Enabling the Shift Lock Feature on Windows NT 4.0

• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0

SYMPTOMS

The Shift Lock keyboard feature is not available by default under Windows NT 4.0.

The Shift Lock key is a key similar to Caps Lock key. If the keyboard layout has a Shift Lock key instead of a Caps Lock key, capitalization can only be turned on by pressing the Shift Lock key; capitalization can only be turned off by pressing one of the Shift keys. This is the manual typewriter functionality that Windows 95, Windows 3.1/3.11 and MS-DOS implement in the French, German, and Belgian keyboard layouts.

With Windows NT 4.0 prior to Service Pack 4, the Shift Lock key turns on capitalization; however, pressing the Shift key does not turn it off. With Service Pack 4, the Shift key can now be used to turn capitalization off.

RESOLUTION

Obtain the following fix or wait for the next Windows NT service pack.

This fix should have the following timestamp:

   06/18/97  07:25p               323,344 user32.dll
   06/18/97  07:16p             1,233,584 win32k.sys

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 4.0. A supported fix is now available, but has not been fully regression tested and should be applied only to systems experiencing this specific problem. Unless you are severely impacted by this specific problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait for the next Service Pack that contains this fix. Contact Microsoft Technical Support for more information.