I've been using computers well since before Windows, so I thought this was kinda common knowledge, but here's what I do when there's no mouse, or before drivers are installed etc.:
At the Windows desktop, use cursor keys (the ones with arrows for UP, DOWN, RIGHT, LEFT) to navigate between icons. Press ENTER / RETURN instead of double-clicking on the icon.
The START menu invoked by the Windows symbol key between CTRL and ALT can also easily be navigated by the cursor keys.
If you really hate mouse, get yourself an old-school file manager software like Total Commander (
ghisler.com) - it'll give you two side-by-side panels with folders and files, where you can do everything and more than the Windows Explorer allows you, without ever touching the mouse. The app is free and is regularly updated, with lots and lots of useful free plugins to work with different kinds of files.
Most of the Windows interface, like dialogue boxes / file requesters, can be navigated using the cursor keys and the TAB key. When you see a letter underlined in a dialogue box, it means you can press that letter on the keyboard instead of clicking on the button without a mouse.
The ALT key invokes the horizontal menu at the top of your current window - the menu can then be navigated with the cursor keys, and of course you fire your selection off with the ENTER / RETURN key.
EDITING TEXT:
CTRL+cursor keys moves the cursor to the next/previous word. Holding down the SHIFT key still works with this key combination to highlight text.
Of course CTRL+C copies whatever is selected to the clipboard, CTRL+V pastes it at the cursor position.
If you're using Firefox or other Mozilla-based browser on a PC which isn't too slow, download a spell checker plugin, it does miracles, especially if typing in a language which isn't your native. There is another plugin called Dictionary Switcher, which will auto-detect the language based on your current choice of national keyboard layout, but you can also switch this manually (with your mouse only I'm afraid) at the bottom right corner of your browser window. This is also available for the Mozilla Thunderbird e-mail client, although you have to download and install it separately.
Hope this helps (^_^ )
BTW if I just didn't want to see the avatars, I'd drag the browser window to the left so that that bit 'sticks out' off the screen ...