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Step 1
Check your computer to see what keyboard shortcuts are already being used. You need unused key combinations to set up new keypad tasks. For example, "Ctrl-P" already means print.
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Step 2
Decide what programs you want to have shortcuts for. You will need a different key combination for each program.
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Step 3
Click "Start" on the task bar with the left side of the mouse. Choose a program from the menu list. For example, choose the program "Microsoft Word." You will create a keyboard shortcut for this particular program.
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Step 4
Choose the program and click the right side of the mouse. A menu opens up with a list of possible choices. Choose "Properties" from the list. Click "Properties" and the "Properties Window" will open up.
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Step 5
Click the "Shortcut" tab on the "Properties Window." Type the key combination selection that you want to use to represent the program into the "Shortcut Key" box. These are the keys you will press whenever you want to open the program without using the mouse.
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Step 6
Include a letter of the alphabet in your key combination selection. Combine this with two of the three keys: Ctrl, Alt or Shift. Assign your shortcut and then click "OK" to set the key.
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Step 7
Press the designated keyboard shortcut. Your program will now open. Create another shortcut key combination for the next program.
