Face, normal keyboards are pretty straightforward (I occasionally clean mine - maybe every 12 months - which involves removing ALL of the keys and washing them).

Laptop keyboards normally use a completely different mechanism as many of them are also rigged to "lower" the keyboard into the computer base, when you close the screen. This is so the keys do not press against the screen when the laptop is closed.

Your laptop keyboard was probably assembled "outside" of your laptop and put in place with all the keys attached. Successfully replacing the keys while the keyboard base is installed is likely going to be a matter of luck rather than skill.

In the meantime - if you cannot get the keyboard repaired, and are fond of typing using all the letters of the alphabet.... many laptops also support using a standard PC type external keyboard, or even a USB keyboard.

So you kitten now has 8 lives left? (I decided against making any "mouse" jokes).

Bill

Just a quick update - I'm a pro now at copy and paste. Thanks again for the great step-by-step.

I never did find the thing in sillysot to prevent the desk refreshing, but I had a great time there. Then I stumbled upon an answer in the computer settings, looking for something else, where you could turn it off.

So I was pretty well set - Until the kitten I got for Xmas went nuts yesterday and tore off 9 of the keys on my laptop! Do you have any idea how to put them back on? It looks like there is an "x"-like platform that has to be lifted up to catch up under the actual key - so when you let it go the top widens under the tab and that is what holds it up (floating). I'm thinking there must be a tool that does the holding-up, because there's no room for fingers under them. Any experience with these?

Correction: The version from GOTD was not a trial version.

If you read the conditions provided to you both before download (below the "download" button) and also in the readme.txt file enclosed with every download - it quite plainly states:

Terms and conditions

Please note that the software you download and install during
the Giveaway period comes with the following important limitations:
1) No free technical support
2) No free upgrades to future versions
3) Strictly non-commercial usage

Now read point #2 once again.

Now back to your post.

Today I updating my HDDlife software with Internet Update menu item and I lost the registration!

So, by your own words - it WAS registered (ie. not a trial) - but through your own actions to "upgrade to a future version" you lost the registration!

Short of completely removing your access to the internet - GOTD cannot protect you from yourself, by preventing you from downloading and installing other versions of software over the top of currently installed giveaways.

Today I updating my HDDlife software with Internet Update menu item and I lost the registration! After the updating process (without errors) the program will require new registration or re-registration! Sorry for GAOTD, this was only trial version from you, not thank you.

Bill

I can't thank you enough for your help. I just spent the past few hours at Sillysot, going through his pictures and stuff and off on links from there. It's been great, but now I am too tired to figure out if I understand the copy and paste stuff entirely! Am going to bed and will get back to you if I run into trouble... It was incredibly gracious of you to take the time to help me and it is much appreciated.

Face

I'm hoping todays Giveaway (Hard Drive Inspector) will replace (and improve upon) the functionality in HDDLife Pro - but get rid of the periodic desktop refresh. I have already ditched HDDLife Pro - the desktop refresh was one feature I also didn't need or want.

Okay Face, a program to keep your desktop icons from moving around, I have heard this one is a good one. But I never used it myself.

http://www.sillysot.com/

And to make a line clickable like the above. All it has to be is a valid URL (website address). You can just copy and paste this from your broswer (like IE), if you have it set to show the addresses.

How can you copy and paste? Well one way is to move your mouse (pointer) from the start or end of the part you want to copy. Press and hold the left mouse button down. Then drag until you have all of the text you want to copy. Then release the left mouse button. This is called selected text.

Now right click on the selected text and select copy from the context menu. Then go where you want to paste it (could be in another application, it doesn't matter) and now move your pointer where you want it to go. Usually you have to tap the left button to move to cursor (usually also called "I-beam" to this spot. Now right mouse click and select paste. And that is how it works.

There are other ways to copy and paste too. Like instead of right clicking to get the context menu, you can use CTRL-C (copy) and CTRL-V (paste). Or in some applications, you can also use Edit from the menu bar.

Enjoy!

Also, Bill, maybe you could give me a quick 1...,2...,3... on how to copy and paste things like the registration numbers or like if you want to duplicate something in a comment like this, without copying it all bit by bit. And one more thing ... How do you make a line that people can click on to go somewhere you are talking about? Nothing personal, but I know if you explain it, it will make sense! Thanks much!!

Face

Also, Bill, maybe you could give me a quick 1...,2...,3... on how to copy and paste things like the registration numbers or like if you want to duplicate something in a comment like this, without copying it all bit by bit. And one more thing ... How do you make a line that people can click on to go somewhere you are talking about? Nothing personal, but I know if you explain it, it will make sense! Thanks much!!

Face

Could someone please tell me how to stop the desktop from "refreshing"? I've got my icons right where I like them and don't need any rearranging.

Well, I don't know...
I had it installed, and it never did anything like that... On my PC, anyway.

Why didn't you say anything? It was driving me nuts! lol

You must have set it differently. Mine does it every 30 min. And I already knew this ever since I installed it. But it might help someone else.

My Desktop icons and Windows Explorer was doing refreshes every 10 minutes. A little annoying, especially if you were doing a drag from Explorer and then the refresh comes and poof! Drag is completely gone. Well I tracked it down to HDDlife. It checks the HD every 10 minutes by default. So now you know. :)