Losing that Pesky "Insert" Function

Are you talking about Microsoft Word?

No - it happens in everything.

That happens because you hit the Delete key.

Not so!

"It is primarily used to switch between the two text-entering modes on a personal computer (PC) or word processor. The first is overtype mode, in which the cursor, when typing, overwrites any text that is present in the current location. The other is insert mode, where the cursor inserts a character at its current position, forcing all characters past it one position further. The insert/overtype mode toggling is not global for the computer or even for a single application but rather local to the text input window in which the Insert key was pressed."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insert_key

Thanks, but that last sentence is baffling. My problem appears to be that the "toggling" action occurs with no input from me

Any chance you could swap in a different keyboard and see if your problem might go away. I'm having a little trouble following what the problem is but a bad key switch in the keyboard seems like a possible problem.

Sorry, not relevant. This has occurred on my previous IBM (XP Pro) and now Dell (WIN7). Using a laptop now, so changing the keyboard really isn't an option.

The "problem" is that the "insert" function frequently is replaced by the "delete" function, without any help from me! I don't know how better to explain it.

I hate that key too, so I pulled it off my keyboard. I don't miss it at all.

I've noticed it as well, but there is an ICON at the bottom of Word that will bring it back. Not sure if I'm hitting it accidentally.

I have another one for you and it happens in Excel: The view percentage suddenly changes. I don't think there is a key for that.

And last, but not least, sometimes a ^R is interpreted from an R and Firefox refreshes the page,

Linux or Windows - Doesn't matter. KB has been replaced. Multiple laptops - same brand/series. Win 7.

See if you can find a 'manual' for the 'editor' you are concerned about....the toggles for the insert/overwrite function are a whim of the programmer who wrote the editor. Also the action varies with the operating environment, i.e. when I use the CR4 editor with my Vista laptop system and IE/Yahoo/email I can post an 'emoticon', If I logon to CR4 with W7 laptop and IE/Yahoo/email I CANNOT post an 'emoticon'. So I surmise there is interaction between operating system/browser/editor, it's a wonder this CR4P works at all.

I think I prefer the insert mode over type over mode, which is simultaneous insert and erase. Type over only works if what you want to insert occupies the same space as what you want to remove, which is seldom. I agree that it would be less troublesome if it worked the same way all the time.

I have both keys present or available on my HP laptop keyboard! The "Delete" key functions and behave as a direct opposite of the function of a "Backspace" key.

The "Insert" Key when pressed or activated will give you a backlighted or highlighted cursor! It will insert what ever character(s) is typed or inputed, while at the same time erasing or replacing whatever character was in front of the "highlighted cursor"! The key is to pay attention to the blinking cursor whether it is highlighted or not!

To cancel the insert function, you need to press the 'Insert" key again to toggle it off!

I've had it happen.

I think that at some point, I bump the insert key while hitting backspace, and I don't notice it until I try to insert a character.