Insert button on keyboard

  • Thread starter Thread starter Alain Dekker
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A

Alain Dekker

Is there any way to stop this button from functioning?

I'm sure there are many people who do need the ability to type over what has
been written (if that needs to be done, just select the text you want to go,
and press Delete). Its just a constant annoyance finding you've accidentally
hit the Insert key and then typed over a few characters, having to undo,
press Insert again, continue, etc.

Thanks in advance,
Alain
 
Alain Dekker said:
Is there any way to stop this button from functioning?

I'm sure there are many people who do need the ability to type over what
has been written (if that needs to be done, just select the text you want
to go, and press Delete). Its just a constant annoyance finding you've
accidentally hit the Insert key and then typed over a few characters,
having to undo, press Insert again, continue, etc.

Thanks in advance,
Alain
Click to expand...

Jam something under it so it can't be pressed?

Just kidding, although that may be the easiest way. Being a four fingers,
all thumbs typist (using the term VERY loosely), I feel your pain. I
sometimes hit the Insert key when reaching for the Delete key, but have
kinda learned to live with it :-)
 
We need to start a petition to the hardware driver writers to include this
as a feature! I cannot believe more than 1% of people need the functionality
that "Insert" provides (brace self for responses from people who "could not
live without it").

Your idea of jamming something under the key might not be a bad one... :o)

Thanks,
Alain
 
See:
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/archive/w2kscan-map.mspx

As an example, here's a reg file I use to map the Caps Lock to Left-Shift.

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout]
"Scancode
Map"=hex:00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,02,00,00,00,2a,00,3a,00,00,00,00,00

You can find the keyboard scancodes here:
http://download.microsoft.com/download/1/6/1/161ba512-40e2-4cc9-843a-923143f3456c/scancode.doc




We need to start a petition to the hardware driver writers to include this
as a feature! I cannot believe more than 1% of people need the functionality
that "Insert" provides (brace self for responses from people who "could not
live without it").

Your idea of jamming something under the key might not be a bad one... :o)
Click to expand...
 
Alain said:
Is there any way to stop this button from functioning?

I'm sure there are many people who do need the ability to type over what has
been written (if that needs to be done, just select the text you want to go,
and press Delete). Its just a constant annoyance finding you've accidentally
hit the Insert key and then typed over a few characters, having to undo,
press Insert again, continue, etc.

Thanks in advance,
Alain
Click to expand...

Hot-melt glue. Aim the glue gun under the keytop and leave a dab of
hot-melt glue underneath to prevent the ability to push down the key. If
you want to restore the key's function, pop off the key cap, snap off the
hot-melt glue, and replace the key cap. You could just pop off the key cap
and leave it that way. Your finger will feel the difference of the missing
key cap when you have to push your finger further to touch the support stud.

You could use software to turn the Insert key into a do-nothing key or have
it perform some other function. Just Google to find articles or software
for keyboard remap, like:

http://www.google.com/search?q=+keyboard++remap

One such hit was:
http://vlaurie.com/computers2/Articles/remap-keyboard.htm
 
Alain Dekker said:
Is there any way to stop this button from functioning?

I'm sure there are many people who do need the ability to type over what
has been written (if that needs to be done, just select the text you want
to go, and press Delete). Its just a constant annoyance finding you've
accidentally hit the Insert key and then typed over a few characters,
having to undo, press Insert again, continue, etc.

Thanks in advance,
Alain
Click to expand...

Or, if you are using Word, just turn off Overtype

"In Word, you can double-click OVR on the status bar to turn Overtype mode
on or off. Or, on the Tools menu, click Options, click the Edit tab, and
then select or clear the Overtype mode check box."
Ted
 
Thanks hadn't spotted that option in Word before! Unfortunately, I've just
tried it and it doesn't work! When I press "Insert" and "OVR" is displayed,
it types over the next character like usual not matter what I set this to.
I'm using Word 97, so maybe its just a bug in Word 97.

Thanks for that tip, though!
 
Is there any way to stop this button from functioning?

I'm sure there are many people who do need the ability to type over what has
been written (if that needs to be done, just select the text you want to go,
and press Delete). Its just a constant annoyance finding you've accidentally
hit the Insert key and then typed over a few characters, having to undo,
press Insert again, continue, etc.

Thanks in advance,
Alain
Click to expand...
You might want to consider a different keyboard. I have a Microsoft
cordless keyboard on which the typical "Insert" key has been done away
with in favor of an oversized "Delete" key. The "Insert" function is
still available on the numeric keypad when Numlock is turned off.
There's a picture of it here: http://tinyurl.com/y73dkmd
 
Yes, thats another reasonable idea. I've actually removed the key altogether
(it could be wedged off with a screwdriver quite easily) and this is now
working well for me.
 
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