Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with Key

A start menu for Windows 7 where I type "i" for Internet and "f" for Firefox to open that browser?

oxit — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 13:12:54 -0800

A start menu for Windows 7 where I type i for Internet and f for Firefox to open that browser? Prior to Windows 7 I was using the classic Windows start menu to access most of my software by pressing only three keys on the keyboard:

1. the Windows key, then
2. a key for the folder, e.g. (I)nternet, or (O)ffice, then
3. a key for the application, e.g. (F)irefox or (I)nternet Explorer.

Typing a part of the name in Windows 7's start menu is a lot slower, more cumbersome and error-prone.

Is there a solution to have this in Windows 7? There are many start menu replacements out there, but none I've seen does this. Can you help?

Are locker keys magical?

amicamentis — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:53:01 -0800

Can one make a copy of a public locker key? Inspired by this question last week, I started thinking about good places to steal bags from. An obvious place was from the luggage lockers at train terminals. It seems like a thief could put in some money, get the key, make a copy (if he had a complicit locksmith buddy), and then wait for someone to use the locker after him. He waits for this guy to leave and then uses the fake key to open the locker.

Is this uncommon only because locker keys are somehow uncopyable? Does it have something to do with the orange blocky thing at the end? Is it because it's under surveillance and too risky? Is there not enough of a payoff?

I know some museums that won't allow you to take in backpacks and instead provide lockers; these seem like easy targets for finding tourists' bags with cameras or wallets.

Thanks for any help!

I have a key; which lock does it fit?

flabdablet — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:54:55 -0800

Is there a tool available that will tell me which version of Windows the product key on this sticker is for? This second-hand laptop came with a completely erased hard drive (it looks DBAN'd). There's the remains of a Windows OEM sticker of some sort on the bottom. The 25-character product key itself is still perfectly legible, but the part of the sticker identifying the Windows version is ripped (looks like another label was put over it and then removed, taking half the Windows sticker with it).

I'd like to put Windows back on it, but the XP Home OEM installer I guessed at won't accept this product key. Before I go down the path of trial-installing every conceivable version of Windows one at a time, does anyone know of a tool (either online or downloadable) that will tell me which version my product key matches?

A million tiny pieces, on a USB drive.

tmcw — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 09:52:17 -0800

Transferring lots of files quickly to USB sticks? So, I'm trying to transfer map tilesets to USB drives ('sticks') - which means 1-12 gigs of data, but organized in files which are all less than 1MB. Transferring this with cp to a USB drive would probably take a week, so I've been trying to create images of the directory on my machine and then basically 'burning' the USB drive, with little success, since it appears that the Apple tools for this (hdiutil and asr) are either junk or too Apple-specific to deal with FAT32 - asr definitely can't.

So, how do people do this? I assume that they do, right? Ideas? Thanks

Clear Wireless Keys Automatically?

NYScott — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:48:48 -0800

Auto-Delete XP Laptop's Wireless "Preferred Networks" List? At work, we have laptops we loan to staff. I want to be able to make sure all "Preferred Networks" are deleted automatically, or at the very least, the Network Keys are cleared.

As you probably know, once you connect to a wireless network on an XP machine, that network is stored in your list of Preferred Networks. It also stores the network's key (password), and will automatically log on when detected. Since we're loaning laptops to people, I don't want our network settings stored on the laptops (nor do I want their home network settings retained). My thought is: what if a laptop is stolen? The thief could park outside one of our buildings, and from the comfort of his car, he could automatically log into our network, using the credentials of the previous user...

"Kiosk mode" will not work for us; users need to be able to make & retain changes. And relying on individuals to delete the Preferred Networks is useless.

Ideally, once you log off/reboot, the settings are cleared.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

troubleshooting a (mostly) broken laptop key

needs more cowbell — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:23:08 -0800

My Thinkpad's n key doesn't work most of the time (but does work sometimes if I hit it in the right spot/from the right angle and hold for a bit)...what troubleshooting/fixes can I try before I give in and replace the whole keyboard? Additional details:
1) I have already pried the keycap off and looked to see if anything was stuck under it (no)
2) this does not seem to be the result of spilled liquid (I have spilled stuff before, but nothing recently)
3) no need for workarounds or advice about how cheap/easy it is to replace Thinkpad keyboards - I've done it before, and will again if needed. That seems silly, though--the circuitry must be intact since it does work sometimes.

Registry info from a crusty old drive?

ian1977 — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:23:45 -0800

Can I get old registry data off a 2nd hard-drive? I had a program installed on an old computer that won't fire up. I can take the hard drive and install it on a different pc...but I need to go to regedit to get the program's licence key. I go to regedit and it only seems to have programs listed on my main drive. If I move the program from the crusty old drive into the new drive, it doesn't seem to bring the licence info with it.

I just need the license info so that I can get the discount on version two of the software.

Is the license key hiding somewhere that I can find it? The FAQ of the software says I would normally be able to find it here: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ross Bencina\AudioMulch\1.0\Registered User

How can I recover my key to Adobe CS3 from the machine it's installed on if I can't find the case?

justkevin — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 11:56:47 -0800

How can I recover my key to Adobe CS3 from the machine it's installed on if I can't find the case? I can't find the case to my copy of Adobe CS3 Web Premium Suite (Windows XP). I've combed the office and it seems increasingly unlikely that it's going to turn up. It's still installed on my PC, but if I have to reinstall or want to move it to a new computer, I'm in trouble.

I've tried Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder and Keyfinder Thing, neither of which could find the key in the registry.

Does anyone know how to recover an Adobe CS3 Suite key from a computer?

Good movie driving shots for chroma keying?

wavejumper — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 08:30:30 -0800

Here's a fun one: can you think of any films that have good, usable -moving background- shots / tracking shots, that I could use as a fake "driving" backdrop for a movie I'm making? I filmed a green-screen shot of my friends driving and dancing along in a convertible (which wasn't actually moving) for their music video...and now I'm chroma-keying in various exotic and ridiculous moving backgrounds. I'm looking for things like: driving along a beach highway, driving along a beach itself, driving through a nightclub district or New York / Las Vegas downtown at night, driving through a jungle, anything crazy even (like boating shots over water, etc.), anything that looks cool, i't supposed to be ridiculous and fake and fun, that's fine, but we're also trying to make it look -awesome- :-). So recent or high-res, non-jumpy clips would be best. One shot I have so far is them driving through outer space, which is pretty cool looking.

Can you think of any films (or other sources) that have tracking shots like what I'm thinking of? I need two angles: one looking directly backwards out the rear of a moving vehicle, and one looking sideways off the side of the road as things go by. "Empty," purely background-only shots would be best of course, though with a certain amount of finess, I could remove another car in the shot and replace it with the one we filmed. I can also reverse shots that show forward-motion, so those are possibly usable as well. Thanks a lot!

Estranged pieces of metal in an Organ from the 1960s are the topic of the day

tmcw — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 11:33:36 -0800

Fixing an old transistor organ: how do I fix these switches that seem to rely on the springiness of metal in order to make contact? So, I'm working on fixing this big ol' Doric organ (previously), and I stumbled upon a big break: it appears that the voices, as well as the vibrato, may not be broken, but just the switch activating them. However, this switch seems to rely on the exact same principle as the key contacts, and that principle is failing hard fourty-something years after this thing was built.

See this picture for a quick hint.

Basically, two wires, one which is the contact and stays at a certain place, and the second which is supposed to spring onto that contact when the key is depressed. Unfortunately, the second one is no longer very springy and I believe that these contacts are a bit rusty/bad.

So, contact cleaner is obvious solution #1, but the other problem is that with a few of these buttons, the piece of metal which is supposed to move onto the other just doesn't, and I don't have much of a way of bending it, since the furthest it can travel right now is the other contact. Also, just rebending this wire is a temporary fix, I'd guess, since, after all, it'll bend back like it has over all these years, leaving the next aspiring electrician thinking that the vibrato circuit is broken.

So, please let me know your thoughts! I am not even sure what the term for this 'keying system' is called, so my google-powers are weak. And any help would be so, so appreciated!

Thanks!

How to install Office 2007 with a key, but without the packaged software

Cool Papa Bell — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 06:56:39 -0800

Office 2007. PC reformat. I have a valid product key. I don't have the original packaged software. I download the trial version, but it won't accept my old product key. What now? I can't find a solution to this use case.

$160 for a KEY?

Ikazuchi — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 06:37:27 -0800

I need to duplicate the key for my Honda Civic Hybrid 2003. The dealership wants $160 to duplicate and program the key. Does anyone know a cheaper alternative in Tampa, FL? I've tried WalMart and they can not copy my key.

Click. Click.

Skyanth — Wed, 27 May 2009 04:25:00 -0800

What is the use of double locks? Not two separate lock, just the kind of lock that you can turn once (which locks the door) and then another time, in the same direction (which locks the door... more?). If the door is only safely locked with two turns of the key, why would you offer the option to turn it only once? And if the door is just as safely locked with only one turn of they key, why offer the option for a second turn?

I've been thinking about his for some time. The only explanation I can come up with is that one turn is not enough to push the bolt far enough to really lock the door. But that would mean that all non-double locking doors are actually not safe? Surely that's not true.

Cell phone key finder?

gilsonal — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 05:31:58 -0800

Is there a product out there that would let me call my keys from my cell phone? I'm tired of losing them! I've seen a couple products where you use a remote control to beep your keys, but then that ends up being another thing to have to carry around. Any good suggestions? I'd rather have something I can call from my phone, but a small remote wouldn't be that bad, I suppose. It took me 8 hours to find my keys last weekend, and I'd really rather not have a repeat of that :)

Where are custom settings stored in Word 2000?

roxie110 — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 19:57:31 -0800

What file are settings (created macros, custom toolbar buttons, etc.) stored in in Word 2000? I want to try upgrading to Word 2003 but don't want to lose all the custom stuff in my current version of 2000 (in case I decide to go back). When I reinstalled Photoshop in a new computer, I was able to find a settings file that preserved all of my created actions. I think something similar must exist with Word, but I haven't been able to find it. Help!

Extra credit points if you know whether it's possible to import custom stuff from earlier versions into 2003 after you upgrade!

How do I replace the plastic nub that was affixed to the contact underneath the "I" key on my MacBook Pro?

jcruelty — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 11:48:24 -0800

How do I replace the plastic nub that was affixed to the contact underneath the "I" key on my MacBook Pro? For reasons not worth getting into, it's gone. I still have the key and the two-part plastic hinge, but without the plastic nub I can't really use the key. The nub was attached to the contact, so even if I find a replacement I'm not sure how to reaffix it-- would I need to use some kind of glue? For now I've left the key off and am pressing the contact directly, but it hurts my finger and I'd really like to get this fixed. Thanks!

Get 2005 Lincoln keyless entry working.

Towelie — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 19:36:25 -0800

Asking for a friend. 2005 Lincoln LS - bought secondhand. There are a set of buttons to open the door (as opposed the key). How do we get them to work / program it? I know we have to enter the factory preset code - how do we find that out.

Randomly Appearing Mystery Keys

craven_morhead — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 21:55:08 -0800

Mystery Mailbox Key: I found a strange key in my mailbox, and another arrived at a friend's house nearby. What's going on? So I'm trying to sell a house in a middling residential district, and I stop by to check on it every day or so, clean out the mailbox, shovel the walks, that sort of thing. The other day I found this key in the mailbox. It's the size and shape of a modern car key, with the bumps on both edges, but it's slightly thinner than a normal car key, and it looks like it's stamped out of one piece of metal; both sides are flat. It has "factory duplicate" stamped on the key, but nothing else. I have some friends that live about three blocks away, and they found an identical key in their mailbox. I compared the two; same cut, same everything, they don't have any idea about where it came from either.

What gives? Part of a failed promo? People marking houses for some reason? The mind boggles.

Find an old key replacement?

dougiedd — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 00:09:20 -0800

what is the key in the very middle of this image called and where can i find one for my old doors at home? Are they pretty standard or are there lots of different cuts? I broke the only one i had.

determine key from chords

crapples — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 06:18:38 -0800

Given a set of guitar chords, I want to know how I can determine what key a song is in. For example, if I play a song using the chords C - D - G, how can I figure out what key I'm playing in? What if I play Am - G - C - F? Or any other set of chords that sound good together? Is there a trick or calculation that will give me the answer? Does it get harder if I'm using sevenths, minors, ninths, or whatever else?

Trying Like Hell To Defeat The Purpose Of Encrypting Something In The First Place

ChasFile — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 18:04:28 -0800

How weak is it smart to allow my GPG key passphrase to get? When selecting a passphrase for my GPG key, is it important that it be maximally obfuscated (a random string of alphanumerics and special characters that is $MAX_STRING_LEN long)? Would it be acceptable to use a partially-obfuscated string that's at least memorizable? Would it be considered beyond the pale of idiocy to incorporate a word in the dictionary in the keyphrase?

Ideally, I'd like to be able to type the passphrase in from memory, and (for me) that is easiest done if – while incorporating special chars, numbers, and caps variations – is also at least based on an English word or phrase. Is that erect-a-monument-to-it stupid?

So, do ya think it still works?

miss lynnster — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 16:25:29 -0800

Allegedly, this is the original key to the choir loft of Mission San Luis Rey. A) How can I confirm its origins? B) What should I do with it? My mother went to school at the Mission in the 1930s and tells that she was given this artifact by a priest who befriended her. It's just been kinda hanging out in our family ever since. I don't know how to verify its history, and I am not sure what the best place for it would be. I DO know that the best place for it probably isn't sitting on top of my television. No idea of its worth historically or monetarily. When I called the mission, they just sounded confused.

What is the best overall pitch-shifting plug-in for Pro Tools LE (Windows)?

bitterkitten — Tue, 20 May 2008 10:01:08 -0800

AudioRecordingFilter: What is the best overall pitch-shifting plug-in for Pro Tools LE (Windows)? I admit I am a dumb ass here with this situation. I have again written an entire tune, all parts recorded except for vocals, and discovered that the key I recorded everything in is less than ideal for me to sing. Sure, if I was just playing on guitar I could slap a capo on it, but it's a bit late for that. Likewise, if it was all midi data - no problem. But it ain't.

Outside of rerecording everything (or pitch shifting the whole tune in its entirety, which never really sounds good), all I can think of is pitch shifting all the non-drum tracks. Since I think I only have to shift it a semitone, it might still sound decent. IF - i had a badass plugin that will shift the tone decently and maintain the rhythmic accuracy. I've used Antares for vox before to some extent, and mucked a little with Melodyne Uno, but I don't think that will do the trick here.

Anyone?

Recovery key plz? (again)

T.D. Strange — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 11:17:14 -0800

What key I need to hold down to access the recovery partition on my Sony Vaio? So my Viao is corrupted and wont boot (again, god how I hate Vista and its shitty sleep/shutdown). I can fix it because this has happen 4 or 5 times now, but I can't for the live of my remember which key you have to hold to enter the recovery partition. I've tried F2 (bios), F8 (Vista recovery console) F10 (nothing), F8, Nothing, F6, Nothing and R, nothing. I need to get this started in the next hour if Im going to be able to take notes in my night class this week - help me hive mind!

Does anyone know what the right key is?

How can I break into an empty filing cabinet?

paddingtonb — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 10:56:26 -0800

How can I break into an (empty) filing cabinet? We have an old Hon 4 drawer filing cabinet like this
and a staff member wants to take it home to store tools in. It's locked, and we can't find the key. He doesn't want it unless I can get it unlocked, and I want it out of here!

I tried all the suggestions, including Adam Savage's, in this thread, to no avail. I think the lock construction is different on these guys, but I couldn't get the pin to budge.

I have all the tools you might find around an office including metal letter openers, paper clips, and we also have a small tool-kit. Any thoughts?