Ron Schenone

What’s That Flag Thing Do? You Know, The One On The Keyboard?

Posted by on Jan 15, 2010 | 10 Comments

A few days ago I received an email from an old client of mine asking the following question:

I was helping a friend of mine who just bought a new computer and he asked me about the Flag key on the keyboard and what it did. I didn’t have an answer for him so I thought I would ask you what the key is for? You didn’t teach us that in class!

I had to laugh when I read this email, because he was correct. When I was teaching introductory computer classes for the Community Ed Dept. at out local junior college, I didn’t cover any of the shortcuts that are built into the Windows system. Why?

Almost all of the students I had in my classes were brand new to computers and most were seniors who were just venturing into the world of the PC. As most of us know, teaching a class the pace is usually controlled by the slowest student[s]. Just getting some using the mouse was a challenge.

That ‘Flag’ key is the Microsoft Logo key. You can use the Microsoft Logo key in conjunction with other keys in combination for specific commands to the computer. Some of the commands I use are:

Logo + R = Brings up the Run command

Logo + D = Clears and opens the desktop.

Logo + L  = Locks the computer screen

Logo + E = Opens Explorer window

That’s about it for me. I am a mouse man. LOL But there is a whole lot of shortcuts available from the keyboard. Check out the link below from Microsoft and see what you think.

Comments welcome.

Microsoft keyboard shortcuts

  • Ryan Farmer

    That key is there so it looks like Microsoft owns you and your PC no matter what OS you use.

    You can make it do things in Linux though, but it’s a fairly useless cattle branding emblem for the most part.

  • leftystrat

    Nothing if you’re using linux….

  • Buffet

    I’ve never understood the reason for trying to memorize a bunch of cryptic combinations on a keyboard, when a simple mouse click will do? I’ll just adhere to the K.I.S.S. principle. Fancy fingerwork is best suited to, ahem….more important things.

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

    Ryan – I’m prying it off my keyboard as I write this!

    Heh leftystrat – good point. LOL

    Buffet – I love my mouse as well.

  • Denny

    I . Aint . got . 1 .
    should I take the computer back

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

    Hi Denny,
    YES! I would have them install one just for you. LOL

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/tracker1/ tracker1

    Honestly, I remember CTRL+X/C/V for Cut/Copy/Paste, I also remember Super+R (I refuse to call it a windows key) for a run dialog. I have used programs like AutoHotkey to map Super + [,], to volume down,up,mute Since I use a Model M-style 104 key keyboard (from Unicomp if interested) other than that I really don’t use it much.

    It’s nice having a global shortcut key that most programs aren’t going to use internally though. I’ve thought about creating a program to map Super + , . and / to previous/next/play-pause in my favorite media player, so I can control it while minimized.

    Though I thought about getting a 101-key version when I bought my keyboard I opted for the 104 key simply to have that extra modifier key for global shortcuts.

  • Glenn

    tracker1: “Honestly, I remember CTRL+X/C/V for Cut/Copy/Paste”

    Being a touch typist, I have long used keyboard shortcuts for everything I possibly can, those being the chief among them. That’s how I copied and pasted both tracker’s screen name and the relevant portion of his post.

    I’m not surprised that most computer classes no longer teach keyboard shortcuts. These days the mouse is just “how it’s done,” since it’s not really necessary to be a touch typist to be a computer user. Only in certain fields is touch typing necessary anymore, and I’m sure sure that in those classes keyboard shortcuts are taught.

    I find it much more convenient to keep my fingers on the home row and, if calling up a function is necessary, to call it up via hot keys rather than taking my right hand off the keyboard to use the mouse. It takes too much time.

    It’s the same as the 10-key pad. I do 10-key also, and won’t have a keyboard without a traditional 10-key pad on it. If you have to type a bunch of numbers, it’s much slower using the top row as compared to the 10-key.

  • matt

    the logo key by itself launches the start menu. i dont use it much. im a keyboard short cut guy. thanks for the new ones.

  • brandon

    in linux, the super (windows flag key) can be used for 3d effect controls in compiz fusion