How to Change the Blinking Rate of the Insertion Point

ID: Q247054

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows versions 95, 98, 98 Second Edition
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

SUMMARY

This article describes how to change the insertion point blinking rate.

NOTE: Configuring the insertion point blinking rate may be helpful to people with seizure disorders.


MORE INFORMATION

You can change the insertion point using the Keyboard tool in Control Panel or using Registry Editor.

Keyboard Tool

To change the insertion point blinking rate, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Keyboard.


  2. Move the Cursor blink rate slider where you want it.


    3. NOTE: When you move the slider to the notch closest to Slow, the insertion point blinks 1.2 times per second. When you move the slider to the notch closest to Fast, the insertion point blinks 5 times per second. Each notch changes the the blinking rate by 100 milliseconds. Each time you move the slider, the blinking insertion point left of the slider immediately represents the blinking rate change.
  3. Click Apply, and then click OK.


Registry Editor

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys and Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it. If you are running Windows NT, you should also update your Emergency Repair Disk (ERD).
You can make more detailed incremental changes using Registry Editor. In Registry Editor, change the value data for the CursorBlinkRate value in the following registry key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
NOTE: If the CursorBlinkRate value does not exist, add a new String Value.
After you edit the CursorBlinkRate value in the Registry, you need to restart your computer.

If you lower the value data number (the default is 500) for the CursorBlinkRate value, the insertion point blinks faster. If you use a larger number for the value data, the insertion point blinks slower.

For example, the value data 1000 causes the insertion point to blink approximately one time per second. Likewise, if you use the value data 2000, the insertion point blinks approximately one time every two seconds. If you do not want the insertion point to blink, use the value data -1.

NOTE: People who experience seizures in response to flashing lights or patterns may have problems with the blink rate of the insertion point if it is set at a frequency above 3 to 5 times per second.

Additional query words: text epilepsy cursor

Keywords : kbenv kbui win95 win98 win98se kbEnableSight
Version : WINDOWS:95,98,98 Second Edition
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbhowto


Last Reviewed: December 20, 1999
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