merging layers in Photoshop CS6

reply to Jeff.  I really appreciate you taking time to make suggestions.  I am going to copy your suggestions and respond to each of them. 

I am using a US keyboard, and other keyboard shortcuts do work.

So pressing Shift+Cmd+Option+N doesn't make a new blank layer?  Yes.  It makes a new blank layer on top of all layers.  But what I want is to merge all layers into a top layer contains everything below, and maintain all layers as they were.  I can then make any further adjustments  to the top layer, leaving other layers still editable.

Your shortcut does work, but it just makes a new layer first and then releasing n and pressing e while having the Shift+Cmd+Option keys still pressed stamps the visible layers into that blank layer.  This does not work for me.  Shift+Cmd+E simply rolls all layers into one.

In order to use the Shift+Cmd+Option+E shortcut without the n one needs to have more than one layer visible.  When I have used this shortcut previously, I would typically have up 5-6 layers.

Norman, Thanks for your suggestion.  I will try that.

Thanks for replying.  That does not work for me either.  maybe I need to remove CS6 and reinstall.

Thanks for replying.  That does not work for me on my CS6.  I always look at Julieanne Kost's blog first. The shortcut I have alway used is cmd+opt+sht+n,e has always worked for me.  Maybe there is something going on with my CS6.