The two Windows keys on a standard keyboard are easily overlooked.

Maybe you’ve seen them ­ – the ones with a dinky Windows logo ­ – and wondered what they’re for. Their simplest function is to open the Start menu without having to click on the Start button, but they’re also hardwired with several other shortcuts that can be invoked by holding down the Windows key and striking another letter. Windows key and E, for example, runs Windows Explorer.

The really useful thing about Windows key shortcuts is that they work from within any program, so they’re always on tap. In this Workshop, we’ll demonstrate how to create your own Windows XP shortcuts and permanently link them to the Windows keys with the help of a tiny program called Winkey. Note that Winkey doesn’t work properly in Vista.

Use Winkey to create keyboard shortcuts that are accessible from anywhere within XP.