How to enable overwrite-mode using Insert key?

[grofaty]

Hi,
on Windows XP I have a strange problem with keyboard on notebook. There are the keys "Insert/Print Screen" and "Delete/Sys Rc". I can see I can access "Print Screen" functionality using <fn> key, but how do I use Insert functionality? I have found out that pressing Delete button deletes letters, but pressing Insert does not change from normal insert-mode to overwrite-mode. Is there some settings in Windows or something? How to enable overwrite-mode using Insert key?
Thanks

 

[DrB0b]

From all Ive noticed, you can do all the hotkey combos in Word and higher. Notepad on the other hand will allow you to do the "Home" "End" "Del" hotkeys with "ctrl" + corresponding number on number pad however "insert" will simply not work in Notepad for that function, at least that's what my experience/research has shown.
Sorry

 

[linney]

Application usage

Modern word processing applications, such as Microsoft Word, operate in insert mode by default, but can still be switched to overtype mode by pressing the Insert key. However, the cursor generally does not change into the letter-surrounding box seen on old text-based systems. Instead, an "OVR" indicator on the status bar is highlighted. Unfortunately, this is difficult to notice, which can mean the user only realizes Word is in overtype mode when the old text is erased in favor of the attempted correction. However, OpenOffice.org and some text editors retain the original cursor change in addition to the indicator."


Insert key

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insert_key

http://www.google.com.au/search?q=e...&ie=&oe=&redir_esc=&ei=PQvcTeCPG4bwvwOm242wDw

 

[grofaty]

No, you get me wrong. I have tried several programs Word, Notepad etc, but Insert-mode is working fine, when pressing Insert key and expecting to get overwrite-mode it does not happen. Yes, I have typed some text and it ALWAYS get inserted instead of overwrite. It looks like pressing Insert key doesn't do anything. I have tried this on several computers and Insert key does switch between insert and overwrite mode. This is the only notebook I have ever seen that Insert mode does not switch between insert/overwrite mode.

Any idea what could be wrong?

 

[linney]

Do you have another Keyboard that you can test with? Perhaps you could try the "Insert" key on the available On Screen Keyboard (OSK.exe in Start Run) ans see what happens.

Maybe there is a Bios update that is available that you could try too.

Does the manufacturer have any thoughts on the matter?

 

[grofaty]

This is my friends notebook, so I don't have access to it right now. But he has reported to me that Insert key was working fine without any problem, but now it just stopped working and he does not know what has done if at all is his fault.

I am just wondering how should I test if this is hardware problem or some bios problem or some Windows problem...

 

[BadBigBen]

to test if it is OS or hardware related, try this...

Windows key + U

the onscreen keyboard should now popup...

now in a notepad etc. type some one-liner, e.g. The quick brown fox, now copy the whole line (right-click copy]...

then several lines down (return several times), from the OSK click the shift button then click on the ins button...

that "quick brown fox" line should now have inserted itself on the new line...

if it does not, then it is an OS problem...

if it did, then it is a keyboard/hardware problem...

Ben
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