Cat walked on the keyboard again

[Ruby the Liberal]

Normally I can figure these out. Last time, it was get up for tea, come back and my screen is 800x600, on a 90 degree angle and with CAPS LOCK engaged. Quick google on keyboard shortcuts (Ctrl-alt-arrow) and it all comes back.

This one is making me nuts though. Brower tabs weren't working (every link threw open a new window) and Enter has been reassigned. I gave up on the browser and just reinstalled it, but can't find what shortcut changed the behaviour of Enter.

If I hit Enter alone to make a hard return, it launches the Dell Power Center where you control the battery and corded connection settings (go dark after x minutes). In order to make a hard return, I have to hold Shift then Enter.

I'm probably just going to reboot, but if anyone knows what random key combinations turns this useless feature on and off, I would be eternally grateful as it is driving me bats.

[Major Hogwash]

1. My cat only screwed up my computer one time.

I caught him looking at kittyporn.
So, I blocked all those sites.



I can't help you with your problem, or I would, Ruby.

[Ruby the Liberal]

2. LOL!

Yanno - that would be a great idea. I could set my away screen to Animal Planet or kitty pron, and maybe she would just sit there and watch rather than trying to nest.

I'm sure you know that feeling. You get up and all of a sudden you hear those keyboard beeps that tells you functionality just changed and look back to see kitteh doing the maramba on the keyboard while the video display starts going wack and system function dialogue boxes start popping up all over the place.

My mom once called me 'needing a new computer' over the 90 degree display thing, so I have at least memorized the ctrl-alt-arrow fix. Thats a helpful one in trying to google up the others where you aren't balancing your laptop like a tripod on its side to try to navigate to them.

[Mnpaul]

3. Does your laptop have a lockable Fn key?

Something to do with the function key?

[Ruby the Liberal]

5. That would be an excellent question.

Which I am going to Dell's support site to find out. Short of locking it down and password protecting it, this might be the key to preventing it. Thanks!

[Ruby the Liberal]

8. No, it doesn't.

The only thing Dell provides are locks for the Fn key behaviors (actually, what triggers which action, not on/off), NumLock (on keyboards so equipped) and a toggle for the touchpad (on/off).

I will just have to remember to close it when I walk off during times she is up and about.

Thanks though - that would have been a really cool thing to have. Was worth looking into.

[applegrove]

4. My cat kept doing that. Even posted a 'message' on the DU one time. Always messed

with my format when he walked over the keys. I'd just press F11 and all would be back to normal. Now that he is gone, I miss that cat walking on my keyboard.

[Ruby the Liberal]

6. Aw, sorry to hear your buddy is gone.

I hope you treasure that message as one of the best ever posted on your account.

Thanks for the heads up on F11. Is that like an 'undo' function for PCs?

[applegrove]

7. Thanks. F11 is just a key that makes your 'window' size to your screen, or the opposite. It seemed

that Monster was forever stepping on that key.