0

The old Unix environments, X-windows, and power text editors make extensive use of the Ctrl key. When running such environments & apps on modern era Windows laptops, e.g., perhaps via Cygwin, the odd placement of Ctrl keys are a handicap, and can easily lead to carpal tunnel syndrome.

One solution in the past few decades has been Sysinternals's Ctr2Cap, which seems to have been taken over by Microsoft (assuming that it didn't originate from a Microsoft effort).

Does anyone know whether Ctrl2Cap works on Windows 10?

Improve this question
2
  • "Client: Windows Vista and higher." So it should work.
    – DavidPostill ♦
    Commented Nov 24, 2019 at 21:44
  • Doh. Didn't read carefully enough. That's assuring. Would someone using Windows 10 be able to confirm? Thanks.
    – user2153235
    Commented Nov 24, 2019 at 23:41

3 Answers 3

Reset to default
1

For me it broke keyboard input, and I had to restore using System Restore. When I have more time I can research, but make sure you have System Restore ready and available.

Improve this answer
1
  • Good to know, mjgoins. I've disciplined myself to use the prevailing keyboard layout. It's a pain, but not nearly as great a pain as becoming dependent on ye olde unix positioning of Ctrl and then being helpless when away from that environment.
    – user2153235
    Commented Oct 14, 2020 at 13:24
1

I can confirm that it works on Windows 10. I unzipped the archive, ran .\ctrl2cap.exe /install in the directory and restarted my computer; now my caps lock key and both my ctrl keys behave like ctrl.

Improve this answer
1
  • Thanks, IFcoltransG! So far, I've avoided doing this. I think I'd fare better in this world of Caps Lock keys if I get use to doing old Unixy and Vim-like things with the prevailing keyboard layout. When I get too dependent on a better positioning of Ctrl, such as with Ctrl2Cap, it's a sobering experience using any other computer than my own. Many times, however, I was tempted to fall off the wagon and install Ctrl2Cap, but not yet.
    – user2153235
    Commented Feb 1, 2020 at 15:33
1

For a several Win10 installations I successfully use following patch that should be applied to registry (for example create text file named caps_to_control.reg):

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout]
"Scancode Map"=hex:00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,02,00,00,00,1d,00,3a,00,00,00,00,00
Improve this answer

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .