Change the Blinking Cursor to a Solid Cursor

 Last reviewed: November 22, 1994
Article ID: Q84347
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows operating system versions 3.0, 3.0a, 3.1, 3.11

SUMMARY

To change the cursor within an application to a constant "ON" (non- blinking) state:

  1. Open the WIN.INI file using any text editor (for example Notepad or MS-DOS Editor).

  2. Locate the [Windows] section.

  3. Change "CursorBlinkRate=" to a value of -1.

MORE INFORMATION

Setting "CursorBlinkRate=-1" causes the cursor to remain in the "ON" state.

When a cursor is displayed in a Windows-based application, it appears as a blinking cursor. As default, "CursorBlinkRate=530" is set in the WIN.INI file's [Windows] section. This blink rate is normally changed from the Desktop setting in Control Panel. When the Desktop Blink Rate is set to Slow, the WIN.INI file is changed to "CursorBlinkRate=1200". If the Blink Rate is set to Fast, the WIN.INI file is changed to "CursorBlinkRate=200". This setting determines how much time, in milliseconds, the cursor will be displayed and, accordingly, how much time it will be off.

If you are using a Microsoft Mouse, you may want to call the Microsoft Sales Information Center (MSIC) at (800) 426-9400 for information about obtaining the Mouse Driver 8.20 kit, which comes with a utility that allows you to change the size of the mouse pointer.

KBCategory: kbhw
KBSubcategory: win31 win30
Additional reference words: 3.0 3.00a 3.1 blink

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Last reviewed: November 22, 1994
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