useless keys on keyboard?

Question

Why is the Scroll lock key still incorporated on a standard key board, also what does the key SysRq do?

Answer 1

as someone said , system request goes back to mainframes and dumb terminal.

it's handy if the pc is emulating a dumb terminal (such as vax etc ) still to have that key, so it's left on there.

dan - u mean the windows key.. press windows key + break =)

there loads more shortcuts for it also

Answer 2

SysRq, SysReq or Sys Req (short for System Request) is a key on keyboards for PCs that has no standard use. This key can be traced back to the operator interrupt key used on IBM 3270-type console keyboards of the IBM System/370 mainframe computer, which was used to cause the operating system such as VM/370 or MVS to allow the console to give input to the operating system.

The Alt key on an IBM PC keyboard is the key located immediately to either side of the Space bar, used to change (alternate) the function of other pressed keys. Thus, the Alt key is a modifier key, used in a similar fashion to the Shift key. For example, simply pressing "A" will type the letter a, but if you hold down either Alt key while pressing A, the computer will perform an "Alt-A" function, which varies from program to program. In non-US keyboard layouts, rather than a second Alt key, there is an almost identical 'Alt Gr' key to the right of the space bar.

AltGr (Alternate Graphic) is a modifier key on PC keyboards used to type many characters, primarily ones that are unusual for the locale of the keyboard layout, such as foreign currency symbols and accented letters. If a key has a third symbol on it (on the front vertical face or the bottom right of the key top, sometimes in a different colour), then AltGr can often be used to type that character.

The scroll lock key is a remnant from the original IBM PC keyboard. In the original design, scroll lock was intended to modify the behavior of the arrow keys. When the scroll lock mode was on, the arrow keys would scroll the contents of a text window instead of moving the cursor. In this usage, scroll lock is a modifier key like Alt and Shift (which modify the function of other keys) and, more specifically, a toggling lock key like Num Lock or Caps Lock, which have a state that persists after the key is released. Today, this particular use of scroll lock is rare. Only a few modern programs still honor this behavior, such as Microsoft Excel (in the behavior of arrows — when scroll lock is on, the selection does not move), Lotus Notes and Forté Agent.

Answer 3

A key found on a computer keyboard often located close to the keyboard pause key. The scroll lock key is intended to temporarily stop the scrolling of text or halt the operation of a program. There are not many software programs today that take advantage or have a use for this key.


SysRq, SysReq or Sys Req (short for System Request) is a key on keyboards for PCs that has no standard use. This key can be traced back to the operator interrupt key used on IBM 3270-type console keyboards of the IBM System/370 mainframe computer, which was used to cause the operating system such as VM/370 or MVS to allow the console to give input to the operating system.

Answer 4

Little flag key throws up windows

Systreq was on older systems to get them out of hibernation, I think!

Answer 5

The Sys Rq key. when you push it, it makes a copy of the web broswer, or desktop, or what ever is shown on your computer screen. to see the copy, press Sys Rq and then open the paint program and then click edit and then paste. the broswer should appear.

Answer 6

ive always wunderd wot the SysRq button dus lol

Answer 7

What does the little flag like button to the left of ALT do?

Answer 8

They are mostly used by programers, or users of older systems that run mainframe or AS/400 type stuff.

Answer 9

You got me there. Just imagine how many functions of your TV remote or digital camera you don't use or any other electronic devide. They are programmed in there, but many are never used.

Answer 10

i have no clue what it does.

i have tried to use every key on my keypad with with many of them doing nothing.

but i think it depends on which programme you are using for certain ones to work.