Scott Hanselman's Computer Zen - Make the Windows Text Cursor (Caret) Wider

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Make the Windows Text Cursor (Caret) Wider

Posted in Musings

If you like your things large, mouse cursors or otherwise, like I do, you can make the Windows Caret (the little text flashy inserty thing) wider with this Registry Key on XP:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
"CaretWidth"=dword:00000003

However, on Vista, hit the Start Menu and type "Ease" to get to the Ease of Access Center then click on "Make things on the screen easier to see" then (here's where it gets lamer) scroll-down.

You'll see "Set the thickness of the blinking cursor. That changes the Registry for you.

Posted at 2007-08-23 05:00 PM by Scott
Comments [4]
Permalink

Friday, August 24, 2007 2:24:55 AM (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-08:00)

I remember doing that trick through the Accessibility settings, but of course, that is not even half-was as 'leet as doing it with a registry hack :)

Robin Laurén

Friday, August 24, 2007 7:20:55 AM (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-08:00)

I changes the value in the registry but I don't see any difference

Rick Stone

Friday, August 24, 2007 1:31:22 PM (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-08:00)

Wow, for a set of "ease of access" screens the Vista dialogs are awful to use!

Look at the "Make the computer easier to see" dialog
You always see the Save, Cancel and Apply buttons, wherever you are on the scrollable area at the top

Then look at the "Make the mouse easier to use" dialog
Notice the difference? You have to scroll down to see the buttons!

Also, the mouse wheel scrolling doesn't work on the Ease Of Access Center, but does on the dialogs

Yuk! and so ironic!

Merak

Saturday, August 25, 2007 6:41:54 PM (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-08:00)

I believe in XP you may have to restart your computer for registry changes to take effect.