Discussion on:

How do I... Turn off the Caps Lock key?

What other minor annoyances would you like to see a fix for? Have you fixed, patched, or hacked an information technology annoyance lately that you want to share with us?

While reading your article, when you explain that the key turns red after changing it, the example graphic is a little blurry. It looks like the key is now labeled Sh_t.

Which I found amusing and somehow poetic that it was from a M$ program trying to fix a M$ problem.

I stumbled onto ClipControl a few years ago and I use it in all my Windows installs. I normally disable sound, so I don't have any beeps to tell me what's what. You have to press Caps Lock + Enter to toggle, and you have the added bonus of an extended clipboard for text pasting.

Could you blog or whitepage this? It took me considerable time and effort, and I know a lot of people in my small circle who wanted this info, and I expect tens of thousands more want it as well. I found out how to disable the SP3 update, and to get rid of it should you have it and not want it (but not how to delete it--perhaps you could elaborate).

see http://techrepublic.com.com/5208-7343-0.html?forumID=102&threadID=273827&start=0

I tried many dif remap key utilities after I used this fix on a Dell OPtiplex GX240 (PIV) Vista Home Basic. I never was able to restore it. Vista gave warnings both times I attempted to use this utility.

Ctec2001@aol.com

I've been really annoyed by my Caps Lock key. Fixed it.

?

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When I had a keyboard that had an indentation on the caps lock key, right next to the A, that was approx. 1/3 of the key width, I never had a peoblem accidently hitting that key.

The keyboard I have now does not have that nice little feature and I am constantly hitting it.

My question now is, what if you want to remap the cap locks key back to its original key? How do you do that?

The windows web site does not list windows vista as being compatible, tho this person says it is....has anyone tried this with windows vista??? Hate to mess around with the registry but feel microsoft is not likely to pass out reeeeely bad advice.....i hate the cap lock key in general....and a pia if I look away for an instant when emailing...and accidentally hit it in it's very vulnerable position..

John B

I did indeed try it under Vista and it worked without problems. Now, I can't guarantee it will work for every installation, but it did work for me.

What is this and what does it do??

Since upgrading to Firefox 3 some strange code has been creeping into our WordPress posts - do you see one in this post?

It shows up once before each image. (Using IE 7)

I'm using Firefox 3 on my workstation and don't see it - I'll look at WordPress.

In HTML there is a tag that can be used to add comments about the code. The correct form of the tag is <!-- comment -->. If that is what this is it could be there because it wasn't formed correctly. Normally when the browser parses HTML it will ignore what is contained inside the comment tag. Coders use comments to describe what the code they have written does or how it works. They also often use comments to help them "visualize/organize" decision structures - especially when they are deeply nested or they sometimes use them when debugging. [endif] is probably part of an "if" decision structure used in a language such as Cold Fusion or PHP or ASP - frankly I don't remember what these look like. Anyway something in the code wasn't written properly and this piece of code is being parsed and displayed as text.

I just wedge a folded bit of paper under the key - it is then held solid and wont move.

Gives a place to rest my little finger then as well.

'KeyTweak'

http://webpages.charter.net/krumsick/

Don't say I don't look after you guys,
Rob

This little program worked exactly as advertised. I use Vista sp1 and I remapped the right context window on my Dell M1530 to a right ctrl key. No more context window popping up when I miss that regular control key. Thanks!

It lists being compatible with Win 7. I'll give it a try (of course I'll create a restore point also)

What a useful tip! Thank you TechRepublic. There is a small free program available by Falsinsoft called FirstCap which warns you when you type with Cap Lock on ; and what's more it works! - Auldsod

GENTLEMEN:
apparently i donwloaded rktools.exe nov2007.
in my home i am using windows 2000 professional. rktools.exe will not execute because i am not using windows xp. thus while some of the tools may be usable in w2k i can not extract them and thus can not make any use of them.

can you help?

thanx.
terry huff.

Try the Sysinternals (now Microsoft) web site for the ctrl2caps device driver. I've successfully used this in my 2000 Pro install (home) and my work XP system. I've also loaded it on a 2003 Server system with no problems. Turns it into another 'ctrl' key.

See here: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897578.aspx

This is a great idea, because this driver could be removed later if you would like to return the settings as it was.
Besides, I love all Sysinternals' tools way back before Microsoft bought them.

Control Panel-->Accessibility-->Keyboard-->ToggleKeys and check the box. Then each type you hit Caps Lock, NumLock or ScrollLock, you get a high-pitched beep. Turning any of these off causes a low-pitched beep. No need for additional software.

I have headphones plugged in and they're not always close enough to hear anything.


I've been ready to pry the caps lock key off of my keyboard; the remapping to the left shift key works great. It's not like it's major brain surgery to do it either. Wish I'd done it sooner.

I just turned it on and tested it. I am really grateful for this useful tip! Thank you for that. I'd MUCH rather hear a little warning beep than mess with my register.
btw, for those of you that don't realize, the sound doesn't come through your speakers so they can be turned off and you will still get the warning.

On my Dell Latitude, if I mute speakers the Caps Lock beep is suppressed. I prefer this approach though to remapping the keys.

Thank you for the tip. I like this better than not having CAPLOCK at all or having to remember where I put it.

One of the best pieces of software I have downloaded in the past 12 months is Enso from Humanized (http://www.humanized.com/). You hold down the caps lock key to use the software so it effectivly disables that key for regular use. It sounds odd but go to their website and view the demo. It's awesome!

I can't wait until someone comes up with some type of connection you can attach to your head and into the PC. Perhaps a mini-usb connection driven by the mini-electrical pulses of your brain, hmmmm? I guess the draw back would be a short in the motherboard leading death or paralysis. Oh well, the hazards of new technology, right? LOL!

I simply remove it from the keyboard...snap it out with
letter opener or screwdriver in about 2 seconds. I have a pile of "Num Lock" keys in my desk drawer if anyone needs an extra.

I really enjoyed the comments of a keyboard direct memory interface.. Very humerous...
Here are people who really can't type and want to turn keys off yet when they are needed, they they will have to turn them back on again..
Simple statement to everyone... LEARN HOW TO TYPE AND BE COGNISANT AS TO WHAT POSITION THE KEYS ARE IN.. Oh gee the caps lock was on again.. did not see the little green light on the keyboard..

I'm a poor typist and have trouble with Caps Lock. I tried various solutions to but have found nothing better than CapsUnlock from http://www.brainsystems.com/capsunlock/

Free
Small: 11 kB
Runs as a system tray ap
Caps Lock may be reactivated Left-Shift + CapsLock.
Also disables the Insert key.

I think that CapsUnlock has a number of advantages to the very good solution provided here.

My issue is that some text I type HAS to be in CAPITALS, eg some forms I fill in. I have to use CAPS LOCK as it's easier. Then I forget it's on and TYPE THE NEXT EMAIL IN CAPITALS...
There used to be a hardware device that plugged in series with the keyboard via the old DIN plugs, which beeped if it detected more than one capital in a row.

I will try FirstCaps - might be the solution.

I too like to use it sometimes.
Does anyone know of a utility that displays a message whilst the Capslock is on ?

Hi Rob C, Falsinsoft's FirstCap (free) is a good little program. You can set it to warn you on second or subsequent caps type, or you can disable caps lock altogether - quark@

Hi Quark,
I had just written my own in VB6. It flashes an icon in the systray (near clock), when CapsLock is on.
But I then took your advice, and tried FirstCap (Beta 4.1).
It lacks a good visual indicator, however the beep if you type after a two second pause (with CapsLock still on), is not too shabby.
I will run it on my main PC, and try mine on the 2nd PC.
Thanks for the 'heads up'
Regards,
Rob
PS let me know if any variation in my VB one, would help you, and I will get it to you. It has no dependencies, and does not require any installation.

Built-in Window via the accessibility options if the ability to flash a window caption or other window attributes, whenever the caps lock, num lock, or scroll lock keys are pressed. Start, settings, control panel, accessabilty options. 'Keyboard tab', click ToggleKeys. Then on 'Sound tab', click "use SoundSentry, then choose the item to flash.

ToggleKeys causes your system to make sounds when the keys are depressed but SoundSentry overrides the sounds and uses the flash method to alert the user.

See Above

Crashed my PC, Thanks a lot, Microsoft!

I followed your instructions to the letter and when I rebooted my PC the mouse was totally discombobulated. I had to use Window's RESTORE function to go back to a previous date before I could even use my computer again.