If your keyboard stops working, it may seem that your computer is totally nonfunctional. However, you can operate a computer without one. The trick is to navigate with the mouse whenever possible and use an on-screen keyboard. Windows XP and Vista come with their own built-in on-screen keyboard, and there are many free keyboard software programs you can download from the web. This workaround can keep you going until you're able to find a new keyboard for your computer.

Instructions

Windows XP and Vista 

Click Start > All Programs > Accessories > Accessibility > On-Screen Keyboard in Windows XP. Click Start > Control Panel > East of Access > Ease of Access Center in Windows Vista. Select "Use the computer without a mouse or keyboard," under "Explore All Settings." Then select "Use On-Screen Keyboard." This will cause the on-screen keyboard to open every time you start Windows Vista. Click on the blue bar at the top of the keyboard to move it to a desirable spot on the screen.

Select which mode you would like to use. Click mode allows you to click to select each key. Hover mode allows you to select a key when you hover over it with a joystick for a predetermined period of time. Scanning mode allows you to select keys by hovering over with the mouse.

Open the program you would like to type into with your mouse. Click on the field you'd like use, then select the characters in the on-screen keyboard. To type a single capital letter or alternate character, select the "SHIFT" key. After you depress "SHIFT," characters such as the asterisk, number, dollar and percentage sign will appear. To type in all capitals, select the "LOCK" key. To submit data that has been typed in a field, select the "END" key.

 

Windows 95, 98, Me and 2000

Download and install Click-N-Type from its website or from Download.com. Open the program from the All Programs menu.

Select Options > Program preferences to configure the program. You may use this menu to start the program at boot-up, place a shortcut on the desktop, drop and hide the program when it isn't being used and keep the keyboard on top at all times. Click Options > Keyboard preferences to show lower-case and capital letters on the keyboard, to identify keys on mouse over and hold down shift, alt and control until released. Click Macros to store commonly typed words in a buffer. Click Prediction to allow Click-N-Type to guess what word you want to type.

Open the program that you would like to type into, then use the mouse to place your cursor within the correct field. Click the up arrow button at the bottom left of the screen to make a capital letter or symbol. Release the key to type in lower-case. Click the Space key to put in a space and the Enter key to submit data into a field. Use the left-facing arrow on the right side of the screen to delete the characters you've just typed.