Permanently deactivate Caps Lock: Here's how

You can permanently deactivate Capslock (the caps lock key on your keyboard). We'll show you how.

Disable Caps Lock by reassigning

You know that for sure: briefly touches the Caps Lock key and the rest of the text looks like this: With the help of a small entry in the registry, you can assign the Capslock key to the Shift command:

1. Create a new text file by right-clicking in a Windows folder and selecting "New" -> "Text document".
2. Open the empty file and copy the text mentioned in point 3 into it:
3. Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SYSTEM \ CurrentControlSet \ Control \ Keyboard Layout] "Scancode Map" = hex: 00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.02.00.00.00.2a, 00, 3a, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00
4. Save this file and rename it to "capslock_to_shift.reg".
5. Run the file with a double click. You may have to confirm that the program is making changes to your computer.
6. Restart your computer. The Caps Lock key is now assigned the Shift function and is therefore the same as the Shift key.
7. To undo the change, create a "capslock_reactivate.reg" file with the following content in the same way:
8. [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SYSTEM \ CurrentControlSet \ Control \ Keyboard Layout] "Scancode Map" = -

Disable Caps Lock completely

Remapping the Caps Lock key doesn't always work. Errors occur occasionally, especially under Windows 7. How to completely shut down the Caps-Lock button:

1. Create a text file as described above and insert the text under point 2:
2. Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SYSTEM \ CurrentControlSet \ Control \ Keyboard Layout] "Scancode Map" = hex: 00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.02.00.00.00.00, 00, 3a, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00
3. Save it as a BAT file as described above, run it and restart your PC.
4. The Capslock key is now permanently switched off. To undo the action, use the same code as in point 8 above.

You can make further changes in the registry using the CCleaner. However, you have to be careful here. The registry contains fundamental settings, the change of which can seriously damage your system.

You can find out how to activate the number pad permanently in the next practical tip.