Help with Menu Shortcuts

I am a beginner with Visual Basic (currently using VB.Net Express 2010). I am having a problem with one of my menu shortcuts. This is a very simple menu, simply as a means of practice.

During debug mode, when I press 'Alt & f', my shortcut for 'File' works fine. However, when I press 'Alt & x' for Exit this does not work. The confusing thing is, if I click on Exit this works as it should, so I cannot understand why the shortcut does not.

Any help would be much appreciated.

here's how to add menu items in code. notice the ampersands. they denote Alt + the character after the ampersand = the shortcut.
the same system applies to menu items you add in the designer. when you set the text include the ampersands :

Code:

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MenuStrip1.Items.Add("&File", Nothing, AddressOf clicked) 'keyboard shortcut = Alt+f
MenuStrip1.Items.Add("E&xit", Nothing, AddressOf clicked) 'keyboard shortcut = Alt+x

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Thank you for your help Paul :thumb: