Can I disable my Caps Lock key?

[Wheelz]

As far as I'm concerned, the only reason the Caps Lock key exists is to piss me off when I hit it accidentally. I never use it on purpose and never plan to. sO, CAN i JUST TURN THE DAMN THING OFF?

[dolphinboy]

What version of windows are you using?

[Wheelz]

What version of windows are you using?XP.

[dolphinboy]

Apparently you can do it using this procedure... use at your own risk! And let us know if it works...

http://johnhaller.com/jh/useful_stuff/disable_caps_lock/

[Wheelz]

Apparently you can do it using this procedure... use at your own risk! And let us know if it works...

http://johnhaller.com/jh/useful_stuff/disable_caps_lock/I think I'll stay away from this on my work computer. Maybe I'll give it a try at home.

[Scarlett67]

Googling "disable caps lock" turns up about a kabillion hits (of which dolphinboy's suggestion is the first). I imagine one of those might work.

[chappachula]

I feel the same way about the "Windows" key.
So I took a small screwdriver, placed the tip under the key, pried it up, and -yes---threw the key into the trash can. Seriously....

Now there's a nice little flat spot on my keyboard between "Crtl" and "alt"...
besides, I love the feeling of revenge as I defied the almighty power of Microsoft. :)

[Peter Morris]

I use caps lock once in a while. More useful than disabling it altogether is a little utility that stops you turning on caps lock accidentally. You have to push and hold down the key for a time (adjustable) before it turns on. It will also play a sound (optionally) to let you know if you have turned caps lock on.

http://members.execulink.com/~pjones/toggler/

[Jragon]

I feel the same way about the "Windows" key.
So I took a small screwdriver, placed the tip under the key, pried it up, and -yes---threw the key into the trash can. Seriously....

Now there's a nice little flat spot on my keyboard between "Crtl" and "alt"...
besides, I love the feeling of revenge as I defied the almighty power of Microsoft. :)

Logitech G15s have a switch to put the keyboard into "gamer mode" that disables the Windows and context sensitive menu (the one next in between ctrl and windows on the right side) buttons. It's really nice.

[sailor]

As far as I'm concerned, the only reason the Caps Lock key exists is to piss me off when I hit it accidentally. I never use it on purpose and never plan to. sO, CAN i JUST TURN THE DAMN THING OFF?This is what I have done with every keyboard:
1- pull off the key
2- insert piece of cardboard underneath which prevents it from moving
3- replace key.

The key is there. It looks normal. It just does not move. You can restore it any time you want.

[Khadaji]

I used to have a guy who worked for me who would always pull off that key and others whenever he got a computer. Made me nuts. Not that I really cared, but when we upgraded I always had to account to the IT department for why the keys were gone. In the end I would just end up saying: They're gone, if it is really an issue I'll pay for a new keyboard myself.

[GuanoLad]

I use this (http://www.brainsystems.com/capsunlock/). It also disables the Insert key, which is rather inconveniently placed next to the delete key so gets hit a lot during editing of text, which is the last bloody time you want it to be accidentally switched on.

[GorillaGirl]

I use SharpKeys. Map your keys, write to the registry, then log off/log on or reboot. Download the zip file so you don't need admin rights to install, and you can use it at work.

Download here (http://www.randyrants.com/2008/12/sharpkeys_30.html), FAQ here (http://www.randyrants.com/sharpkeys/faq.htm)

[bobot]

I feel the same way about the "Windows" key.
So I took a small screwdriver, placed the tip under the key, pried it up, and -yes---threw the key into the trash can. Seriously....

Now there's a nice little flat spot on my keyboard between "Crtl" and "alt"...
besides, I love the feeling of revenge as I defied the almighty power of Microsoft. :)

Ha ha ha! That's awesome. I never realized that key was there. What's it do????
I'm not touching it.

[Jragon]

Ha ha ha! That's awesome. I never realized that key was there. What's it do????
I'm not touching it.

It's merely annoying, all it does is open the start menu. It's often called by certain groups of gamers the "oh shit!" button because of the reaction it causes when you realize what you just hit instead of crouch or alt or whatever. I personally would never remove it, simply because window+d is such a useful shortcut (it automatically shows the desktop instead of having to minimize everything).

[Tool of the Conspiracy]

I pop the Windows and "right-click" keys off my keyboards at work. At home, I just use pre-1995 keyboards.

[BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed]

It's merely annoying, all it does is open the start menu. It's often called by certain groups of gamers the "oh shit!" button because of the reaction it causes when you realize what you just hit instead of crouch or alt or whatever. I personally would never remove it, simply because window+d is such a useful shortcut (it automatically shows the desktop instead of having to minimize everything).

It also quick-locks the computer (+L), opens the explorer (+E), and probably does other stuff too.

But in my Doom deathmatch days, I definitely pulled that sucker out.

[Scarlett67]

[The Windows key is] merely annoying, all it does is open the start menu.

I beg to differ: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_key#Shortcuts)


* Windows Logo Key to Open and close the Start Menu
* Windows Logo Key + B to Select the first icon in the Notification Area
* Windows Logo Key + D to Show Desktop
* Windows Logo Key + E to Open My Computer
* Windows Logo Key + F to Open Search
* Windows Logo Key + F + Control Key to Open Search For Computers program
* Windows Logo Key + F1 to Open Help
* Windows Logo Key + L to Switch Between Users, or Lock desktop while unattended
* Windows Logo Key + M to Minimize All Windows
* Windows Logo Key + M + Shift Key to restore after Minimizing All Windows
* Windows Logo Key + R to Open Run Dialog
* Windows Logo Key + U to open Utility Manager
* Windows Logo Key + Y to Open Yahoo Messenger (if loaded)
* Windows Logo Key + Pause Key To Open System Properties
* Windows Logo Key + Tab Key To Switch Between Active Windows
* Windows Logo Key + X to enter Windows Mobility Center (Windows Vista+ only; does not work on desktop computers)
* Windows Logo Key + P to switch Projection modes (clone, extend, single, multiple monitors, etc.) (Windows 7 only)
* Windows Logo Key + Tab to switch windows using Flip 3D (requires Windows Aero, Windows Vista only)
* Windows Logo Key + 1 to 9 to start according Quick Launch Toolbar program


I also have Windows + V mapped to a utility that pastes unformatted text.

It's very useful if you know how to use it! (I prefer to stay off the mouse as much as possible.)

[Jragon]

It also quick-locks the computer (+L), opens the explorer (+E), and probably does other stuff too.

You know, I quick-lock my computer but if someone asked me how I'd have to think a second. It's just second nature and I totally forgot that window+l did that.

I beg to differ: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_key#Shortcuts)



I also have Windows + V mapped to a utility that pastes unformatted text.

It's very useful if you know how to use it! (I prefer to stay off the mouse as much as possible.)

I meant JUST the window key, I even mentioned window+d! I was referring to why people were removing it, because when you accidentally press it it opens the start menu and the window you were working in loses focus. The reason I said "merely annoying" didn't mean the key only did annoying stuff I was just reassuring him pressing it didn't do anything terrible (considering he was afraid to touch the key) so I was explaining the reason they were removing it was because it was "merely annoying" rather than it being "a honking malicious threat."

Edit: There was a computer at my high school with a pre 1995 keyboard that I avoided using like the plague because it always made me realize how often I actually use the window key, so I am by no means against it.

[Peter Morris]

... window+d is such a useful shortcut (it automatically shows the desktop ...

Whoa, I never knew that. Thank you.

[Hypnagogic Jerk]

It also quick-locks the computer (+L), opens the explorer (+E), and probably does other stuff too.
I use it to get out of the full screen mode when running applications that use it. The idea of having a hardware element (a key) that clearly mentions an element of software kind of bothers me, but this particular key is useful.

[njtt]

Scarlett67
I also have Windows + V mapped to a utility that pastes unformatted text.


Ooooh! I want that! I am forever getting annoyed by word processing and editing programs that insist on pasting formatted text when you use cntrl+v. I much more often want to paste unformatted text (usually from another program), but it generally takes about 4 clicks (or else first pasting into notepad and then copying again) to do so. Can you please tell us where to get this utility and how to map it like you said?

My first computer, a BBC Micro had both a Caps Lock and a Shift Lock key. The Caps Lock was in fact very useful as the built in BBC BASIC language (which one used a lot - quite apart from actual programming, you could use it from the command line as an excellent calculator, much better than the little toy you get in Windows) required all its commands to be in upper case. The Shift Lock was quite useless, though. Since there was no numeric keypad, you could not type numbers with it on, just the symbols above them.

On my PC I do find a use for Caps Lock occasionally, but then I get annoyed when I find I have left it on and I am getting lowercase when I hold down shift. I use windows+E to open explorer all the time, and occasionally windows+pause for system properties, but I can never remember all the other combinations. From now on I will try to remember that windows+D one though, That could be handy. I have never had any use for the menu key on the right, however.

But let me reiterate. Please tell me where to find that paste unformatted text utility.

[Superfluous Parentheses]

According to the emacs manual, you can use this registry file to turn caps-lock into an extra control key (which is how I set up all my machines, except I don't use windows):

http://ftp.gnu.org/old-gnu/emacs/windows/docs/ntemacs/contrib/caps-as-ctrl.reg

More info on that file about half-way down this document:
http://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/windows/Installing-Emacs.html

[Joey P]

Check your BIOS, mine has a setting to disable it.

[LSLGuy]

I find CapsLock mildly annoying. So what I do is turn on the built-in sound alert. that way when I hit it the machine makes a noise, alerting me to the fact I just goofed. But the key's still there for the times I do need it. pulling teh keytop off is stupid.

In XP: Start >> Control Panel >> Accessibility Options. On the Keyboard tab, check the "Use ToggleKeys" box and [OK].

My only complaint with the built-in feature is that I can't add the Insert button to its noisemaking.

[Scarlett67]

Please tell me where to find that paste unformatted text utility.

PureText (http://www.stevemiller.net/puretext/)

It's freeware; rated 4/5 stars at download.com. The program lets you choose your own hotkey; Windows + V is the default. Works a treat!

[CookingWithGas]

The idea of having a hardware element (a key) that clearly mentions an element of software kind of bothers me....Me too, but that's the whole point, isn't it? Microsoft doesn't want you to think of your hardware and Windows as being two distinct things. They want you to see it as an integrated whole--that plus the Internet (many keyboards have buttons that do browser things, like page back).