No 98SE Shortcut Keys

That is called a "hot key", a "shortcut key" or an "accelerator key". I
have a book that says...

(1) "If you later want to remove the key combination, click in the
Shortcut key field, press Backspace & click OK."
(2) The only other information I have for you is, p. 289, "If you have
just created a shortcut, you have to restart Windows to have the hot key
take effect."

http://search.support.microsoft.com/...SD=GN&LN=EN-US MSKB
Search "Shortcut key"; Windows 98; Full Text; Exact Phrase; does come up
with many, including...

http://support.microsoft.com/default...04&Product=w98
Desktop Shortcut Key Cannot Be Reassigned if Shortcut Is Deleted
(192804) - When you try to assign a shortcut key combination used by
another desktop shortcut on your Microsoft Windows 98-based computer or
Microsoft Windows 95-based computer with Internet Explorer 4.0 or 4.01
installed, you may be unable to do so. This may...

http://support.microsoft.com/default...52&Product=w98
Shortcut Key for Shortcut Does Not Work
(134552) - You are unable to run a shortcut by pressing its shortcut
key.

http://support.microsoft.com/default...80&Product=w98
Shortcut Key Starts No Program or the Wrong Program
(237380) - When you use a shortcut key to start a program, the wrong
program may start or no program may start.

http://support.microsoft.com/default...17&Product=w98
The Shortcut Key Is Unavailable After Office 2000 Setup
(229117) - After you run Microsoft Office 2000 Setup, the option to set
a shortcut key may be unavailable.

http://support.microsoft.com/default...64&Product=w98
Desktop Shortcut Keys to MS-DOS-Based Program May Not Work
(193264) - When you try to use a shortcut key combination assigned to
any desktop shortcut for an MS-DOS-based program, the shortcut key
combination may not function (nothing happens).


--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
should things get worse after this,
PCR

"Kentiguous" wrote in message
...
| I'm having problems trying to get 'shortcut keys' to work, in Win98SE.
| Sometimes, (only, sometimes) I can get them to work, intermittently,
| when set-up in a Start Menu item, but, after a reboot, they'll always
| fail. Does anyone have a solution for this most vexing problem?
|
| Ken
|
| --
| Remove the '4' to reply via email
|
|
|

You are welcome. I did once, but no longer DO fool with shortcut keys.
You mustn't set one to a combination that may be used by an open app, &
who knows what those are? Also, if it's a DOS app involved, you must go
figure which boxes to check at the "Misc" tab of it's Properties. Keep
us informed.


--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
should things get worse after this,
PCR

"Kentiguous" wrote in message
...
| PCR wrote :
| That is called a "hot key", a "shortcut key" or an "accelerator key".
I
| have a book that says...
|
| (1) "If you later want to remove the key combination, click in the
| Shortcut key field, press Backspace & click OK."
|
| I was aware of this.
|
| (2) The only other information I have for you is, p. 289, "If you
have
| just created a shortcut, you have to restart Windows to have the hot
| key take effect."
|
| I seem to be having the opposite problem here, newly-created shortcuts
| will work, (once in a while) but, after a reboot, even they'll stop
| working.
|
| http://search.support.microsoft.com/...SD=GN&LN=EN-US MSKB
| Search "Shortcut key"; Windows 98; Full Text; Exact Phrase; does come
| up with many, including...
|
| Thanks for the search link, PCR; after I work through the links you
| kindly provided, below, if I still haven't found a solution, I'll try
my
| own search.
|
| Ken
|
| --
| Remove the '4' to reply via email
|
|
|
|
http://support.microsoft.com/default...92804&Product=
| w98
| Desktop Shortcut Key Cannot Be Reassigned if Shortcut Is Deleted
| (192804) - When you try to assign a shortcut key combination used by
| another desktop shortcut on your Microsoft Windows 98-based computer
or
| Microsoft Windows 95-based computer with Internet Explorer 4.0 or
4.01
| installed, you may be unable to do so. This may...
|
|
http://support.microsoft.com/default...34552&Product=
| w98
| Shortcut Key for Shortcut Does Not Work
| (134552) - You are unable to run a shortcut by pressing its shortcut
| key.
|
|
http://support.microsoft.com/default...37380&Product=
| w98
| Shortcut Key Starts No Program or the Wrong Program
| (237380) - When you use a shortcut key to start a program, the wrong
| program may start or no program may start.
|
|
http://support.microsoft.com/default...29117&Product=
| w98
| The Shortcut Key Is Unavailable After Office 2000 Setup
| (229117) - After you run Microsoft Office 2000 Setup, the option to
set
|
| a shortcut key may be unavailable.
|
|
http://support.microsoft.com/default...93264&Product=
| w98
| Desktop Shortcut Keys to MS-DOS-Based Program May Not Work
| (193264) - When you try to use a shortcut key combination assigned to
| any desktop shortcut for an MS-DOS-based program, the shortcut key
| combination may not function (nothing happens).
|
|
| --
| Thanks or Good Luck,
| There may be humor in this post, and,
| Naturally, you will not sue,
| should things get worse after this,
| PCR
|
| "Kentiguous" wrote in message
| ...
| | I'm having problems trying to get 'shortcut keys' to work, in
| Win98SE.
| | Sometimes, (only, sometimes) I can get them to work,
intermittently,
| | when set-up in a Start Menu item, but, after a reboot, they'll
always
| | fail. Does anyone have a solution for this most vexing problem?
| |
| | Ken
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

On Fri, 14 Jan 2005 08:00:55 -0600, "Kentiguous"
PCR wrote :

I found the cause! It was my use of the following:

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile]
"IsNotShortcut"=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\piffile]
"IsNotShortcut"=""

to get rid of the "arrows" in my desktop links.

Very bad idea - this was the first "hide shortcut arrows" approach
that was used, and was rapidly abandoned when a variety of issues
arose. These included problems with navigating shortcuts in File
SaveAs dialogs, shortcuts to shortcuts, Properties, etc. The scope is
too wide; the setting affects a LOT more than icon bitmaps!

But, for some reason, I can't use 'Ctrl+Alt+V' as a hotkey combination (?).

If you set a hotkey, then delete the shortcut that defined that
hotkey, the hotkey typically remains unavailable for re-use. Also,
shortcuts may have to be in certain "special" locations (Start Menu,
Desktop) for the hotkeys defined within them to apply.

I've been using the above hack with Win95 (4.00.950) for years, and it's
never affected shortcut keys, in that OS. Go figure.

That you've noticed until now, that is.

Does anyone know of a 'safe' way to get rid of the "arrows", in Win98SE?

Yes; TweakUI now uses different overlays so that when shortcuttedness
causes these to be painted over the base icon, there's either no arrow
at all, or a faint one, or the original. However, a critical security
patch changed Shell32.dll so this no longer works either.

This could even be design, if you consider:
- a .pif file never shows extension
- a .pif can set any icon for itself
- raw code in a .pif file runs as it it was .exe

So I'd be as slow to hide those arrows, as I'd be to hide file name
extensions. Those arrows are your ownly way of knowing that the
ReadMe.DOC you are about to click isn't actually ReadMe.DOC.pif



---------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - - -
Cats have 9 lives, which makes them
ideal for experimentation!
---------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - - -

Glad you have found the cure. Absolutely, the two keys you mention do
need to have IsShortcut="" inside. That is how mine reads.

Seems reasonable that IsShortcut could be involved, though this is the
first I've heard such for missing arrows. I see cquirke did know, & I
must second his warnings against hiding arrows at all, any way. There
are times one needs to know whether one is dealing with a shortcut or
no. For one thing, I'd much prefer to accidentally delete a shortcut
than an actual app! Also, the rules for Copy/Move are different for the
two.

As to why Ctrl+Alt+V won't work, it may be as cquirke said, that you
need to delete the shortcut that once owned it, if removing the key
combo in the normal way did not work. I don't know-- it may also be that
combo belongs to something else. That's why I don't fool with shortcut
keys any more.


--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
should things get worse after this,
PCR

"Kentiguous" wrote in message
...
| PCR wrote :
| You are welcome. I did once, but no longer DO fool with shortcut
keys.
| You mustn't set one to a combination that may be used by an open app,
&
| who knows what those are? Also, if it's a DOS app involved, you must
go
| figure which boxes to check at the "Misc" tab of it's Properties.
Keep
| us informed.
|
| I found the cause! It was my use of the following:
|
| [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile]
| "IsNotShortcut"=""
|
| and
|
| [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\piffile]
| "IsNotShortcut"=""
|
| to get rid of the "arrows" in my desktop links. I renamed them back to
| "IsShortcut", and, voila, instant shortcut keys! But, for some reason,
I
| can't use 'Ctrl+Alt+V' as a hotkey combination (?).
|
| I've been using the above hack with Win95 (4.00.950) for years, and
it's
| never affected shortcut keys, in that OS. Go figure.
|
| Does anyone know of a 'safe' way to get rid of the "arrows", in
Win98SE?
|
| Ken
|
|
| --
| Remove the '4' to reply via email
|
| --
| Thanks or Good Luck,
| There may be humor in this post, and,
| Naturally, you will not sue,
| should things get worse after this,
| PCR
|
| "Kentiguous" wrote in message
| ...
| | PCR wrote :
| | That is called a "hot key", a "shortcut key" or an "accelerator
| key".
| I
| | have a book that says...
| |
| | (1) "If you later want to remove the key combination, click in the
| | Shortcut key field, press Backspace & click OK."
| |
| | I was aware of this.
| |
| | (2) The only other information I have for you is, p. 289, "If you
| have
| | just created a shortcut, you have to restart Windows to have the
hot
| | key take effect."
| |
| | I seem to be having the opposite problem here, newly-created
| shortcuts
| | will work, (once in a while) but, after a reboot, even they'll stop
| | working.
| |
| | http://search.support.microsoft.com/...SD=GN&LN=EN-US
| MSKB
| | Search "Shortcut key"; Windows 98; Full Text; Exact Phrase; does
| come
| | up with many, including...
| |
| | Thanks for the search link, PCR; after I work through the links you
| | kindly provided, below, if I still haven't found a solution, I'll
try
| my
| | own search.
| |
| | Ken
| |
| | --
| | Remove the '4' to reply via email
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
http://support.microsoft.com/default...192804&Product
| =
| | w98
| | Desktop Shortcut Key Cannot Be Reassigned if Shortcut Is Deleted
| | (192804) - When you try to assign a shortcut key combination used
by
| | another desktop shortcut on your Microsoft Windows 98-based
computer
| or
| | Microsoft Windows 95-based computer with Internet Explorer 4.0 or
| 4.01
| | installed, you may be unable to do so. This may...
| |
| |
|
http://support.microsoft.com/default...134552&Product
| =
| | w98
| | Shortcut Key for Shortcut Does Not Work
| | (134552) - You are unable to run a shortcut by pressing its
shortcut
| | key.
| |
| |
|
http://support.microsoft.com/default...237380&Product
| =
| | w98
| | Shortcut Key Starts No Program or the Wrong Program
| | (237380) - When you use a shortcut key to start a program, the
wrong
| | program may start or no program may start.
| |
| |
|
http://support.microsoft.com/default...229117&Product
| =
| | w98
| | The Shortcut Key Is Unavailable After Office 2000 Setup
| | (229117) - After you run Microsoft Office 2000 Setup, the option
to
| set
| |
| | a shortcut key may be unavailable.
| |
| |
|
http://support.microsoft.com/default...193264&Product
| =
| | w98
| | Desktop Shortcut Keys to MS-DOS-Based Program May Not Work
| | (193264) - When you try to use a shortcut key combination assigned
| to
| | any desktop shortcut for an MS-DOS-based program, the shortcut key
| | combination may not function (nothing happens).
| |
| |
| | --
| | Thanks or Good Luck,
| | There may be humor in this post, and,
| | Naturally, you will not sue,
| | should things get worse after this,
| | PCR
| |
| | "Kentiguous" wrote in message
| | ...
| | | I'm having problems trying to get 'shortcut keys' to work, in
| | Win98SE.
| | | Sometimes, (only, sometimes) I can get them to work,
| intermittently,
| | | when set-up in a Start Menu item, but, after a reboot, they'll
| always
| | | fail. Does anyone have a solution for this most vexing problem?
| | |
| | | Ken
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
|
|
|

"Kentiguous" wrote in message
...
| PCR wrote :
| Glad you have found the cure. Absolutely, the two keys you mention do
| need to have IsShortcut="" inside. That is how mine reads.
|
| Seems reasonable that IsShortcut could be involved, though this is
the
| first I've heard such for missing arrows. I see cquirke did know, & I
| must second his warnings against hiding arrows at all, any way. There
| are times one needs to know whether one is dealing with a shortcut or
| no. For one thing, I'd much prefer to accidentally delete a shortcut
| than an actual app! Also, the rules for Copy/Move are different for
the
| two.
|
| Thanks for the additional info., PCR. Please see my reply to Chris for
| more on this.

OK. I see it was IsShortcut involved.

|
| As to why Ctrl+Alt+V won't work, it may be as cquirke said, that you
| need to delete the shortcut that once owned it, if removing the key
| combo in the normal way did not work. I don't know-- it may also be
| that
| combo belongs to something else. That's why I don't fool with
shortcut
| keys any more.
|
| Actually, I think it may have been my premature deletion of the .PIF
| (before resetting "Shortcut key" to "none") that may be the cause. Do
| you know of any way to 'clear' an 'invisible' shortcut key
combination?

I know nothing, really, at all about shortcut keys, with the possible
exception of what I've already said. Maybe the combination you propose
to use-- Ctrl+Alt+V-- is forbidden for some reason, unless, of cource,
you've actually used it before. In that case, it may well be as you have
suggested, that it has become "invisible". I certainly won't test the
scenario myself.

Well, ONE THING: "IsShortcut" does appear in more Registry keys than the
two you have already mentioned. Here are all 7 of my Registry keys that
contain it & it's Value. Make of it what you will. If you wish the an
entire key for any, make a formal request.

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ConferenceLink
IsShortcut "" String value NULL

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DocShortcut
IsShortcut "" String value NULL

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\InternetShortcut
IsShortcut "" String value NULL

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile
IsShortcut "" String value NULL

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\MicrosoftChatRoomShortcut
IsShortcut "" String value NULL

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\piffile
IsShortcut "" String value NULL

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WSHFile
IsShortcut "Yes" String value: Yes


|
| Ken
|
|
| --
| Remove the '4' to reply via email
|
|

--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
should things get worse after this,
PCR

On Wed, 19 Jan 2005 05:28:56 -0600, "Kentiguous"
cquirke (MVP Win9x) wrote :

If you set a hotkey, then delete the shortcut that defined that
hotkey, the hotkey typically remains unavailable for re-use.

It's quite possible that this is what I've done. Do you know of any way
to 'clear' the key combination?

ZD Net has a free utility called HotKey Detective, and that can list
the hotkeys you have defined. Because an orphaned hot key is such a
PITA, I haven't tried creating that context to test it in ;-)

Yes; TweakUI now uses different overlays so that when shortcuttedness
causes these to be painted over the base icon, there's either no arrow
at all, or a faint one, or the original. However, a critical security
patch changed Shell32.dll so this no longer works either.

Out of curiosity, do you know how TweakUI did the above? I did try the
'set value of key "29" to point to a blank icon file' method (as
outlined on various websites), but it had no effect, in Win 4.00.950.

I don't know the details; I got used to the arrows, and once aware of
the significance on malicious .pif, I now prefer them.

I think what happens is that if IsShortcut is set, then the shell
paints an overlay over the icon. I think the overlays are held in
Shell32.dll, or the logic that applies them is there.

TweakUI either points the shell to different overlay images (a blank
one for "no arrows") or changes the content of the overlays the shell
may be hardwired to use.

There was a security patch that broke TweakUI's arrow-hiding feature,
by updating Shell32.dll - either it cut the logic that used alternate
overlays, or it ripped out the extra overlays, or something.

This may be deliberate, given the safety significance of those arrows;
they are the only cue that you are looking at a shortcut file, given
that shortcut file extensions are set to NeverShowExt.

This could even be design, if you consider:
- a .pif file never shows extension
- a .pif can set any icon for itself
- raw code in a .pif file runs as it it was .exe

So I'd be as slow to hide those arrows, as I'd be to hide file name
extensions. Those arrows are your ownly way of knowing that the
ReadMe.DOC you are about to click isn't actually ReadMe.DOC.pif

For a _short_ while, I actually did hide the .PIF and .LNK extensions,
but, that hack didn't last very long. g

Hide, or reveal? NeverShowExt trumps AlwaysShowExt, so if you add
AlwaysShowExt via a .REG, it won't work.



---------- ----- ---- --- -- - - - -
Proverbs Unscrolled #31
"Mary and me on the beach.JPG .pif"
---------- ----- ---- --- -- - - - -

I see. You created one on the Desktop using that combo, & moved it to
where you wanted from there, per an earlier cquirke post. Really
glad/relieved to hear it. (I still won't fool with them myself, though.)


--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
should things get worse after this,
PCR

"Kentiguous" wrote in message
...
| PCR wrote :
| "Kentiguous" wrote in message
| ...
|
| | Actually, I think it may have been my premature deletion of the
..PIF
| | (before resetting "Shortcut key" to "none") that may be the cause.
Do
| | you know of any way to 'clear' an 'invisible' shortcut key
| combination?
|
| I know nothing, really, at all about shortcut keys, with the possible
| exception of what I've already said. Maybe the combination you
propose
| to use-- Ctrl+Alt+V-- is forbidden for some reason, unless, of
cource,
| you've actually used it before. In that case, it may well be as you
| have
| suggested, that it has become "invisible". I certainly won't test the
| scenario myself.
|
| Fixed! g Please see my reply to cquirke for details.
|
| Ken
|
| --
| Remove the '4' to reply via email
|
|
|
|