If you have been using Microsoft Windows for a while you are probably familiar with the “Show Desktop” icon on the Quick Launch Toolbar. Clicking on the “Show Desktop” icon does exactly that. All open windows will immediately be minimized and the Windows Desktop will pop into view.
But what if your Windows installation isn’t displaying the “Show Desktop” icon at the time, or you want to show the desktop without removing your hands from the keyboard? The answer is simple: Just press the Windows key (between the CTRL and ALT keys) and the letter D at the same time. Windows-D does exactly the same thing as clicking the “Show Desktop” icon, only faster since you don’t have to move your hand from the keyboard to the mouse and then click on the icon.
Of course if you prefer clicking on the icon, that’s certainly your prerogative. That’s the method I use most often myself simply because my hand is usually on the mouse anyway.
Tried it, it works leaving the screen you are using up and running.