Windows XP and the Keyboard - Audio Notification of Caps Lock Keypress

SUMMARY: Have Windows notify you if you accidentally or intentionally press the Caps Lock, Num Lock, or Scroll Lock key.

If you are touch typing a large document and keeping your eyes focused on the document and not the keyboard nor computer screen, it is possible while reaching for the A key that you might accidentally press the Caps Lock key by mistake. aLTHOUGH mICROSOFT wORD CAN HELP PROTECT YOU FROM THIS PROBLEM, OTHER PROGRAMS SUCH AS nOTEPAD DO NOT HAVE SUCH INTELLIGENCE BUILT-IN, CAUSING YOUR TYPING TO LOOK LIKE THIS.

Windows has a feature called ToggleKeys that can play a quick audio alert whenever you accidentally, or intentionally, press one of the "Lock" keys - Caps Lock, Num Lock, or Scroll Lock. To enable this feature:

1. Click the "Start" button, selecting "Settings" - "Control Panel".

2. If you are in the Control Panel's Category View, click "Accessibility Options". Otherwise you'll need to double-click that icon.

3. The Accessibility Options dialog box appears. Check "Use ToggleKeys".

4. Click "OK" to close the dialog box, and then close the Control Panel window.

Note that instead of going through the above steps, by default you can hold down the Num Lock key for five seconds to enable this feature.

If you would like to turn off the Num Lock shortcut:

1. Repeat steps 1-2 above.

2. Next to "ToggleKeys", click the "Settings" button

3. When the "Settings for ToggleKeys" dialog box appears, uncheck "Use shortcut".

4. Click "OK" on the dialog boxes to close them, and then close the Control Panel window.

Press the "print" button on your browser or select "File" - "Print" to print this tip. Then, return to Windows XP and the Keyboard - Audio Notification of Caps Lock Keypress