- Using Control Panel
- Setting the Window Color
- Turning off Aero
- Setting the Desktop Background
- Setting the Screen Saver
- Setting the Desktop Theme
- Configuring the Monitor
- Configuring the Mouse
- Configuring the Keyboard
- Configuring Sound and Audio Devices
- Setting the Date and Time
- Localizing Your System
- Accommodating Disabled Users
- Using Speech Recognition
- Using Alternative Mouse Behavior
- Conserving Power
- Managing Fonts
- Managing Visual Effects and Performance
- Restoring the Old Windows Look
- Getting General System Information
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
Configuring the Keyboard
A standard keyboard should work after you plug it in, with no adjustments in software. You can use Control Panel's Keyboard utility to change some settings after installation.
To configure the keyboard:
Choose Start > Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Keyboard (Figure 4.26).
Figure 4.26 If you type rapidly, drag the Character Repeat sliders to the right to make your keyboard more responsive.
or
Choose Start, type keyboard in the Search box, and then select Keyboard in the results list.
On the Speed tab, update the following settings:
Repeat Delay controls the amount of time that elapses before a character begins to repeat when you hold down a key.
Repeat Rate adjusts how quickly a character repeats when you hold down a key.
Cursor Blink Rate controls the blink rate of the text cursor (insertion point). To stop the cursor from blinking, set the blink rate to None.
- Click OK (or Apply).
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TIPs
- Fancy keyboards from Microsoft, Logitech, Kensington, and other manufacturers come with their own driver software. Installing these drivers adds new options and can change some default keyboard settings. A cordless keyboard may add a tab that indicates remaining battery life, for example. Some drivers add their own Control Panel programs or Start-menu items.
- To choose an international keyboard layout, see "Localizing Your System" later in this chapter.
- To adjust the keyboard for mobility impairments, see "Accommodating Disabled Users" later in this chapter.
- The Hardware tab lists the keyboards attached to your computer (Figure 4.27).
Figure 4.27 Click Properties and then click Change Settings to access the same dialog box as the one in Device Manager.
- To access a keyboard's device driver, choose Start > Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Device Manager. If a security prompt appears, type an administrator password or confirm the action. In Device Manager, double-click Keyboards; then double-click the name of the keyboard (Figure 4.28).
Figure 4.28 Like all other peripherals, keyboards have device drivers that you may want to inspect or update from time to time. See "Managing Device Drivers" in Chapter 8.
- For general information about installing and configuring hardware, see Chapter 8.
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