If you’re like most people, you probably use Vista to work and play. But sometimes you just want to relax and get some sleep. If you’re using Vista on a computer that’s not connected to the internet, there’s a way to do it without having to go through the hassle of turning off your computer and restarting it. All you need is three keystrokes: “power off” (or “shut down”), “sleep,” and “exit.” To enter Vista Sleep Mode, press power off (or shutdown). Then type “sleep” into the search bar at the top of your screen, and hit enter. Your computer will automatically enter sleep mode after a few minutes have passed. To exit Vista Sleep Mode, type “exit” into the search bar at the top of your screen, and hit enter again.
What you might not realize is that you don’t have to use the mouse to access the functions on that ridiculous menu. Let’s start by first hitting the Windows key to pop up the start menu.
Now use the right arrow key, and you’ll see that the Sleep button is highlighted. If you hit enter, your computer will immediately enter sleep mode. That’s only 3 keystrokes… not too bad.
If you use the right arrow key 3 times, the menu will pop up, and then you can either use the up/down arrow keys, or you can use the quick access key on the menu to choose the item you want. Notice how the current menu item is highlighted.
So here’s the list of shortcut combos for your enjoyment:
Now keep in mind that there are much faster ways to perform these tasks if you really want to, but it’s important to learn keyboard shortcuts.
