Mr. Computer Stupid needs help with the keyboard?

Question

I have books how to use my computer but nothing about the keyboard. I'm worried about just pressing keys to see what happens as I may wipe something out, eg. F1 to F12.
So is there something I can download to help me with this problem?

Answer 1

F1
As a throwback to DOS days, you will find that the F1 key will often bring up a help menu. If you press F1 while working in a program, help for that program will usually appear. If you press F1 while at the Windows desktop or when the Windows Explorer is open, a Windows help screen will pop up. If you happen to be working in a program and would like to see the Windows help screen, simply press the Windows key (the key with the Windows logo on the bottom row of keys) on your keyboard and press F1 at the same time.

F2

You can use the F2 key to rename an item when working in Windows. Highlight any folder or file, and press F2. You will then be able to type a new name for the object. After you type the new name, just click outside the name box or press the enter key to make the name change. This works just like right-clicking a file or folder and selecting Rename.

F3

When you are working in Windows, the F3 key will open the Find Files window.

F4

The F4 key has some very useful functionality. You can press F4 to open the Address bar when working in Internet Explorer. This will allow you to type the address of a Web page for quick access.

You can also press the Alt key and the F4 key at the same time to close the open Window that you are currently working on.

F5

The F5 key is the refresh key. You can press F5 when viewing a Web page to make sure that you have the most current version of that Web page. You can also use F5 when in Windows to refresh the screen. This can be a handy shortcut. If perhaps you are viewing the contents of a floppy disk and you insert a new floppy, your screen will still show the contents of the first floppy. Just press F5 to refresh the screen and see the contents of the floppy you just inserted.

F6

This key is often used to move the cursor around the structure of the program. Pressing it will often cycle you from window to window.

F7

The F7 key does not have any functionality in Windows. It may, however be used in some individual programs. To find out if it is available in the program you are using, bring up the program’s help screen and type in the words function key.

F8

The F8 key can be used to access Safe Mode if pressed during the computer’s boot up process. This is a trouble-shooting mode which will start the computer with minimal drivers.

F9

The F9 key does not have any functionality in Windows. It may, however be used in some individual programs. To find out if it is available in the program you are using, bring up the program’s help screen and type in the words function key.

F10

F10 is the key that is used to activate the menu bar in many programs. You can use F10 to highlight the first menu choice, and then use the arrow keys to move around the menus. Pressing the Shift key while pressing F10 will bring up the shortcut menu. This is similar to right-clicking on an object.

F11

Press F11 when you are working in Internet Explorer and the window will open to full screen mode. This will make all the toolbars disappear and can be useful to see more information on the screen. Press F11 when you are in full screen mode will toggle you back to your normal view.

F12

The F12 key does not have any functionality in Windows. It may, however be used in some individual programs. To find out if it is available in the program you are using, bring up the program’s help screen and type in the words function key.

Most programmers adhere to using the F1 key for help. They often also program the other function keys to perform in the manner stated above. However, you will find that each program you use may be different. For instance pressing F5 when in Internet Explorer will refresh the screen. Pressing the same key in Outlook 2000 will make the application check for new mail. Using F5 in Microsoft Word will bring up the Find and Replace menu.

Many programs extend the usefulness of the function keys by using key combinations. The most common combinations are Shift + a function key, Alt + a function key, and Crtl + a function key. These combinations can be very useful. For instance, in Microsoft Word, when any text is highlighted, pressing the Shift key plus the F3 key will change the case of the text from all caps, initial caps, to all lowercase. Shift + F7 will choose the Thesaurus command. These shortcuts allow you to access such functions with one keystroke rather than three or four mouse clicks.

Since functionality can defer, it is often good to look in the help menu of the program that you are using to find a list of the function keys and their uses.

Answer 2

The F-keys are function keys, in most programs they will do something handy, however, if you don't use computers a lot they won't save too much time. Examples: In Web Browsers (Firefox and Internet Explorer) F5 - reloads/refreshes a page F11 - displays a webpage full screen In Word, Excel, and Powerpoint, F7 checks the spelling. In Powerpoint, F5 starts the Slideshow. In most programs, F1 brings up the Help Contents. Other programs can be set to use the F-keys, however the keyboard shortcuts using the Control key are a lot more common and can save a lot more time. In my personal experience, the other F-keys have rarely been used. I've included a link below from Wikipedia with more info.

Answer 3

F1 to F12 are Function Keys, Their function varies depending on the program you are in, but in general F1 is for Help in most programs.

In help you can search and find what each key is for in that program. Another way is to click on the menu items in your program. Usually the first menu is called File. In Explorer you see File, Edit, View, etc. If you click View you will see Refresh. Off to the right of Refresh you will see F5, this means you can use the function key F5 to do refresh, instead of clicking View, Refresh with your mouse.

Open whatever program you want to learn and start a file, create a new document, then test the keys. see what each one does. You can explore their function without worrying because you are using a file that you don't need to have, it is just a new nothing file.

Answer 4

Don't worry about it. If you're just using Internet Explorer the F5 key refreshes the page. F11 changes the window to full screen.

The use of F keys depends on the program you're using. But many programs don't use the F keys at all. To see what keys a program uses as a short cut, click on each menu. And if there's a shortcut key for the command, it will show up there, on the extreme right of the menu.

Answer 5

The function keys will do different things depending on what application and operating system your using.

For example in any flavour of windows pressing F1 will launch Help.

In Mac OS X 10.3.x or higher pressing F9, F10, F11 will activate expose using the default expose settings.

Try checking out this link for more information. Dont click on the first link, click on the one thats relevant to your keyboard and Operating System.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Function_key

Answer 6

Do not be afraid. Most of the time before deleting a file, WIndows will reconfirm. However you may accidentally change a file if it is open in an editor, so either 1) do not have any open files or 2) make those files read-only by right clicking on them.

For help on Keys, right click on foillowing link: and save it --or print it.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;q126449

Answer 7

Just don't press the F1-F12 keys and you will be fine.

Answer 8

We all learnt the same way...never think ur stupid...ur a first timer so ur trying to be cautious...
Experiment it and learnt it...its more fun that way than reading a boring doc on using a keyboard...
FYI-unless u hit delete key in combination of other keys nthing gets deleted/messed up..

Answer 9

you can try checking out these sites.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Function_key

http://www.regsoft.com/keys/

http://www.aarp.org/learntech/computers/howto/Articles/a2003-03-28-functionkeys.html