to a destination within the local network or local subnet. If you don’t have a default gateway, it is not possible to communicate with the network device/host of different networks. Dial-up internet connections do not require a default gateway though because it is present in the ISP itself.
55) How do I find the path that a packet takes to its destination?
Using “tracert” command lets you see the path travelled by a packet to its destination.
56) What is the use of Safe Mode? When should we use it in Windows?
Often, we have to start Windows in Safe Mode in order to remove spyware or for troubleshooting driver problems and other diagnostic purposes. Only specific programs and files with limited driver support are needed to run the operating system. This will allow you to attempt to remove viruses, change bad drivers and perform other diagnostic tasks that cannot be done in Normal Mode.
57) How do I start in Safe Mode?
Method 1: Reboot the computer. Start pressing the F8 key as soon as your system starts to boot. This will open multiple boot options including Safe Mode.
Method 2: Open Run, type “msconfig” and press Enter. A system configuration window will pop up; now go to the Boot tab, check the “Safe boot” box and select “Minimal” for a typical safe boot. Click Apply and your computer will boot into Safe Mode the next time it restarts.
58) What is the use of the BOOT.ini file?
Boot.ini files are required in booting Windows operating systems, starting with Windows NT. The boot.ini file also provides flexibility for dual booting multiple operating systems on the same computer.
59) How do I edit my Boot.ini?
From Windows:
Open Run, type “msconfig” and press Enter to open System Configuration Utility. Select the tab labelled BOOT.INI. Click the button labelled Check All Boot Paths. A dialog box will open detailing the location of any invalid operating system locations.
60) Which command is used to check IP configuration?
You can use ipconfig /all to display all of the current TCP/IP configuration values, including the IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, and Windows Internet Naming Service (WINS) and DNS configurations.
61)How can I make my hard disk dynamic?
Go to Run then type diskmgmt.msc. After that, right click on hard disk to convert a basic disk to dynamic disk.
Note: You should be logged in with an administrator account.
62) What is the blue screen of death?
A Blue Screen error is mainly due to hardware or software incompatibility within the system. The most common reasons for a Blue Screen of Death (BSD) are unwanted software installation, high CPU usage and faulty RAM. Try the following options.
1. Pull out the RAM card, rub it with rubber on the chip side, and re-insert.
2. If a BSD still occurs, try using that RAM on another system.
3. Every BSD has a unique code; try searching it on Google to find a solution.
63) What are some common sources of computer viruses and how can you prevent being infected?

Some common sources are Internet downloads, email attachments, and infected CDs/DVDs. You can use trusted anti-virus software and update it regularly. Make sure it checks every file on the computer. Backup your system periodically in case a major infection occurs, and be aware of all software and programs that run on your computer. Never click a suspicious link or download a suspicious file.
64) Describe some commonly used LAN cables. What is the maximum length of LAN cable for proper communication?

There are mainly two types:

1. Cat 5 (Category 5 where 5 indicates twists per inch) & Cat 5e (5e indicates 5 twists per inch per pair which leads to reduced cross talk). Both Cat 5 & 5e are UTP cables that can support up to 100 Mbps.
2. Cat 6 & 6e are UTP cables that can support up to 1 Gbps.

After about 80 meters (260 feet), you will usually see a reduction in speed.
 65)Windows cannot currently check for updates; what could be the possible reasons?

There could be two possible reasons:

1. Missing/corrupted files
2. Update services down

Method 1: Contact Microsoft: http://support.microsoft.com/mats/windows_update/

Method 2: Please follow the steps below:

a. Go to Run, type “services.msc” without quotes and press Enter.
b. Locate Windows Update.
c. Right click on Service and select Properties.
d. In Start-up type, select Enable.
e. Click Start under Service status.

What is the difference between public and private IP address?

A public IP address is an IP address that can be accessed over the Internet. Like postal address used to deliver a postal mail to your home, a public IP address is the globally unique IP address assigned to a computing device. Your public IP address can be found at What is my IP Address page. Private IP address on the other hand is used to assign computers within your private space without letting them directly expose to the Internet. For example, if you have multiple computers within your home you may want to use private IP addresses to address each computer within your home. In this scenario, your router get the public IP address, and each of the computers, tablets and smartphones connected to your router (via wired or wifi) get a private IP address from your router via DHCP protocol.
Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) is the organization responsible for registering IP address ranges to organizations and Internet Service Providers (ISPs). To allow organizations to freely assign private IP addresses, the Network Information Center (InterNIC) has reserved certain address blocks for private use. The following IP blocks are reserved for private IP addresses.

Class	Starting IP Address	Ending IP Address	# of Hosts
A	10.0.0.0	10.255.255.255	16,777,216
B	172.16.0.0	172.31.255.255	1,048,576
C	192.168.0.0	192.168.255.255	65,536

What is public IP address?

A public IP address is the address that is assigned to a computing device to allow direct access over the Internet. A web server, email server and any server device directly accessible from the Internet are candidate for a public IP address. A public IP address is globally unique, and can only be assigned to an unique device.

What is private IP address?

A private IP address is the address space allocated by InterNIC to allow organizations to create their own private network. There are three IP blocks (1 class A, 1 class B and 1 class C) reserved for a private use. The computers, tablets and smartphones sitting behind your home, and the personal computers within an organizations are usually assigned private IP addresses. A network printer residing in your home is assigned a private address so that only your family can print to your local printer.
When a computer is assigned a private IP address, the local devices sees this computer via it's private IP address. However, the devices residing outside of your local network cannot directly communicate via the private IP address, but uses your router's public IP address to communicate. To allow direct access to a local device which is assigned a private IP address, a Network Address Translator (NAT) should be used.

f. Click OK.
66)What is the SysWOW64 folder?

It is normally found in a 64-bit OS, for example 64bit Win7. This folder is very similar to the system32 folder of the 32-bit OS.
67) What do you mean by NTLDR Error?

NTLDR is known as the Network Loader. It helps in loading the operating system. If any system is showing “NTLDR is missing” then you need to copy the NTLDR file from operating system CD.

The 7 Layers of the OSI Model

 The Open System Interconnection (OSI) model defines a networking framework to implement protocols in seven layers. Use this handy guide to compare the different layers of the OSI model and understand how they interact with each other.

 

 

 

Physical (Layer 1)

This layer conveys the bit stream - electrical impulse, light or radio signal — through the network at the electrical and mechanical level. It provides the hardware means of sending and receiving data on a carrier, including defining cables, cards and physical aspects. Fast Ethernet, RS232, and ATM are protocols with physical layer components.

Layer 1 Physical examples include Ethernet, FDDI, B8ZS, V.35, V.24, RJ45.

Data Link (Layer 2)

At this layer, data packets are encoded and decoded into bits. It furnishes transmission protocol knowledge and management and handles errors in the physical layer, flow control and frame synchronization. The data link layer is divided into two sub layers: The Media Access Control (MAC) layer and the Logical Link Control (LLC) layer. The MAC sub layer controls how a computer on the network gains access to the data and permission to transmit it. The LLC layer controls frame synchronization, flow control and error checking.

Layer 2 Data Link examples include PPP, FDDI, ATM, IEEE 802.5/ 802.2, IEEE 802.3/802.2, HDLC, Frame Relay.

Network (Layer 3)

This layer provides switching and routing technologies, creating logical paths, known as virtual circuits, for transmitting data from node to node. Routing and forwarding are functions of this layer, as well as addressing, inter networking, error handling, congestion control and packet sequencing.

Layer 3 Network examples include AppleTalk DDP, IP, IPX.

Transport (Layer 4)

This layer provides transparent transfer of data between end systems, or hosts, and is responsible for end-to-end error recovery and flow control. It ensures complete data transfer.

Layer 4 Transport examples include SPX, TCP, UDP.

Session (Layer 5)

This layer establishes, manages and terminates connections between applications. The session layer sets up, coordinates, and terminates conversations, exchanges, and dialogues between the applications at each end. It deals with session and connection coordination.

Layer 5 Session examples include NFS, NetBios names, RPC, SQL.

Presentation (Layer 6)

This layer provides independence from differences in data representation (e.g., encryption) by translating from application to network format, and vice versa. The presentation layer works to transform data into the form that the application layer can accept. This layer formats and encrypts data to be sent across a network, providing freedom from compatibility problems. It is sometimes called the syntax layer.

Layer 6 Presentation examples include encryption, ASCII, EBCDIC, TIFF, GIF, PICT, JPEG, MPEG, MIDI.

Application (Layer 7)

This layer supports application and end-user processes. Communication partners are identified, quality of service is identified, user authentication and privacy are considered, and any constraints on data syntax are identified. Everything at this layer is application-specific. This layer provides application services for file transfers, e-mail, and other network software services. Telnet and FTP are applications that exist entirely in the application level. Tiered application architectures are part of this layer.

Layer 7 Application examples include WWW browsers, NFS, SNMP, Telnet, HTTP, FTP

List of important (TCP/IP)Ports

Port numbers range from 0 to 65536, but only ports numbers 0 to 1024 are reserved for privileged services and designated as well-known ports. This list of well-known port numbers specifies the port used by the server process as its contact port.

Port Number	Description
1	TCP Port Service Multiplexer (TCPMUX)
5	Remote Job Entry (RJE)
7	ECHO
18	Message Send Protocol (MSP)
20	FTP – Data
21	FTP – Control
22	SSH Remote Login Protocol
23	Telnet
25	Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP)
29	MSG ICP
37	Time
42	Host Name Server (Nameserv)
43	WhoIs
49	Login Host Protocol (Login)
53	Domain Name System (DNS)
69	Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP)
70	Gopher Services
79	Finger
80	HTTP
103	X.400 Standard
108	SNA Gateway Access Server
109	POP2
110	POP3
115	Simple File Transfer Protocol (SFTP)
118	SQL Services
119	Newsgroup (NNTP)
137	NetBIOS Name Service
139	NetBIOS Datagram Service
143	Interim Mail Access Protocol (IMAP)
150	NetBIOS Session Service
156	SQL Server
161	SNMP
179	Border Gateway Protocol (BGP)
190	Gateway Access Control Protocol (GACP)
194	Internet Relay Chat (IRC)
197	Directory Location Service (DLS)
389	Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP)
396	Novell Netware over IP
443	HTTPS
444	Simple Network Paging Protocol (SNPP)
445	Microsoft-DS
458	Apple QuickTime
546	DHCP Client
547	DHCP Server
563	SNEWS
569	MSN
1080	Socks

keyboard shortcuts keys for windows

Windows system key combinations

• F1: Help
• CTRL+ESC: Open Start menu
• ALT+TAB: Switch between open programs
• ALT+F4: Quit program
• SHIFT+DELETE: Delete item permanently
• Windows Logo+L: Lock the computer (without using CTRL+ALT+DELETE)

Windows program key combinations

• CTRL+C: Copy
• CTRL+X: Cut
• CTRL+V: Paste
• CTRL+Z: Undo
• CTRL+B: Bold
• CTRL+U: Underline
• CTRL+I: Italic

Mouse click/keyboard modifier combinations for shell objects

• SHIFT+right click: Displays a shortcut menu containing alternative commands
• SHIFT+double click: Runs the alternate default command (the second item on the menu)
• ALT+double click: Displays properties
• SHIFT+DELETE: Deletes an item immediately without placing it in the Recycle Bin

General keyboard-only commands

• F1: Starts Windows Help
• F10: Activates menu bar options
• SHIFT+F10 Opens a shortcut menu for the selected item (this is the same as right-clicking an object
• CTRL+ESC: Opens the Start menu (use the ARROW keys to select an item)
• CTRL+ESC or ESC: Selects the Start button (press TAB to select the taskbar, or press SHIFT+F10 for a context menu)
• CTRL+SHIFT+ESC: Opens Windows Task Manager
• ALT+DOWN ARROW: Opens a drop-down list box
• ALT+TAB: Switch to another running program (hold down the ALT key and then press the TAB key to view the task-switching window)
• SHIFT: Press and hold down the SHIFT key while you insert a CD-ROM to bypass the automatic-run feature
• ALT+SPACE: Displays the main window's System menu (from the System menu, you can restore, move, resize, minimize, maximize, or close the window)
• ALT+- (ALT+hyphen): Displays the Multiple Document Interface (MDI) child window's System menu (from the MDI child window's System menu, you can restore, move, resize, minimize, maximize, or close the child window)
• CTRL+TAB: Switch to the next child window of a Multiple Document Interface (MDI) program
• ALT+underlined letter in menu: Opens the menu
• ALT+F4: Closes the current window
• CTRL+F4: Closes the current Multiple Document Interface (MDI) window
• ALT+F6: Switch between multiple windows in the same program (for example, when the Notepad Find dialog box is displayed, ALT+F6 switches between the Find dialog box and the main Notepad window)

Shell objects and general folder/Windows Explorer shortcuts

For a selected object:

• F2: Rename object
• F3: Find all files
• CTRL+X: Cut
• CTRL+C: Copy
• CTRL+V: Paste
• SHIFT+DELETE: Delete selection immediately, without moving the item to the Recycle Bin
• ALT+ENTER: Open the properties for the selected object

To copy a file

Press and hold down the CTRL key while you drag the file to another folder.

To create a shortcut

Press and hold down CTRL+SHIFT while you drag a file to the desktop or a folder.

General folder/shortcut control

• F4: Selects the Go To A Different Folder box and moves down the entries in the box (if the toolbar is active in Windows Explorer)
• F5: Refreshes the current window.
• F6: Moves among panes in Windows Explorer
• CTRL+G: Opens the Go To Folder tool (in Windows 95 Windows Explorer only)
• CTRL+Z: Undo the last command
• CTRL+A: Select all the items in the current window
• BACKSPACE: Switch to the parent folder
• SHIFT+click+Close button: For folders, close the current folder plus all parent folders

Windows Explorer tree control

• Numeric Keypad *: Expands everything under the current selection
• Numeric Keypad +: Expands the current selection
• Numeric Keypad -: Collapses the current selection.
• RIGHT ARROW: Expands the current selection if it is not expanded, otherwise goes to the first child
• LEFT ARROW: Collapses the current selection if it is expanded, otherwise goes to the parent

Properties control

• CTRL+TAB/CTRL+SHIFT+TAB: Move through the property tabs

Accessibility shortcuts

• Press SHIFT five times: Toggles StickyKeys on and off
• Press down and hold the right SHIFT key for eight seconds: Toggles FilterKeys on and off
• Press down and hold the NUM LOCK key for five seconds: Toggles ToggleKeys on and off
• Left ALT+left SHIFT+NUM LOCK: Toggles MouseKeys on and off
• Left ALT+left SHIFT+PRINT SCREEN: Toggles high contrast on and off

Microsoft Natural Keyboard keys

• Windows Logo: Start menu
• Windows Logo+R: Run dialog box
• Windows Logo+M: Minimize all
• SHIFT+Windows Logo+M: Undo minimize all
• Windows Logo+F1: Help
• Windows Logo+E: Windows Explorer
• Windows Logo+F: Find files or folders
• Windows Logo+D: Minimizes all open windows and displays the desktop
• CTRL+Windows Logo+F: Find computer
• CTRL+Windows Logo+TAB: Moves focus from Start, to the Quick Launch toolbar, to the system tray (use RIGHT ARROW or LEFT ARROW to move focus to items on the Quick Launch toolbar and the system tray)
• Windows Logo+TAB: Cycle through taskbar buttons
• Windows Logo+Break: System Properties dialog box
• Application key: Displays a shortcut menu for the selected item

Microsoft Natural Keyboard with IntelliType software installed

• Windows Logo+L: Log off Windows
• Windows Logo+P: Starts Print Manager
• Windows Logo+C: Opens Control Panel
• Windows Logo+V: Starts Clipboard
• Windows Logo+K: Opens Keyboard Properties dialog box
• Windows Logo+I: Opens Mouse Properties dialog box
• Windows Logo+A: Starts Accessibility Options (if installed)
• Windows Logo+SPACEBAR: Displays the list of Microsoft IntelliType shortcut keys
• Windows Logo+S: Toggles CAPS LOCK on and off

Dialog box keyboard commands

• TAB: Move to the next control in the dialog box
• SHIFT+TAB: Move to the previous control in the dialog box
• SPACEBAR: If the current control is a button, this clicks the button. If the current control is a check box, this toggles the check box. If the current control is an option, this selects the option.
• ENTER: Equivalent to clicking the selected button (the button with the outline)
• ESC: Equivalent to clicking the Cancel button
• ALT+underlined letter in dialog box item: Move to the corresponding item