- Hi, I use the buttons on the side of my mouse for push-to-talk in Mumble, and I don't want these to also be interpreted by Firefox as a back button.
- It lets you remap your Side Buttons to Windows style Back and Forward (just like Sensible Side Buttons - in fact I copied their code) or to Switching between Spaces. It also lets you remap the Scroll Wheel Button to some useful functions like Mission Control and it features a refined Smooth-Scrolling algorithm, which I think strikes a great.
For many people who spend a lot of hours on their computer, whether for casual use or business purposes, it’s a valuable and precious item which they can’t do without. That’s why it can be a little bit worrying when toddlers or young children get close to your computer, especially when you’re not 100% sure what they’re going to do when they’re near it. Most of them will be quite fascinated and want to play with the keyboard or move the mouse around.
I have a mouse that I bought from eBay and has two buttons on the side. For some reason, these keys don't do anything. In the modifier keys section of the keyboard settings, it called the mouse 'SiliconWin mouse', I changed all the keys to command and no command worked. Hi, I use the buttons on the side of my mouse for push-to-talk in Mumble, and I don't want these to also be interpreted by Firefox as a back button.
Children and pets are quite good at touching your computer when you don’t really want them to, and when they do could cause something untoward happening. One of the simplest ways of stopping that from happening is to lock down the machine so when a key or mouse button is pressed, nothing happens and your system is safe. Or if you want to show a video or movie on the screen it can’t be interrupted.
Here’s a selection of different ways you can lock the keyboard, mouse and even drives or power button from user interaction. These tools are also useful if you want to clean your keyboard and mouse without unplugging from a booted up Windows.
1. KeyFreezeKeyFreeze is a very simple tool to use, and all you have to do is install it and when it runs will show a window with a 5 second countdown timer. After the time runs down the window will fade out and then your keyboard and mouse will be locked. As it says in the dialog window, to get back to a usable keyboard and mouse simply press the standard Ctrl+Alt+Del combination and then press Escape or the Cancel button to return to the desktop. KeyFreeze has no options to configure and the only button you can press is to turn the lock on again. Works in Windows XP, Vista and 7.
Download KeyFreeze
2. ToddlerTrap
ToddlerTrap is a tiny and very basic tool to lock all keyboard actions and mouse clicks. Run it and you can interact with the programs window but can’t touch anything else. It does have a bit of a disadvantage though, because when you’re using it, the program’s window stays visible at all times. You have to drag it out of the way to stop anyone casually clicking on it because ToddlerTrap is exited and the keyboard and mouse become usable when you click on the X to close the program.
If anyone manages to do that by luck or knowing how to, your computer becomes vulnerable again. Holding down a chosen hotkey combination will temporarily allow keyboard or mouse clicks. ToddlerTrap is a simple portable executable programmed in AutoHotkey.
Download ToddlerTrap
3. Toddler Keys
Toddler Keys is quite a feature rich locking program because not only can it do what most other similar tools can do and lock the keyboard and restrict mouse usage, it can stop CD-ROM trays from opening and also disable the Power button (Windows XP only). Another interesting feature is you can add pictures and audio files via a media manager and every time a key is pressed during lock down, a new picture will be displayed and sound will be played. Useful to keep toddlers occupied without affecting Windows!
Individual functions can be toggled on or off via the tray icon context menu, and double clicking the icon will enable the lock. To exit the locked screen, just type the word QUIT which can be changed to your liking in the Options window. An autolocking timer can be setup to activate after a certain period of inactivity. Works on Windows XP to Windows 7.
Download Toddler Keys
4. Kid-Key-Lock
Kid-Key-Lock is a utility to partially or completely disable mouse button and keyboard key functions to lock down things to your liking. For instance you can lock only system key combinations, lock all keys except characters, space and enter, or everything on the keyboard. And for the mouse you can lock individual buttons, double clicks, the scroll wheel and even hide the mouse pointer (although the pointer seemed to stay visible in Windows 7). If you’re going to completely lock keyboard and mouse actions and make the program silent, be sure you know the password to show the setup screen again. Kid-Key-Lock works on Windows 2000 to Windows 7 and there are portable or ad supported installer versions available.
Download Kid-Key-Lock
12Next › View All You might also like:
6 Ways To Disable or Remap the Caps Lock Key On Your Keyboard5 Ways Restrict or Disable Mouse Right Click on the Desktop and in ProgramsDisable Remote Desktop Auto Lock Screen on Idle5 Free KVM Switch Tools to Share Keyboard and Mouse on Multiple Computers10 Ways to Browse the Internet and Use your Computer Without a Mouse or TouchPadhello, I have a plug-in mechanical keyboard and would like to lock my laptop keyboard so that I can place the external keyboard over the top of it, however if I use a keyboard lock programme it also freezes my external keyboard. any hints on how to lock only the computer keyboard? cheers
ReplyI made a free Chrome extension that allow your precious infant to touch the keyboard and learn sounds while you can browse the computer:
chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/efkbgchndofhepjnknffgiegmjihkepc/publish-accepted?hl=en
ReplyI like to video chat on my laptop with my family out of state but my toddlers like to press the keyboard and exit out of everything. Do any of these apps allow a video chat to take place and lock the keyboard at the same time?
ReplyI need one that will let my son watch youtube videos while locking the keyboard mouse AND power button! which one would be the best cause i tried key freeze and it doesnt lock the power button
ReplyHi! you can set the power button to not do anything on windows.. however if you hold down the power button it will force the computer off.. I believe that holding the button down can not be deactivated.
Replythanks a lot for the information just what i was looking for (toddler keys) works perfectly
ReplyThanks for this advice! I am going on a camping trip this weekend and would like my 13 month old to be entertained by movies on my laptop and this will perfect for her to get her mind off wondering to all other campsites.
Replywhich option did you use so toddler can still watch movie on lap top
ReplyThanks, thanks this programs are helpful for me
Replywow I was looking for something like this for a long time…
ReplyCool… As informative and relevant as ever…
ReplyLocking the computer is more commonly known as “keep the kids away from the bad sites.”
ReplyGreat……..
Replyvery nice i tried it with my grandpa.
thanks dude.
Man … its like you were reading my mind
I always wondered if such programs existed
its very helpful for people with children living around
Thanks
Great tools to keep pesky little hands at bay. I really love the look of “Child Proof”
ReplyCool! I try it with my child ;D
ReplyThanks for the cool tip.
ReplyThanks for another great post! I think I’ll give Toddler Keys a try. My toddlers are forever pushing buttons as soon as I leave the room…especially the power button.
ReplyWell, i use Transparent Screen Locker its fast and efficient and the professional version has many options to play around.
Replynice… i like the child proof app… my 2 1/2 year old likes to play on my machine from time to time… this will be a good way to keep her from messing anything up… and when she gets older, allow specific games to be played…
Thanks, Ray!
ReplyThanks Ray
This will work nicely for me, with my 2 little ones and their friends.
ReplyLeave a Reply
Mouse Cursor Disappeared/Missing On Windows 10. How To Easily Fix It?
In computing, a mouse cursor or a pointer is a symbol or graphical image on the computer monitor or other display device that reflects movements of the pointing device, commonly a mouse or a touchpad, as part of a personal computer windows, icons, menus and pointer style of interaction. It signals the point where actions of the user take place.
Physically moving the mouse moves the graphic pointer (also referred to as the cursor) on the screen. The pointer has a variety of shapes to indicate its current behaviour.
It can be used in text-based or graphical user interfaces to select and move other elements. It is distinct from the cursor, which responds to keyboard input. The cursor may also be repositioned using the pointer.
If you are reading this then you probably have recently upgraded to Windows 10 and your mouse cursor might have disappeared. If that is the case then you are at the right place. There could be various reasons why the mouse cursor disappeared on Windows 10. It could be outdated or incompatible drivers, or the mouse cursor might have got disabled and that is why you are not able to see it.
Good news is that it is not that difficult to solve this issue with the mouse cursor gone missing. A working keyboard is necessary though, since fixing this problem requires using it and its keys to navigate through your Windows. If your keyboard is functioning perfectly normal, then we are good to go. In this guide we are going to show you how you can get your mouse cursor back using your keyboard. We are going to show you several methods and hopefully trying them out one by one will finally solve this issue.
NOTE: In this guide we are going to show you how to navigate through your Windows operating system using only your keyboard. To exit opened applications or windows use the Alt + F4 combination.
Table of Contents:
It is recommended to run a free scan with Malwarebytes - a tool to detect malware and fix computer errors. You will need to purchase the full version to remove infections and eliminate computer errors. Free trial available.
Enable Your Mouse Using Function Keys
We will start with this one. Maybe your mouse was accidentally disabled using your keyboard. A function key is a key on a computer or terminal keyboard which can be programmed so as to cause an operating system command interpreter or application program to perform certain actions. Those function keys are the keys from F1 to F12 on your keyboard. Some F1-F12 keys include additional functionality when used in combination with the Fn key, which is usually located near Ctrl. You are going to need to use both F(x) and Fn keys for this one. Try out these keyboard combinations provided below to see if this helps you to make your mouse cursor visible again:
Fn + F3
Fn + F9
Fn + F7
Fn + F5
Fn + F8
Fn + F11
Check If Your Mouse Is Enabled
Now we are going to access Control Panel tools by typing a command in Run dialog box. command prompt. The Run command is used to directly open an application or document whose path is known. It functions more or less like a single-line command line interface. To open the Run box or the Open box press Windows (Win) key + R on your keyboard, then type 'main.cpl' and press Enter on your keyboard to open Windows Mouse properties.
Now you will need to use Tab and arrow keys on your keyboard to navigate through the Mouse Properties window. The Tab key on a keyboard is used to advance the cursor to the next tab stop and usually it is positioned above the 'Caps Lock' key.
Press the Tab key until the 'Buttons' tab is selected/highlighted. Then press right arrow key to open 'Device Settings' window. Device Settings is just one possible name of the tab where you can change your mouse settings. If your pointing device is disabled, then press Tab key on your keyboard until the 'Enable' button is selected. Press Enter to enable your mouse if it was disabled. See if this solved the issue with your mouse cursor gone missing.
Update Your Mouse Driver
A device driver is software that provides information to the operating system and other software about how to interact with certain hardware. It is rather like a translator between software and hardware, since they often are created by different manufacturers, companies, or individuals. The driver allows software and hardware to communicate smoothly. In most cases, computers are not be able to send and receive data correctly without drivers. If the appropriate driver is not installed, the device might not function properly, if at all. A faulty driver might need updating or a reinstall. Faulty/outdated mouse driver can be the cause of your mouse cursor's disappearance. If updating your mouse driver does not fix the problem, then you might want to try to roll back your mouse driver as well. First, press Windows (Win) key + R to open the Run box and then type 'devmgmt.msc', press Enter on your keyboard to open Device Manager.
Now click the Tab key once and it will highlight your computer name on the list of the devices. Use down arrow key to select 'Mice and other pointing devices' and then press right arrow key to expand this section. Select your mouse using down arrow key and press Enter on your keyboard to open its properties window.
Now keep pressing the Tab key until the 'General' tab is selected/highlighted and then press the right arrow key to select the 'Driver' tab. Now press the Tab key until 'Update Driver' option is selected and press Enter.
Press Tab key to select the 'Search automatically for updated driver software' and Windows will search your computer and the Internet for the latest driver software for your device.
If updating your mouse driver does not help then repeat the steps until the point where you selected 'Update Driver', select 'Roll Back Driver' instead and press Enter on your keyboard, follow the instructions. It will roll back to the previously installed driver.
Run Windows Troubleshooter
Windows includes a number of troubleshooters designed to quickly diagnose and automatically resolve various computer problems. Troubleshooters cannot fix all problem, but they are a good place to start if you encounter a problem with your computer or operating system. To start troubleshooting press the Windows (win) key on your keyboard ands then type 'troubleshoot', press Enter to open the selected 'Troubleshoot' result.
You will be directed to 'Troubleshoot' section on the left pane. Keep pressing the Tab key until you are able to choose one of the options under 'Find and fix other problems'. Use down arrow key to select 'Hardware and Devices' and press Enter. Then press Tab key to select 'Run the troubleshooter' and then press Enter again. It will start troubleshooting your hardware and devices, follow the instructions to complete the troubleshooting. If this does not fix the problem with your missing mouse cursor, try to unplug your mouse and then to plug it back in.
Run The SFC Scan
System File Checker (SFC) is a utility in Windows that allows users to scan for corruptions in Windows system files and restore corrupted files. This guide describes how to run the System File Checker tool (SFC.exe) to scan your system files and to repair missing or corrupted system files (including .DLL files). If a Windows Resource Protection (WRP) file is missing or is corrupted, Windows may not behave as expected. For example, some Windows functions may not work, or Windows may crash. The 'sfc scannow' option is one of the several specific switches available in the sfc command, the Command Prompt command used to run System File Checker. To run it you need to open Command Propmt first. To open it using keyboard keys, press the Windows (Win) key on your keyboard and then type 'command prompt'. The Command Prompt result should be selected, if not, then select it using arrow keys (up and down) and then press Control + Shift + Enter to run Command Prompt as administrator.
You will be asked if you want to allow this app to make changes to your device. Select 'Yes' using the left arrow key on your keyboard.
In opened Command Prompt window type 'sfc /scannow' and press Enter on your keyboard to execute this command. System File Checker will start and it should take some time to complete the scan. It should take about 15 minutes. Wait for the scanning process to complete and restart your computer to see if you are still having issues with your mouse cursor.
Update Your Windows Operating System
Another thing you might want to try is to update your current version of Windows. Checking for updates for the whole Windows operating system might help. Press Windows (Win) key on your keyboard and then type 'check for updates'. Check for updates option should be selected as the primary, if not, then use your arrow keys to select it and press Enter.
You should be automatically directed to Windows Update section on the left pane and the 'Check for updates' button should be already selected as well (if not, then select it using the Tab key). Simply press Enter to start checking for updates. If there are updates available then install them and try checking for updates again, just to make sure that you have the latest updates on your operating system. After the updates are installed (if there were any to install) see if you are still having the issues with your mouse cursor.
Unplug All Peripherals Connected To Your Computer
This might provide a solution, since peripherals can create driver conflicts between different hardware. Unplug any connected peripheral such as USB drive (or drives), external hard drive, SSD (Solid-state drive), etc. Then turn off your computer and turn it on again. Connect your mouse to your computer and see if this solves the problem with your mouse cursor gone missing. If your mouse cursor appears and starts working normally, then connect other peripherals one by one. If you start facing problems again, then you will know what is the culprit of this issue.
Perform Full System Scan
Malware might cause various issues on your computer, including mouse problems. Perform a full system scan and see if it detects any malware on your computer. You can use Windows Defender (a built-in antivirus program), which protects computers against viruses, spyware, and other malicious software. Alternatively, try other third-party antivirus software. To run a full system scan using Windows Defender press Windows (Win) key and type 'full scan', press Enter to open selected 'Virus & threat protection' option.
Using Tab or arrow keys select 'Advanced scan' option and once it is highlighted, press Enter.
Now you need to select 'Scan now' using the Tab key, keep pressing it until the Scan now button is selected and press Enter on your keyboard. 'Full scan' option should be selected by default. If not, then select this particular scan using Tab key and then press the Space bar. Then navigate to scan now button and using Tab key and press Enter.
Remove Temporary Files And Folders Using Disk Cleanup
The simplest and quickest way to delete temporary files and folders from your Windows is to use Disk Cleanup. Disk Cleanup is used to reduce the number of unnecessary files on your drives, which can help your PC run faster. It deletes temporary files and system files, empties the Recycle Bin, and removes a variety of other items that you might no longer need. These junk files may affect your computer’s speed, causing apps to respond slowly and can even prevent them from launching. These files could cause issues with with your mouse cursor. To run Disk Cleanup press Windows (Win) key and type 'disk cleanup'. 'Disk Cleanup' result should be selected by default, press Enter to launch it.
Use arrow keys to navigate through the list and press Space bar to mark the checkbox. When you finished selecting what files to delete, press Tab key to select 'Clean up system files' and press Enter to start cleaning your computer.
Restore Your System Using Restore Point
System Restore tool creates restore points. A restore point is a collection of important system files stored by System Restore on a given date and time. System Restore reverts everything to a saved restore point, but first, you must have one recorded. If a restore point does not exist on your computer, System Restore has nothing to revert to. To use this tool, you must have created restore points. With a created restore point this feature will bring your system back to the previous working state, without affecting your files and data.
This solution is kind of a last resort, but if you have any system restore points that were created before you started experiencing this missing mouse cursor issue, you may be able to fix it by performing a System Restore. To restore your system you will need to launch Run box, to start it press Windows Key + R and type 'rstrui.exe' in Run dialog box, press Enter on your keyboard.
Select 'Next' using the Tab key on your keyboard and press Enter.
Mouse Button 4 Back Disabled Phone
If there are restore points created then you will see a list of restore points. Mark the 'Show more restore points' checkbox by selecting it using Tab key and then checking the checkbox by pressing Space bar on your keyboard. It should display more restore points. Select the restore point which suits you the best by using Tab and arrow keys (depending on the time created etc.) and then select 'Next', press Enter. Do not select a Restore Point where your volume icon was already gone, you certainly don’t want to get back to that.
Now you will have to confirm your restore point. Your computer will be restored to the state it was in before the event in the 'Description' field. If you are good with your choice, select 'Finish' using the Tab key on your keyboard and press Enter. System restore process will begin.
Mouse Button 4 Back Disabled Iphone
That's it, we hope that at least one of the provided solutions helped you to fix the problem with your mouse cursor gone missing and you were able to get your cursor back. We will appreciate that if you find more workarounds on Windows 10 to fix the missing mouse cursor problem and share them with us in the comment section below.