NumLocker Disables The Caps Lock Key

Any way to have specially modified computers for shipment to Nigeria? Computer minus capslock I mean. Also I would have liked to pry the capslock key off a senior friend's computer. I couldn't get it through her head to quick sending me emails in all-caps.

paintbox

@OMG! psycheese!: 42?

paintbox

@Michael Boland: I remapped mine as a second enter key. It helps a lot.

paintbox

@Phoshi: Just wondering. What would you do with c.a.d if you could remap it?
I wish I could get rid of Win+L. I never use it except by accident. Basically, I hate it.

paintbox

@bill cant fart: Looks that way.

paintbox

@impetus: unless they press f10 after forwarding the email. then a secret message shows up telling them the meaning of life.

@bill cant fart: Not at all, if I need to type a series of words in upper case it's better to press caps lock rather than awkwardly hold down shift. I'm so used to it that I turn on/off caps lock quite lightning fast anyway while typing.

aarste

@Phil_768: Whoops. Mouse buttons are easy, LButton, MButton, RButton, WheelUp, WheelDown. example:

~LButton & RButton::Run C:\Program Files\foobar2000\foobar2000.exe /pause
pauseplays fb2k on left&middle.

This program would be good for my Netbook. My big fingers have a tendency to accidentally activate the key when typing. I really don't see it as a need for extra hotkeys.

Choppasmith

@Phoshi: Thanks, but actually, my request aimed to "every free combination on my mouse controls my media player". I use the functionality you mentioned already (for Q-Dir, ToDo.txt, Everything etc). Very useful. But I understand the too-much-personal-info-fact ;) Probably your media-player-configuration wouldn't work with my mouse anyway :D

Phil_768

@winshape: If they're forwards, this will do nothing.

Just sayin'.

impetus

@Phoshi: Oh jeez that came out badly.

RWin::

SetTitleMatchMode, 2

IfWinExist, ahk_class ConsoleWindowClass

{

WinActivate
WinWaitActive

}

else

Run cmd.exe

return

@Phil_768: Mmm, it's really not. I'd post my whole script, but there's too much personal info there in hotstrings (Yes, I store usernames and passwords in plaintext, albeit encrypted)

RWin::
SetTitleMatchMode, 2
IfWinExist, ahk_class ConsoleWindowClass
{
WinActivate
WinWaitActive
}
else
Run cmd.exe
return

Is an example of it for a terminal, though. Grab the ahk_class using the window spy that comes with ahk, and you're good to go :D

@Skorpeyon: I don't exactly have huge hands, and I manage it without significantly stretching anything. For that matter, I can hit Ctrl+Tab and Ctrl+W with any two side-by-side fingers (pinky/ring, ring/middle, middle/index, even thumb/index), and ctrl+t is easily reachable with one-finger-apart combinations (pinky/middle, ring/index...middle/thumb reaches but involves and awkward wrist action)...and that's on a fairly spacious original Logitech G15 (looks like the current G11 but with the flip-up LCD over the media controls).

There's one option I use that isn't mentioned in the article: physically remove the Caps Lock key from the keyboard.

@Phoshi: Sounds sophisticated :) Maybe you want to host your AHK file somewhere? I'm always looking for workflow improvements :D

Phil_768

@schnikies79: I did it with a registry edit. I hate that stupid Windows key.

@Brain.wav: Also, the Razer Lycosa has a software toggle triggered by the touch panel..I think it's by hitting the logo.

@Ngagen: Mmm, which is why such totalitarian methods have always seemed bad, to me. Shift and caps fires caps lock, for me, I wouldn't have it any other way.

My Caps lock key is my TeamSpeak push-to-talk button. I've been using it as that (since I do not use it for anything else, and thus am less likely to accidentally activate my mic at the wrong time) for so many years that I don't know that I would adjust very well to changing to another key - and by now, I'm used to double-tapping the key to turn off the actual caps lock for when I begin typing again.

ladypoetess

@bill cant fart: I've used it while doing mainframe Cobol programming.

@Phil_768: Speaking of the IRC thing, I set that up a while ago for all of my IM and IRC, it's invaluable. Combined with FF, and hotkeys that check to see if the program is running, and switch if they're not, I don't have to touch the mouse at all. Of course, every free combination on my mouse controls my media player - left and wheel changes volume, left and middle pause/plays, so on

As a drafter everything should be done in all Caps as a standard, so I use caps lock all of the time.

Ngagen

@The How-To Geek: Email is on its way :)

Phil_768

@schnikies79: Autohotkey can disable it, and anything else you might want (except, alas, Win&L and ControlAltDelete, they're in the kernel)

I'd gotten used to the win-key shortcuts, and my M-Series doesn't have a Windows key (retro tech ftw), so I remapped the Caps Lock. Works fine, throws me off a bit when I use another computer.

KeyTweak did the job, SharpKey looks like it does the same thing (registry tweaking).

@bill cant fart:
No. Everyone on AOL usually does.

Oscar Feliciano

@Phil_768: Yes, please share!

Send me an email with the source if you want. (email is on the left navigation bar)

@bill cant fart: I still use it though only about twice a week. For me it would be excessive to neuter it completely.

Although saying that, I use Logitechs's SetPoint software to disable it when gaming on my Illuminated keyboard, got annoying in only this instance when I kept hitting it accidentally.

Actually, I believe gaming keyboards in general allow this option too, eg. Z-Board.

I remapped Capslock with AutoHotkey as a modifier for text navigation. I use it everyday about 100 times. It's quite useful because I don't have to move my hands from my regular 10-finger-system-position to ctrl and the arrow-keys everytime I want to change something in my text.
Here is how it works:
Capslock + j: left-arrow-key
Capslock + k: down-arrow-key
Capslock + l: right-arrow-key
Capslock + i: up-arrow-key

As you should notice this is the exact way how you would use your fingers if you laid them on the arrow-keys.

Capslock + h: simulates ctrl+left
Capslock + ö (in German the key right from l): simulates ctrl-right

The alt-key is the second modifier since it's very easy to reach with the thumb. In combination with capslock it works like the shift key. Thus, Capslock + Alt + J simulates CTRL+Shift+Left.

Capslock + Backspace simulates the del-key (easier to reach than the real del-key)

It's very handy and saves me a ton of hand movement.
And if I want to shout at somebody in IRC I hit shift and capslock :D
If you are interested in this I can share the AHK-Code.

Phil_768

@Anonymous816435: It's easier to hit Caps Lock+Tab, Caps Lock+T, or Caps Lock+W than Ctrl+Tab, Ctrl+T, or Ctrl+W. I believe that was Michael Boland's point. Moves the entire hand higher, rather than stretching that pinky. ;)

Skorpeyon

@schnikies79: Pop the key out, or if you want to spend some money, the Logitech G-series keyboards have a hard switch.

@bill cant fart: I do, mainly in graphic design work. Sure, there are usually settings in my programs to capitalize and/or uncapitalize words or paragraphs, but if I know it'll be in all caps I might as well type it that way to begin with. Even if I don't like people putting things like "ABSOLUTELY FREE!!!!!" (always on a starburst) in their ads/flyers/etc.

Skorpeyon

@Ucla74: I always hate the idea of getting rid of the Caps Lock button all together, since I use it regularly, but you're solution seems like a great idea. In looking at how I use my keyboard, your placement actually makes good sense.

jonny6pak

@bill cant fart: My 10 year old cousin still does it...

I've remapped one of the extra buttons on my keyboard to caps, and changed the caps lock key, means I can still have access to caps lock if I ever do need it.

tylerf

THANK YOU! I do a lot work with my keypad and often hit the Number Lock key accidentally when I mean to hit '/'. This is perfect for me.

ECN2

ummm mine always disabled, I just don't press the button.

mricyfire

I use SharpKeys to swap my CapsLock and L-Ctrl keys. That's the way keyboards should have been made from the beginning. People forget the CapsLock key is where it is because it used to be the Shift-Lock key on a typewriter...before Command, Ctrl, Alt, and Windows keys.

But no keyboard manufacturer has the stones to build a *workable* keyboard for computer users. And whatever happened to the oversized Enter key, too?

@Michael Boland:

How do you fit Ctrl+Tab, Ctrl+T, and Ctrl+W into one key?

Anonymous816435

@Gix0r: oh insert to paste w/o formatting...that's a nice one. I think I may have to add that one.

WHY IS THIS SUCH A PROBLEM? I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PROBLEM IS....

OH WELL.

hehe

Great! Now is there a way to load this into a virus that I can send to everyone who sends me email forwards? Seriously.

BILL GATES WILL PAY YOU FOR FORWARDING THIS EMAIL!!!!

winshape

Since I copy/paste a ton at work, I've got my Caps Lock key remapped to ctrl+c using AutoHotKey. The Insert key is remapped to paste without formatting :)

Gix0r

How can anyone live without remapping caps lock to be an extra control key? Ctrl+Tab, Ctrl+T, and Ctrl+W, my three most-used shortcuts in Firefox, all become much easier.

Michael Boland

@bill cant fart: I use it all the time. In legal document drafting, I sometimes have to write whole paragraphs in all caps. It's a very useful key for me.

jonny6pak

@schnikies79: Did you want to permanently disable it?

[lifehacker.com]

@schnikies79: OS X?

Anyone know of an app like this that could disable the windows key?

schnikies79

@bill cant fart: Probably.

@bill cant fart: yes

Am I the only one that uses Caps Lock instead of Shift to capitalize words?

Caps lock is my firefox key, switches to/opens a new tab in/opens FF from wherever. I love the key, now. It can do so much more than simply disabling it.

The safest and way to change CapsLock (or change any other key on the standard 101-key keyboard) is to use Microsoft's own Remapkey.exe.

See this blog post: Tip - dispatching the CapsLock gremlin with Microsoft's remapkey.exe ([tips4laptopusers.blogspot.com])

Slartibartfarst

@Phil_768: You'd think so, wouldn't you, I can't live without FireGestures (Though I was using MGR before, dunno why I switched)

@paintbox: Force reboot, taskman is on controlshiftescape, and the only time I need CAD is when I've managed to lock up my PC so badly I can't bring up a command prompt.

@Phoshi: Nice concept. But I'm afraid this would interfere with my Mouse Gesture Redox Extension for Firefox. Nevertheless: Thanks for your answer :)

Phil_768

@Chad Cloman: I was actually pretty happy to see this article in the hope that I could get my father to stop doing exactly that to every computer he owns. It's unsightly and the neighbors are starting to talk!

@traeblain:
This is the commenting police. You must be informed that the "hehe" ruined your comment at the end.

@paintbox:
How do you tap both Win and L keys by accident? Even if it did happen, it would happen probably once or twice, not more.

Does choosing something using this app persist after a reboot or would you have to select it again every time?

sylvane

Is there a way to disable NumLock permanently (WinXP)?

A problem I've seen in IBM Thinkpads is the NumLock going on all by itself, often on startup (and no, it's not a fat-finger error.) And with the number "keypad" being in the middle of the QWERTY keyboard, you wind up typing gibberish, usually when entering your password.

RevWaldo

@Nabeel: MY APOLOGIES, I DIDN'T EXPECT MOST READERS TO BE AS INTELLIGENT AS THE COMMENTING POLICE...THOSE RESPONSIBLE HAVE BEEN SACKED.

@traeblain:
Sir, you are under arrest for using Caps Lock twice in the same thread. Pull the vehicle over.

I use Enso. I like it.

[www.humanized.com]

davers

Anyone know a way to disable the context-menu key?
(You know, the one next to the windows key on your keyboard).
Thanks in advace

koekielam

Disabling a key that you may use (just not ACCIDENTALLY use) is a bit strong, don't you think?

I find the solution that Toggler gives me a little smarter: it allows you to delay the key, meaning that you have to press the key longer in order to activate it. It also can give you a warning bleep.

Works fine for my purpose: I don't accidentally captialise my words, but I can still use CapsLock if I need to.

You can look at screenshots and download Toggler here: [members.execulink.com]

kian01

You don't need a program to disable caps lock - a small registry hack can do the same thing.
[www.askvg.com]

Marco Deppe

Try sMaRTcaPs 5.2. Works with Windows XP and earlier. Might work with Vista and 7 too. Great little add on!

Gordtoo

@bill cant fart: pretty much

@bill cant fart: Hehe, I never use Caps Lock myself, but I know several who do. Never had any use for writing more than a single word or two in full capitalization. Getting this app and hoping it's a function that Microsoft will consider adding to their future OS! Thumbs up, LH! :]