On-Screen Keyboard

Use the On-Screen Keyboard

An on-screen keyboard is built into Windows XP. It can be useful if you have mobility impairments, if you are using a tablet PC, or if your keyboard breaks down unexpectedly.

To access the on-screen keyboard:

• Go to Start, then click Run, and then type osk.

Now the keyboard opens on your computer screen, featuring three typing modes you can use to type data:

• Clicking mode, where you click the on-screen keys.
• Scanning mode, where you press a hot key or use a switch-input device to type highlighted characters.
• Hovering mode, where you use a mouse or joystick to point to a key, which is then typed.

To make a shortcut icon on your desktop to the on-screen keyboard:

• Right-click the desktop and choose New, then Shortcut.
• Type osk, click next.
• Type a name for the shortcut, and then click Finish.

Use Ctrl+Alt+Del without Pushing All the Buttons for some people, pushing Ctrl, ALT and Delete (Ctrl+Alt+Del) at the same time can be an inconvenience, if not a complete impossibility. With Windows XP, there are two ways to get around this.

First option: Configure the system so that you do not need to press Ctrl+Alt+Del at all during logon (assuming you're not using the Welcome screen, in which case this key combo is not required).

• Open Control Panel then User Accounts.
• Navigate to the Advanced tab.
• Uncheck the require users to press Ctrl+Alt+Del checkbox under Secure Logon.

Second option: Configure XP's accessibility options so that "sticky keys" will be activated at the secure desktop: That way, you may "press" ALT, Ctrl, and DEL sequentially rather than simultaneously. You can turn that on via the Accessibility control panel. (Control Panel then Accessibility Options):

• Bring up the Accessibility Control panel and navigate to the Keyboard tab.
• Check Use Sticky keys.
• Navigate to the General Tab.
• Check Apply all settings to logon desktop.