Let's face it - the Windows Vista shutdown dialog is one of the worst pieces of UI nonsense ever. Just look at it… what were they thinking with that popup dialog?
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:
| Win + Right Arrow + Enter | Sleep Mode |
| Win + Right Arrow (x3) + Enter | Shut Down |
| Win + Right Arrow (x3) + U | Shut Down |
| Win + Right Arrow (x3) + R | Restart |
| Win + Right Arrow (x3) + W | Switch User |
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.