Enable Windows 7 Shortcuts In XP And Vista
Several new keyboard shortcuts have been added in Windows 7 by Microsoft which may increase your productivity when you are working with a system running the OS.
Especially the combination of Windows and the cursor keys have created some interesting new options for Windows users.
Windows-UP maximizes the active window on the screen, Windows-Down minimizes the window or restores it in case it is maximized, and Windows-Left and Windows-Right dock the active window to the left or right side of the monitor.
Vista and XP users do not have access to these new shortcuts by default since they have been implemented only in Windows 7.
The free software Windows 7 Shortcuts adds several of the most popular shortcuts of Windows 7 to Windows XP and Vista.
The shortcuts that are added are
- Win+Left/Right arrows: Dock the window to each side of the monitor.
- Win+Up arrow: Maximize the active window.
- Win+Down arrow: Minimize the window/Restore the window if it's maximize.
- Win+Space: All windows are made transparent so you can see the desktop.
- Win+Home: Minimize all windows but the current window.
Windows 7 Shortcuts runs in the background. A right-click on the system tray icon and the selection of Properties opens a configuration menu. The keys used to trigger the functions can be changed in this configuration, helpful for users who prefer the functionality on different keys.
You can use the configuration to change the shortcuts in case you want to use different ones or remove some completely if you do not plan on using them at all.
The program has been created in the popular scripting language AutoHotkey. Some antivirus software programs have problems with AHK scripts, identifying them wrongfully as malicious. The script is especially useful for computer users who work with Windows 7 and another Windows system.
Update: Please note that the program is no longer available on the download site it was published on. We have uploaded the most recent version of the application to our own server. You can download the program with a click on the following link: (Download Removed)
Note that we do not support the program in any way.
There is a better software can add extra function to windows 7/vista/xp:
winsplit revolution:
http://www.winsplit-revolution.com/
A window can be resized and moved to the left half, the right half, the top, a corner… of the screen.