# Software to re-assign keys.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-to-re-assign-keys/632911
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [August 28, 2012, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-to-re-assign-keys/632911 "2012-08-28T10:17:55Z")
**Posts on this page:** 16
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Lavasoap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lavasoap)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2012, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-to-re-assign-keys/632911/1 "2012-08-28T10:17:55Z")
The C key stopped working on my laptop. Repair shop said metal contact was broken and they could do nothing.
How can I re-assign/remap the C key to another key? Only looking for a software solution at this time.
I tried " Key Tweak " but no luck.
Thanks
---
### Author:  [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2012, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-to-re-assign-keys/632911/2 "2012-08-28T10:25:04Z")
Your repairshop is full of it, a keyboard is a common and easy replacement.
Try “keymapper”.
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### Author:  [@Hallucinex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hallucinex)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2012, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-to-re-assign-keys/632911/3 "2012-08-28T10:25:52Z")
I’ve not tried it, but found a[Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator](http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/goglobal/bb964665.aspx), which you might be able to use to create a different keyboard layout that you can set as the default in Control Panel.
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### Author:  [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2012, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-to-re-assign-keys/632911/4 "2012-08-28T10:46:12Z")
If you can’t find anything better, you can just use a macro program such as autohotkey (.com).
If you need to type a C in a context without any special software, and assuming your laptop has no separate numeric keypad:
- Hold down the left Alt and Fn keys and type 99 on the phantom numeric keypad (right half of the keyboard) to get a lowercase c
- Same thing, but with 67 for an uppercase C
- To copy to the clipboard, Ctrl-Ins does the same job as Ctrl-C
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### Author:  [@Lavasoap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lavasoap)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2012, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-to-re-assign-keys/632911/5 "2012-08-28T11:05:04Z")
> [@The\_Librarian](#):
>
> Your repairshop is full of it, a keyboard is a common and easy replacement.
> Try “keymapper”.
I probably should mention that I am in Sri Lanka at the moment , where laptops specific spare parts aren’t readily available, especially for laptops that are not current. This is a Dell D620 Latitude thats a couple of years old.
I tried your link, no luck because to switch keys, both keys need to work .
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### Author:  [@Lavasoap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lavasoap)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2012, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-to-re-assign-keys/632911/6 "2012-08-28T11:12:08Z")
> [@Heracles](#):
>
> If you can’t find anything better, you can just use a macro program such as autohotkey (.com).
>
> If you need to type a C in a context without any special software, and assuming your laptop has no separate numeric keypad:
>
> - Hold down the left Alt and Fn keys and type 99 on the phantom numeric keypad (right half of the keyboard) to get a lowercase c
>
> - Same thing, but with 67 for an uppercase C
>
> - To copy to the clipboard, Ctrl-Ins does the same job as Ctrl-C
I held down the ctrl + fn + 99 (from the numbers on top). No separate numric keyboard on this laptop so how does one get a phantom numric kepad?
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### Author:  [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2012, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-to-re-assign-keys/632911/7 "2012-08-28T12:37:39Z")
[Remapkey](http://www.makeuseof.com/dir/remapkey-rearrange-keyboard-keys/) is Microsoft’s own tool for this and the best that I’ve found. It makes a registry change and doesn’t take up any more resources (i.e. no software running in the background).
It normally comes as a part of a bigger resource kit that you have to install, but you can also [download the .exe directly from me](https://www.dropbox.com/sh/33166du168ghn9z/PmijkcyEfT) if you prefer.
---
### Author:  [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2012, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-to-re-assign-keys/632911/8 "2012-08-29T03:52:53Z")
> [@Lavasoap](#):
>
> I held down the ctrl + fn + 99 (from the numbers on top). No separate numric keyboard on this laptop so how does one get a phantom numric kepad?
Most laptops remap some keys on the main keyboard to act as a makeshift numeric keypad (what I call the phantom numeric keypad).
If you look closely, your M key probably has the digit 0 on it, J has a 1, K has a 2, U has a 4, etc. And 7, 8 and 9 are at their usual locations at the top of the keyboard.
So, for a capital C, you would hold Alt + Fn and press **the letter O** , then release it, then press **7** , then release it, then release Alt + Fn.
It’s not a very convenient way to type.
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### Author:  [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2012, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-to-re-assign-keys/632911/9 "2012-08-29T14:55:48Z")
The remap software is your best bet, but remember you can copy a “C” or “c” from your web browser or a document and paste them to wherever you’re entering text. Tedious but it would work fine.
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### Author:  [@Lavasoap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lavasoap)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2012, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-to-re-assign-keys/632911/10 "2012-08-29T15:51:31Z")
> [@Heracles](#):
>
> Most laptops remap some keys on the main keyboard to act as a makeshift numeric keypad (what I call the phantom numeric keypad).
>
> If you look closely, your M key probably has the digit 0 on it, J has a 1, K has a 2, U has a 4, etc. And 7, 8 and 9 are at their usual locations at the top of the keyboard.
>
> So, for a capital C, you would hold Alt + Fn and press **the letter O** , then release it, then press **7** , then release it, then release Alt + Fn.
>
> It’s not a very convenient way to type.
Thanks
Where can I get a list of the number for each alphabet?
Is there any way to move my g to another infrequently used key?
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### Author:  [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2012, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-to-re-assign-keys/632911/11 "2012-08-29T16:03:33Z")
This is kind of a clunky solution but what about plugging in a USB keyboard? We had to resort to that solution on our home laptop after our 2 yr old granddaughter managed to rip about half of the keys off the keyboard. No way I was going to try to put all those keys back on.
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### Author:  [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2012, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-to-re-assign-keys/632911/12 "2012-08-29T16:19:37Z")
> [@Lavasoap](#):
>
> I probably should mention that I am in Sri Lanka at the moment , where laptops specific spare parts aren’t readily available, especially for laptops that are not current. This is a Dell D620 Latitude thats a couple of years old.
>
> I tried your link, no luck because to switch keys, both keys need to work .
[$30](http://www.parts-people.com/index.php?action=item&id=4230) for a new D620 keyboard online. Not sure if they ship to Sri Lanka or not, but there are plenty of other parts suppliers online if you search for “Dell D620 keyboard”.
Laptop keyboards, Dell especially, are really easy to fix yourself. $30 and 20 minutes of your time isn’t too expensive. Although a key mapper is a great short term fix, I would hate to get used to a non standard layout like that.
---
### Author:  [@Lavasoap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lavasoap)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2012, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-to-re-assign-keys/632911/13 "2012-08-29T17:25:19Z")
> [@DrCube](#):
>
> [$30](http://www.parts-people.com/index.php?action=item&id=4230) for a new D620 keyboard online. Not sure if they ship to Sri Lanka or not, but there are plenty of other parts suppliers online if you search for “Dell D620 keyboard”.
>
> Laptop keyboards, Dell especially, are really easy to fix yourself. $30 and 20 minutes of your time isn’t too expensive. Although a key mapper is a great short term fix, I would hate to get used to a non standard layout like that.
I would try the replacement route when I return to the US.
For the time being I’d like an alternative to copy/pasting the alphabet every time I need it. I don’t mind unorthodox position for the reassigned keys, it’s a heckva better solution than what I am doing now.
I tried the solutions mentioned here, the last being the Microsoft one, but I must be doing something wrong or it plain doesn’t work.
---
### Author:  [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2012, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-to-re-assign-keys/632911/14 "2012-08-29T18:19:19Z")
> [@Lavasoap](#):
>
> I would try the replacement route when I return to the US.
>
> For the time being I’d like an alternative to copy/pasting the alphabet every time I need it. I don’t mind unorthodox position for the reassigned keys, it’s a heckva better solution than what I am doing now.
>
> I tried the solutions mentioned here, the last being the Microsoft one, but I must be doing something wrong or it plain doesn’t work.
Are you clicking and dragging the C from the top keyboard to the key you want to replace it on the bottom?
And then saving, exiting, and resetting the computer?
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### Author:  [@Lavasoap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lavasoap)
#### Post date: [September 3, 2012, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-to-re-assign-keys/632911/15 "2012-09-03T17:22:21Z")
> [@Reply](#):
>
> Are you clicking and dragging the C from the top keyboard to the key you want to replace it on the bottom?
>
> And then saving, exiting, and resetting the computer?
I need to switch C and g .
I click on the Z key, a box shows up, I then type fn+alt+103 (numeric keypad number for g)
I hit save source file and restart comp.
Nothing happens.
* * *
I took screenshots to better explain what I was doing but am unable to upload, photobucket is not letting me upload.
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### Author:  [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)
#### Post date: [September 3, 2012, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-to-re-assign-keys/632911/16 "2012-09-03T18:43:06Z")
> [@Lavasoap](#):
>
> I need to switch C and g .
> I click on the Z key, a box shows up, I then type fn+alt+103 (numeric keypad number for g)
>
> I hit save source file and restart comp.
>
> Nothing happens.
>
> * * *
>
> I took screenshots to better explain what I was doing but am unable to upload, photobucket is not letting me upload.
Try the program I provided (remapkey) instead of the layout creator.