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General discussion

misbehaving fingers; misbehaving computer

Nov 22, 2004 11:38PM PST

My fingers often go places I don't send them, hitting keys I don't want them to, or hitting two keys at the same time. And often whatever I am typing is lost, as was my first attempt at composing this post. I don't suppose there is any way I can get my computer to quit mistaking hitting the wrong keys for hitting the X Close button, is there? I better post this before it happens again. grandpaw

Discussion is locked

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Re: misbehaving fingers; misbehaving computer
Nov 23, 2004 12:43AM PST

Grandpa,

You are not alone and there is no method that I know of which stops users from making typing mistakes. It doesn't matter how good or nimble we are at typing, we all goof once in a while. If you really want to go slow and use an Accessibility aid, (I don't think you're this bad though) you can click on Start-All Programs-Accessories-Accessibility-On Screen Keyboard. Most Windows XP machines have this option installed but it takes for ever to actually type something with your mouse. For most users with normal had usage, it's not worth the effort.

Hope this helps.

Grif

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Re: misbehaving fingers; misbehaving computer
Nov 23, 2004 6:26AM PST

For now, I'll continue to count myself as a normal user. grandpaw

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Re: misbehaving fingers; misbehaving computer
Nov 23, 2004 4:16AM PST
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Re: misbehaving fingers; misbehaving computer
Nov 23, 2004 6:28AM PST

Thanks, glb, that bears looking into, though my mind is trained to go thorugh my fingers more than my voice. gxrandpaw

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Re: misbehaving fingers; misbehaving computer
Nov 24, 2004 10:46AM PST

The most common accidental key hits that will actually close what you are doing are "ENTER", "TAB", "ESC" and the Window key which is in between Ctrl and Alt.

If this really is a major inconvenience for you, you could always put a little cardboard box over these keys. The cardboard should be just big enough to slide over the key to cover it and hard and high enough to stop accidental presses but not too hard or high as to prevent deliberate presses. It should also be loose enough so that removal and re-placement is easy.

If the shutouts are due to multiple key presses then the likelyhood is that you have some hotkeys set, remove these.

Hope this helps.

Cheers
Angela

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Thank you, Angela, but can you help more?
Nov 24, 2004 9:31PM PST

Angela, all of my unwanted closings are due to multiple key presses. Can you help me know how to deal with the hot keys solution? grandpaw

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Re: Thank you, Angela, but can you help more?
Nov 25, 2004 5:28AM PST

The hotkeys I was referring too are most common in applications such as Office. But may also be available in other applications.

For office, Click on TOOLS on your drop down menu bar, select CUSTOMIZE and select the OPTIONS tab. Click on the KEYBOARD... button at the bottom. For every command there are shortcut (or hotkey) combinations able to be set. If you have any set for close etc... remove them.

Look for something similar in other applications also.

I hope this helps but if it doesn't let me know I will ponder it some more.

Cheers
Angela

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Re: preventing multiple keypresses
Nov 25, 2004 7:42AM PST

Here is all you have to do...

Just take a new #2 pencil, that has not been sharpened yet, and hold that blunt end firmly between your teeth. Then, using no hands!! bob your head and use the exposed rubber eraser tip to type onto your keyboard. BINGO! no more multiple key presses.

Grin ROTFLMAO Grin

Then, when you are finally tired of all that tedious stick-typing you will be glad to get back to using your hands and the occasional mis-type, and maybe worry about something that really matters.

(Think about the paraplegics that have to type that way for real.)

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Now you tell me, Chuck,
Nov 25, 2004 9:01AM PST

I just finished sharpening all my pencils. My granddaughter said I could still do it with a sharpened pencil if I was careful, but, as I told her, rules are rules. Somebody told me it might help if I would take my gloves off before I typed. grandpaw

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Re: preventing multiple keypresses
Nov 25, 2004 9:07AM PST

That fix wouldn't work for me, my teeth are gone Plain