Reprogramming keys on a keyboard?

Question

I just got a new keyboard and its great but there are two problems with it. theres only a Ctrl button on the left and not the right...

And theres a "Home" button to the right of the Backspace button which I always hit and others who have this setup do as well.

This home button makes the cursor go to the top left of the typing window so it messes you up when you hit it.


I was just wondering if I could program the Home button into a secondary Backspace key and change the Text select key at the bottom right of the keyboard into a Ctrl.

Can it be done?
if so, how?


Thanks

wow, Robin, thanks for the great info

im using a stock dell with windows XP pro...its all about 3 years old now but i plan on making myself a good gaming computer with vista in a few months.

ill look around for some programs

Answer 1

Hi there:
There are hundreds of tiny and large programs that can move around keys, and change keys, and add control or F ( Function key ) routines. Half of these programs are PAID or Shareware ( you pay to use the program after looking at it, or using a crippled version for a TRIAL period ).
In the future, you can use dogpile.com to search , using FREE DOWNLOAD or free programs etc. or try one of my favourite sources, majorgeeks.com, and just look through their lists for the software that you need.

Your keyboard is programmed in the OS ( Operating System ) you are using, which you do not state. You might just want to state which version you are using, like, OS2, Linux, WIn3.1, Win95, WIn98, WinME, WIn2000, WinXP, WinVista, Unix, Beos, Ubuntu, Dos, Knoppix, TOS, CPM, etc. etc. so that people trying to help you can just give you one, correct answer, instead of guessing.
In whatever OS you are using, there is a programmed segment that actually tells the system, what each key is, when you push a button on the keyboard. This part of the OS, can be changed by anyone, anytime, and there are tools in each OS that allow you to do this. SInce you do not bother to state what you have, I will boldly guess that you are like a lot of people and use a Microsoft Product. Which one, well, it is a wild guess.
IFF you are using XP, the most currently used MS product, THEN, you can use a free tool, downloadable from the MicroSoft Website, to change your entire keyboard ENTIRELY, Free, and professionally, with the same software that THEY use... !

Download from many sites at:

http://www.microsoft.com/globaldev/tools/msklc.mspx

Note that you must have Microsoft's NET Framework, installed, which is provided already in XP, but the downloadable installation can be gotten FREE at:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=262D25E3-F589-4842-8157-034D1E7CF3A3&displaylang=en

The specifications for usage are listed as:

System Requirements

* Supported Operating Systems: Windows 2000; Windows 98; Windows 98 Second Edition; Windows ME; Windows NT; Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 for Itanium-based Systems; Windows Server 2003 x64 editions; Windows Vista Business; Windows Vista Enterprise; Windows Vista Home Basic; Windows Vista Home Premium; Windows Vista Starter; Windows Vista Ultimate; Windows XP; Windows XP Professional x64 Edition

* Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 requires Service Pack 6a.


Important: Make sure you have the latest service pack and critical updates for the version of Windows that you are running. To find recent security updates, visit Windows Update.

* You must also be running Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 or later for all installations of the .NET Framework. Install Internet Explorer 6.0 Service Pack 1.

If you go to majorgeeks.com you can download dozens of FREE
programs, such as keytweaker,
Key Mapper, Sharp Key Changer, Key Stroke Converter, Key Transformer, Key Tweak220, Key HOTKEY, and other key utilities like I HATE THIS KEY, and keyboard locks, keyboard shortcuts, etc. etc.
There are HUNDREDS of pay for use programs all over the web, if you do a dogpile search, form $10 to huge programs for professionals and large Corporate Gurus, costing many hundreds of dollars.

Using the Microsoft Keyboard programming is the best, IFF you are using one of the hundreds of Microsoft OS versions that people might be using...

Hope this information gets your keys straightened out!

good luck

robin

Answer 2

I dont think it can be .. but it wont take long to get used to the keyboard.

Answer 3

try this link
http://www.sharewareconnection.com/titles/change-keyboard-keys.htm

But most of them are not free.

Answer 4

No.