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15 Oscar-Winning Actors Whose Careers Have Dramatically Changed

Winning an Oscar is a momentous achievement in every actor’s life. It’s the most coveted prize in the film industry, and when an actor snags this top honor, you expect it to help boost their career. A win should lead to more role offers and higher salaries, at the very least.

However, that’s not always the case. These Hollywood stars know all too well that it’s a lot harder to stay at the top than you could ever imagine. Here are 15 Oscar-winning actors whose careers dramatically changed — and not for the better — after their wins.

Mira Sorvino

Sorvino first began working in 1985 with small roles that helped build her acting portfolio. She got her breakthrough role as Linda in the 1995 comedy Mighty Aphrodite . Directed by Woody Allen, the film’s screenplay was inspired by the award-winning play Pygmalion. Allen also starred in the movie alongside Sorvino.

As Allen’s character searches for his intelligent adopted son’s biological mother, he finds Sorvino’s Linda, a ditzy but charming sex worker. For her portrayal of Linda, Sorvino took home the Oscar — and the Golden Globe — for Best Supporting Actress. Her career appeared to be on the rise, but what happened next for her?

Still Working Today

Sorvino was certainly a talented actress, but her career waned after the Oscar win. She booked new leading roles, but they weren’t big hits at the box office. Some of her films after Mighty Aphrodite included Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion, Mimic, Lulu on the Bridge and The Replacement Killers .

Since the ’90s, Sorvino has done a variety of films, stretching across genres, from crime thrillers to faith-based movies. She has worked steadily since her career started but has never achieved the same success as her Oscar-winning role. The next actress on the list can certainly understand Sorvino’s plight, considering her career took a wild turn after her Oscar win.

Mo’Nique

Mo’Nique was the surprise winner of the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2010 for her role as Mary Lee Johnston in 2009’s Precious . Before that time, the actress was known for her comedic roles in films like Phat Girlz and Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins and, of course, her long-running television show, The Parkers .

However, in Lee Daniels’ Precious , the comedienne really showed off her acting chops playing an abusive and dependent mother. It was a complete diversion from what audiences were used to from Mo-Nique, and she received a lot of recognition and numerous awards in addition to the Oscar. So, what made her career quickly fade after such acclaim?

On A Comeback Swing

Shortly after Precious , Mo’Nique mysteriously disappeared from the entertainment industry. She later claimed she was blackballed in the industry due to past experiences with Daniels, Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry. She popped back up again in 2014, starring in the drama Blackbird , which told the tale of a gay black teen in Mississippi struggling with his religion and sexuality.

The actress also appeared as Ma Rainey in the 2015 TV biopic Bessie , earning quite a few award nominations. She also starred in the 2016 holiday film Almost Christmas alongside Danny Glover, Kimberly Elise and Gabrielle Union, so she seems to be rebuilding her career. The next actor is attempting to do the same, although it’s not yet clear if he will succeed.

Joe Pesci is mostly known for his criminal roles. His first film in 1976 was the low-budget thriller The Death Collector . That film led to lucrative working relationships with Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro. Pesci’s role in Scorsese’s Raging Bull (1981) earned him his first Academy Award nomination.

However, it was Pesci’s portrayal of Tommy DeVito in the 1991 mob story Goodfellas that won him the coveted award for Best Supporting Actor. Unfortunately, it can be hard to shake an iconic role like DeVito, and actors risk being “typecasted,” potentially impacting their ability to win other roles. Since that time, Pesci hasn’t landed another critically acclaimed role.

Enjoying Semi-Retirement

Pesci went on to act in popular films like Home Alone and Home Alone 2 as well as Lethal Weapon 2, 3 and 4. Unfortunately, none of these roles — though popular — led to additional awards or nominations. The actor officially retired from the industry in 2009, although he occasionally pops up for short gigs, such as his role in the 2010 drama Love Ranch with Helen Mirren and Bryan Cranston.

Pesci will also reunite with some familiar faces in Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman , which also stars Robert De Niro and Al Pacino. The film is set for a limited theatrical release on November 1, 2019, and will be available for streaming on Netflix shortly after on November 27. This next actress had a long break from Hollywood after her Oscar win, but now she is coming back strong.

Linda Hunt made her film debut as Mrs. Oxheart in the much-loved ’80s hit Popeye. However, she really stole the show in the 1982 film The Year of Living Dangerously . She starred as a dwarf photographer named Billy Kwan, alongside Mel Gibson playing a reporter covering political unrest in Indonesia.

The gender-fluid role earned Hunt an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, making her the first person to win an Academy Award for portraying a character of the opposite sex. She continued working after that but in small supporting roles or in smaller films that didn’t earn the Academy’s attention.

Recognize That Voice?

Since 1982, Hunt has steadily worked under the radar. Due to her distinctive accent, she has done a lot of voiceover work. Disney fans may know her as the voice of Grandmother Willow in the 1995 film Pocahontas and its direct-to-video sequel, Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World .

She has had small appearances in movies like Dune, Kindergarten Cop and Stranger Than Fiction . One of her most recent roles is Henrietta “Hetty” Lange on the CBS television series NCIS: Los Angeles . Although she won two Teen Choice Awards for the role, she hasn’t won any other noteworthy accolades. Moving on to the next actress, she once made quite a splash in Hollywood, but where has she been since 2001?.

Jennifer Connelly

Jennifer Connelly has enjoyed a long career as an actress, stretching all the way back to 1984. Most people know her best for her role in the critically-acclaimed 2001 film A Beautiful Mind, alongside Russell Crowe. She played Alicia Nash, the wife of Nobel Laureate John Nash, who develops paranoid schizophrenia during the course of his life.

The role earned Connelly the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress the following year — the film also won Best Picture, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay. It seemed like the sky was the limit for this actress, but her roles afterward paled in comparison.

In And Out, But Still Working

After a few small roles in 2003 in Hulk and House of Sand and Fog , Connelly took a two-year hiatus from the film industry. She reappeared in the mid-2000s, starring in less successful films like The Day the Earth Stood Still, He’s Just Not That Into You, Noah and the unfavorably reviewed American Pastoral .

Most recently, Connelly has had roles in the high-grossing films Spider-Man: Homecoming and Alita: Battle Angel. However, her roles were quite small, certainly not enough to make another big splash in the industry. This next actor has had a little more luck in his career than Connelly — but not by much.

Adrien Brody

Although he had several roles before it, Adrien Brody really shined in Roman Polanski’s 2002 drama The Pianist . He portrayed Wladyslaw Szpilman, a real-life Jewish musician who miraculously survived the Holocaust during World War II and went on to become an accomplished pianist.

The film earned Brody an Oscar for Best Actor at the age of 29, making him the youngest actor to win in that category. The critically-acclaimed film also won Oscars for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay in addition to other accolades. Although the well-received role opened the door for other opportunities, his work throughout the rest of the 2000s didn’t quite measure up, according to critics.

Still Getting Good Attention

Other films Brody starred in during the 2000s, including King Kong, The Village and Cadillac Records, were financial successes at the box office, but they received little attention from critics, and Brody didn’t personally win any awards. However, some years later, things took a turn for the better. In 2014, he worked with Wes Anderson on the Academy-Award winning flick The Grand Budapest Hotel .

He also received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or in a Movie for his starring role in The History Channel miniseries Houdini , and he recently appeared in the fourth season of BBC crime drama Peaky Blinders . Brody’s career is picking up steam again, much like the next actor whose career dipped for a bit, only to return and make a killing.

Cuba Gooding, Jr.

In 1991, Cuba Gooding, Jr. earned his first major role in John Singleton’s crime drama Boyz ‘n the Hood . However, recognition of his talent went global with his role as wide receiver Rod Tidwell in Jerry Maguire , starring Tom Cruise. Gooding’s classic mantra from the movie — “Show me the money!” — is still quoted by fans regularly.

Gooding won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for the role in 1997, astonishing fans with his incredible acceptance speech. Of course, the actor attempted to capitalize on his major win, hoping to earn more leading roles. While he did get more starring roles, his films were very hit and miss, with some films seen as detrimental to his career.

Major TV Roles

After 1997, Gooding appeared in films across several genres, including drama and comedy. Movies like Zoolander, Rat Race, Radio, Boat Trip, Life of a King and Selma had some success, while others like Snow Dogs and Daddy Day Camp were complete flops. In fact, Gooding has been nominated multiple times for Razzies — the parody award show for low-performing movies and actors.

However, Gooding’s career is slowly but surely rising again. He garnered critical acclaim for his role as the notorious O.J. Simpson in the anthology TV series The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story , and he co-starred on the sixth season of the hit FX series American Horror Story, Roanoke . This next actress rose to stardom quickly but has had some trouble earning acclaim for her acting in recent years.

Geena Davis

Geena Davis has been a fixture in the movie industry since 1978. Although she has appeared in many great films, it was her role as Muriel Pritchett in the 1988 film The Accidental Tourist that really captivated critics and audiences alike. She received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for that role.

The Oscar win afforded the actress other great acting opportunities, including 1991’s Thelma and Louise, alongside Susan Sarandon. Her role as Thelma earned Davis an Oscar nomination for Best Actress, but that was the last time she was nominated by the Academy. So, where did her career ultimately lead her?

High-Profile Guest Star

After her big win at the Oscars, Davis starred in films like A League of Their Own, Cutthroat Island and The Long Kiss Goodnight . However, in the 2000s, her star power began to fade. She tried her hand at her own television show, The Geena Davis Show, but it only aired for one season before being canceled. She also went on to appear in smaller roles in films like the Stuart Little trilogy, Accidents Happen and In a World.

She seemed to be making a comeback with her starring role in the 2005 ABC drama Commander in Chief , but the show was canceled before the season ended due to low ratings. She has had a few recurring roles on television, including Grey’s Anatomy and GLOW . The next actor on this list has also kept a low profile with his latest

Chris Cooper

Before making his film debut in 1987’s Matewan , Chris Cooper spent 12 years honing his craft on the stage with small theater groups. An incredible opportunity presented itself with his role as a homophobic Marine Corps colonel in 1999’s Oscar-winning American Beauty .

A few years later, Cooper won an Oscar of his own for Best Supporting Actor for his character, John Laroche, in Adaptation . He also won a Golden Globe award for the role and was nominated for the Screen Actors Guild award as well. It appeared that Cooper was only beginning his career. However, the momentum began to slow. What happened?

A Big Upcoming Role

Since his Oscar win in 2003, Cooper’s career has calmed down. He has appeared in a few films, including Ben Affleck’s The Company Men and Live by Night as well as The Muppets and August: Osage County .

He has also been in a variety of plays on Broadway and even had a voiceover role as Smokey in the Disney-Pixar film Cars 3 . Fans of Cooper were excited to hear that he will appear in the 2019 reboot of the beloved film Little Women. The next actress on this list had the acting chops but never catapulted to A-list status after her Oscar win.

Mercedes Ruehl

Mercedes Ruehl made an impact in the 1991 comedy-drama film The Fisher King , directed by Terry Gilliam. The story revolves around a suicidal radio shock jock (Jeff Bridges) who tries to find redemption by helping a homeless man (Robin Williams) he inadvertently hurt.

Ruehl played Bridges’ girlfriend, who tried to support her man’s journey to redemption but struggled a great deal along the way. She was named Best Supporting Actress for her performance at the 1991 Academy Awards. The Oscar win made Ruehl a popular name at the time, but her subsequent roles never seemed to garner the same attention from critics or fans.

At Risk Of Typecasting

After taking home the Oscar for The Fisher King , Ruehl appeared more and more in “mom roles” in lower-budget films and television. Although she was praised for her performances in major films Lost in Yonkers and The Minus Man , the movies didn’t perform well.

She has had a few guest spots on various TV shows, including Law & Order, Psych, Two Broke Girls and Power , and she has also done some work on and off-Broadway. Her next role will be a supporting one in Hustlers , starring Jennifer Lopez and Constance Wu. The next actress is a legendary name in music, but has she been able to keep up in the acting world?

Cher is a household name in the music industry, but she was once a big name in film as well. In the late 1970s and 1980s, she had several impressive roles and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1984 for her role in Silkwood . She ultimately took home the Oscar for Best Actress in 1987 for her work in Moonstruck .

Cher played Loretta Castorini, a Brooklyn bookkeeper who falls in love with the brother of the man she’s supposed to marry. The film, which also starred Nicholas Cage, was a huge hit, but her films after that didn’t do as well. See what happened to her acting career next.

Pivoting Back To Music

After Moonstruck , Cher went on to star in other films, including Suspect, Mermaids, Faithful and Burlesque . Unfortunately, those films did not do as well at the box office, but Cher always had her music to fall back on.

She took some time to tour and perform, including a two-year, 102-show concert residency at both the Park Theater at the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino in Las Vegas and The Theater at MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland. Most recently, Cher appeared on the big screen once again, starring in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, which was a box office success. Unfortunately, this next actress hasn’t had the benefit of a multifaceted career.

Tatum O’Neal

Tatum O’Neal is a history-making actress. After her work in the 1973 comedy Paper Moon , she became the youngest performer to ever win an Oscar. The actress took home the award for Best Supporting Actress for her work in the film, alongside her father, Ryan O’Neal. She was only 10 at the time, but she impressed fans with her intelligence and maturity on-screen.

Her work as a child star seemed solid, but it’s often difficult for kids to transition to adult stardom with top roles. O’Neal, unfortunately, had to learn that lesson the hard way when she tried to make that transition herself.

Never Quite Matched Her Early Success

Three years after Paper Moon , O’Neal struck gold again with her second movie, The Bad News Bears. However, as she got older, her films didn’t hit the mark, and her roles in films like Circle of Two and Little Darlings were not well received. She made small appearances in movies like The Runaways and This Is 40 and recently appeared in the Christian film God’s Not Dead: A Light in Darkness.

O’Neal has also had a few guest spots on various television shows and movies over the years, including Criminal Minds and Fab Five: The Texas Cheerleader Scandal. She briefly had a reality TV show with her dad called Ryan & Tatum: The O’Neals , in which she attempted to repair her relationship with her father.

Sally Field

Sally Field is a renowned actress in the industry. Early in her career, she received an Academy Award for Best Actress for her starring role in Norma Rae (1979). She later won another Oscar for her role in Places in the Heart. Those huge wins opened the door for popular blockbusters like Steel Magnolias , Mrs. Doubtfire and Forrest Gump.

However, her career took a shift in the mid-90s. She still appears in projects from time to time, but her career has waned in recent years.

Still A Classic

In the mid-90s, Field began to take on more TV roles. She starred in several TV movies and miniseries, including ER and Brothers & Sisters . She also had a big role in Lincoln as Abraham Lincoln’s wife, Mary.

Her latest movie roles were in 2015’s Hello, My Name Is Doris and 2017’s Little Evil. Both received good reviews but did not garner major accolades. In recent years, Field has taken her talent to the stage, appearing in Broadway plays The Glass Menagerie and All My Sons . She still finds plenty of work, but the next actress on the list has bowed out of the industry for now.

Brenda Fricker

Brenda Fricker began her acting career in 1969 with small roles and slowly honed her craft. Her persistence and talent led her to a role in the emergency drama series Casualty . During that time, the actress also starred as Mrs. Brown in My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown.

The critically-acclaimed movie centered around the story of Christy Brown (Daniel Day-Lewis), an Irishman born with cerebral palsy who could only control his left foot. In 1990, Day-Lewis won the Oscar for Best Actor for his role, while Fricker won the award for Best Supporting Actress. What has she been doing since?

Leaving The Industry For Good

Unfortunately, Fricker’s big role in My Left Foot did not help much with the growth of her career. She has had other roles in films, including Resurrection Man , War Bride and The Intended , and she appeared in a few made-for-TV movies and acted on the stage as well.

None of these roles, however, led to any other major recognition. As of 2014, Fricker has retired from acting and does not plan to return. The same goes for the next (and last) actor on the list, who has experienced a long and varied Hollywood career.

Sean Connery

Sean Connery started acting in 1954 and was the first actor to portray literary character James Bond in a film. Before he was done, he starred in seven Bond films during his early career. However, it was decades later when he received an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Jimmy Malone in the 1987 American gangster movie The Untouchables .

The film followed a team of agents looking to take down notorious crime kingpin Al Capone in the Prohibition era. Connery’s role in the film and subsequent Oscar win brought him new roles in the 1990s, but his star began to fade shortly after that.

Departing Gracefully

Throughout the 1990s, Connery continued to act in films like First Knight, The Rock and Entrapment . However, at the turn of the millennium, Connery’s career slowed down. His last major role was in the 2003 film The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen .

He also did voiceover work for the James Bond 007: From Russia with Love video game. The actor’s last project was in 2012 as a voice actor for the titular character in the animated film Sir Billi . Connery enjoyed retirement from the industry after decades of great work until he passed away on October 31, 2020.

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How do I change the Windows 7 Keyboard Shortcuts

I would like to know how I can change/disable some of the Windows 7 Keyboard Shortcuts .

I find half of them useful, however I would like to change either the key combinations or disable some of the key combinations.

Before upgrading to Windows 7, I used to use a virtual desktop application (virtuawin) on Windows XP that allows windows to be grouped into different virtual desktops. I assign Win + 1 , Win + 2 , etc to switch between the desktops.

Since Windows 7 already have these keys already assigned to Taskbar item 1, Taskbar item 2, I am unable to use them for any other applications or settings.

I've tried searching the internet and this forum high and low and have found nothing ( except for disabling the windows key, so please do not point me towards that as my problem is slightly different ).

I'm open to suggestions that delve into Registry Editors, Editing Group Policies, or even replacing certain system files.

I'd just like to use back my previous set of key combinations for my self.

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To disable the Windows keyboard shortcut keys you need to modify the Registry. But before that create a System restore point. Follow the steps mentioned below to create a system restore point.

To create a restore point follow the steps mentioned below.

1. Open System by clicking the Start button, right-clicking Computer and then clicking Properties.

2. In the left pane, click System protection. If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

3. Click the System Protection tab and then click Create.

4. In the System Protection dialog box, type a description and then click Create.

For more information, please refer the link

To edit and alter the registry follow the steps mentioned below.

Important Note : This section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 322756

1. Open the Start Menu. 2. In the Start Search box, type regedit and press Enter. 3. Click on Continue in the UAC prompt. 4. In regedit, go to

   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft \Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies

   NOTE: If you already have the Explorer key (folder) under Policies, then go to step 7.  

5. In the left pane, right click on Policies and click on New and Key.  6. Type Explorer and press Enter. 7. In the right pane, right click on a empty area and click on New and DWORD (32-bit) Value. 8. Type “NoWinKeys” and press Enter. 9. In the right pane, right click on “NoWinKeys” and click on “Modify.” 10.To Disable Windows Hotkeys - Type 1 and click on OK. 11.To Enable Windows Hotkeys again - Type 0 (number zero) and click on OK. 12.Close Regedit. 13.Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply changes.

For further reference check the article mentioned below.

Disabling Windows Keyboard Shortcuts

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa460734(WinEmbedded.5).aspx

Reference: Mir A Microsoft support, Moderator Hope it helps

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Windows 7 Keyboard Shortcuts

Start-Menu Searches: Windows key

This carryover from Vista is arguably one of Windows’ must underused and undervalued features. A simple tap of the Windows key activates the Start menu , where you can type the first few letters of a program name, Control Panel setting, Word document, or whatever and then hit Enter to launch it. Why reach for the mouse?

Minimize (Almost) All Windows: Win + Home

This combo lets you send all open windows packing–except the one that’s currently active. Sure beats clicking Minimize on a bunch of individual windows. When you tap the shortcut a second time, it restores all previously open windows.

Make Windows Transparent: Win + Space

This is the keyboard equivalent of mousing over the transparency tool in the right corner of the System Tray–great for those times when you need to something on the desktop (like a gadget) but don’t want to minimize all your windows. After tapping Win-Space , your windows will stay see-through until you let go of the Windows key.

Quick-Launch Taskbar Apps: Win + (1-9)

As you know, Windows 7 makes it a snap to “pin” frequently used programs to the taskbar. But did you also know that these programs are automatically assigned a number and corresponding Windows-key shortcut? Just press Windows-1 to launch the first pinned program (the one closest to the Start button), Windows-2 to launch the next one, and so on. Fastest app-launching known to man! Except, of course, for this…

Quick-Launch Any App: Hotkey

Like Vista before it, Windows 7 lets you assign a quick-launch hotkey to any installed program. Just right-click the program’s icon, choose Properties , and then click the Shortcut tab. Click once in the Shortcut key field , then press the hotkey combo you want to assign ( Ctrl-Shift-H , for instance). Click OK and you’re done! Assuming you have a good memory, app launching doesn’t get any faster than this.

Dock Active Windows: Win + Left or Right Arrow

A great shortcut for users with widescreen monitors, this combo docks the active window to the left or right half of the screen (depending on which arrow you tap), at the same time maximizing it top-to-bottom.

Magnify Your View: Win + (+)

Windows 7’s built-in magnifier lets you zoom in wherever you place your cursor. Just tap Win-plus (that’s the Windows key and the plus key) to enable the magnifier and set a 200% zoom level. When you mouse to any edge of the screen, your view scrolls accordingly. The more you tap the keys, the higher the zoom. Of course, you can just as easily zoom out again with Win-minus .

Open Presentation Settings: Win + P

Good news for business users constantly struggling to get Windows to cooperate with projectors : A quick tap of Win-P activates a monitor-settings panel. Click Duplicate or Projector only to send your display to the big screen, or Extend if you’ve connected a second monitor and want extra screen real estate.

Create a New Folder: Ctrl + Shift + N

Forget the old way of creating new folders. In Windows 7, all it takes is a tap of Ctrl-Shift-N . This works in any open Explorer window, but also on the desktop. After the new folder appears, just type in a name as usual and hit Enter .

Bring Gadgets to the Fore: Win + G

Now that Windows’ gadgets are no longer relegated to the Sidebar, they’re free to sit anywhere on your desktop. Of course, that means they can get obscured by other windows. As you now know, a tap of Win-Space makes those windows temporarily see-through, but what if you want to put the gadgets on top of your windows? No problem: Just tap Win-G .

Okay, shortcut junkies, get tapping! And be sure to check out the Hassle-Free PC Blog , where you’ll find more keyboard-driven time-savers and a wealth of other helpful advice.

For more information about Windows 7, sign up for PC World’s Windows News and Tips newsletter . And for comprehensive, straightforward advice and tips that can help you get the most out of the new operating system, order PC World’s Windows 7 Superguide, on CD-ROM or in a convenient, downloadable PDF file .

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How to change the keyboard settings for windows 7 and 8.

• To open the Ease of Access Centre press ‘Windows’ logo key +‘U’
• On a touch-enabled device, swipe in from the right hand edge of the screen then tap 'Search' and enter Ease of Access in the search box.
• Tap 'Settings' then tap 'Ease of Access Centre' from the search results.
• Using a mouse move the mouse pointer to the upper right hand corner of the screen, then move the pointer down to select 'Search' and enter Ease of Access in the search box.

• Open ‘Ease of Access Center’ press ‘ Windows’ logo key + ‘U’ or click Start button ‘Control Panel’ + ‘Ease of Access’ + ‘Ease of Access Center’ .
• ‘Tab’ to and press ‘Enter’ or click to select ‘Make the keyboard easier to use’ under Explore all settings .
• Click to select or press ‘Alt’ + ‘I’ to turn on ‘Filter Keys’ , see Fig 1.
• To customise your settings click to select ‘Setup Filter Keys’ or press ‘Alt’ + ‘L’ .

• To use the keyboard shortcut to turn Filter Keys on and off, click to select or press ‘Alt’ + ‘K’ to ‘Turn on Filter Keys when right SHIFT is held down for 8 seconds’ .
• Press ‘Alt’ + ‘A’ or click to select 'Display a warning message when turning a setting on' . Press ‘Alt’ + ‘M’ or click to select ‘Make a sound when turning a setting on or off’ .
• Bounce Keys prevent a key stroke being recorded should your finger accidently repeatedly touch a key on the keyboard.
• Click to select ‘Turn on Bounce Keys’ or press ‘Alt’ + ‘B’ . You change the setting to set the time a key is held down before it is recorded, click to select the time limit or ‘Tab’ to the drop down box and use the arrow keys or to click to select your desired setting, Fig 2.

• Click to select or press ‘Alt’ + ‘R’ to switch on Repeat Keys and Slow Keys which prevents brief key strokes from being recorded

• If you want to hear a sound when keystrokes are accepted, ' Beep when keys are pressed or accepted' press ‘Alt’ + ‘W’ or click to select, Fig 4.

• To Display the Filter Keys icon on the taskbar if you want a reminder that filter keys is on press ‘Alt’ + ‘I’ or click to select.
• Click on ‘OK’ or press ‘Alt’ + ‘O’ to save your options.

Note: If this does not work it could be because your computer settings cannot be changed due to local IT policies - contact your local IT support for further help.

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How to change the keyboard language in Windows 7

You suddenly find that your word processing program is using a different language and the Y and Z keys have been swapped. Instead of working with the English-language keyboard layout as usual, you have now found yourself unintentionally using the German-language keyboard. This is probably because you accidentally pressed two keys simultaneously which changed the keyboard language. Here, you will learn which keyboard shortcuts are used to change the keyboard layout in Windows 7.

How to change the keyboard language in Windows 7 using two keys

“general” submenu, “language bar” submenu, “advanced key settings” submenu, step 1: enter “language” in the search function, step 2: use the “change keyboards...” option in the “region and language” menu, step 3: restore the language bar.

You can change the keyboard language in Windows 7 using two keys: [Alt] + [Shift] . Pressing the Alt and Shift keys at the same time is a quick and easy way to change the keyboard language in Windows 7. You can check whether the language was changed by looking at the language icon in the taskbar at the bottom of the screen. For an English-language version of Windows, this usually says “EN”.

There are many other shortcuts available in the Microsoft operating system. Using Windows shortcuts , you can get things done more quickly!

Windows 7 provides additional options for changing the keyboard language and configuring settings. These can help you to better adapt the operating system to your workflow.

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Changing your keyboard language in Windows 7 with advanced settings

By right-clicking on the language icon , you can access and configure advanced settings. To do so, click on the “Settings...” option in the pop-up menu. This will open the “Text Services and Input Languages” menu.

When you first open this menu, the “ General ” tab will be selected. Here, you can change the default input language using a drop-down menu and install additional text services . The drop-down menu allows you to set the keyboard language you want to use when launching Windows 7. The option below it allows you to add or remove additional languages and keyboard settings.

Under the “ Language Bar ” tab, you can modify the bar itself . The following are the options for modifying the language bar:

• Floating on Desktop : This allows you to position the language bar where you want it and move it around your desktop.
• Docked in the taskbar : This is the default setting. It docks the language bar at the bottom of your screen in the taskbar.
• Hidden : This setting will completely hide the language bar.

In addition, there are also options to show the language bar as transparent when inactive , to show additional language bar icons in the taskbar and to show text labels on the language bar . The text labels are useful if you undock the language bar from the taskbar and choose your own location for it since you will then see the full name of the selected keyboard.

Under the “ Advanced Key Settings ” tab, you can modify the Caps Lock key ’s function. When you press this key, any text that you write afterwards will only be in uppercase letters. Normally, to turn this function off, you press the Caps Lock key again. In this menu, you can set the Shift key to turn off the Caps Lock function instead.

You can also configure the keyboard shortcut that lets you switch between input languages in Windows 7. So, instead of using the default shortcut [Alt] + [Shift], you can select a different key sequence that works better for you.

Language bar is not visible: how to solve this problem in three steps

If your language bar is not visible , it is quick and easy to restore it. To do so, use the search function in Windows 7.

Click on the Start button and enter “ language ” in the Windows search function. A number of options will be displayed. Click on “ Region and Language ”.

In the “ Region and Language ” menu, go to the “ Keyboards and Languages ” tab. There you will see the “ Change keyboards... ” button. Click on it to open the “ Text Services and Input Languages ” menu.

Under the “ Language Bar ” tab, you can configure the settings for this bar. Select either “ Floating On Desktop ” or “ Docked in the taskbar ” to restore the bar and make it visible.

You can also change the system language in Windows 7 . This has a more wide-reaching effect on your system and allows you to display the user interface in your preferred language. However, you will often need to install a new language pack to do this.

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Hotkey to switch input language in Windows 7

I'm using Windows 7 and I'd like to define a custom hotkey to change between different input languages.

I know that I can change them to Ctrl + Shift , Left Alt + Shift or the grave accent, but I don't like either of these. SO is there a way to define something like Ctrl + Space to switch the input language?

• keyboard-shortcuts

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for browse other questions tagged windows-7 windows keyboard-shortcuts hotkeys ..

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【 Change Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows 7 】 Step by Step Guide ▷ 2022

Nowadays, windows 7 continues to be classified as one of the versions with the longest history of the Microsoft operating system . Which has been the favorite of many people, thanks to the fact that it is suitable for both personal computers and laptops, as well as for tablets and media centers. Besides that, reveals other advantages of interest .

Among these advantages, we find that it is an operating system that has the ability to save energy because it uses the equipment components to a lesser extent plus, Takes up less space and presents greater synchronization between the user and the PC. Inclusive, W7 supports a large number of keyboard methods .

Thanks to this, this SW can guarantee remarkable productivity to all its users, who have the option of complete your actions faster from the PC keyboard . To know what are the most effective keyboard shortcuts for W7 and how can you customize them We invite you to read this post.

What are all the keyboard shortcuts in Windows 7? What is each one for?

While it is true, a keyboard shortcut consists of a certain key or a sequence of keys that have the ability to execute a previously defined action , either by the application developer or by the user himself. Thus, a method that improves the productivity of people on the computer since it reduces the time to carry out tasks and allows them to acquire an optimal user experience .

Now, as in all versions of Microsoft Windows in w7 users have the ability to use an endless number of keyboard shortcuts to carry out different actions of great help .

So, so that you know the functions of each of these methods and improve your productivity, we present the following list:

Keyboard shortcut Function

Win Opens the start menu Win + B Shows the hidden icons in the system tray Win + D Shows the desktop and when pressed again, returns to the previous state Win + E Accesses Windows Explorer Win + F Opens the search window Win + G Brings up sidebar gadgets and lets you move around them Win + L Locks the computer Win + M Minimizes all windows automatically Win + Shift + M Restores all windows to their previous state Win + P Extends the screen you are on Win + R Opens the system Run application Win + T Takes you to the start bar and scrolls through the items on it Win + U Enters the Accessibility Center Win + X Opens the Access Center mobility (on laptops) Win + F1 For Help and Support Win + Tab Change windows in Flip 3D, where you can see a preview of each one Win + Pause Get system information Win + (+/-) Zoom in or zoom out (Magnifying glass) Win + Space Lets see the desktop and makes all windows transparent Win + arrow (left/right) Moves the active window (left, right and center) Win + up arrow Maximizes the window you are in Win + down arrow Minimizes the window you are currently in Win + Shift + Up Arrow Scales the window vertically (in other words, maximizes it) Win + Shift + Down Arrow Scales the window vertically to resize Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Insert) To copy the selected item Ctrl + X To cut the selected item Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert) To paste the selected item Ctrl + Z Undo an action Ctrl + Y Redo an action Ctrl + D Delete the selected item and move it to the trash recycling Ctrl + R To refresh the active window Ctrl + Left Arrow Move cursor to the beginning of the previous word Ctrl + Right Arrow Move the cursor to the beginning of the next word Ctrl + Up Arrow Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph Ctrl + Down Arrow Move the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph Ctrl + any arrow key + Spacebar Select multiple individual items on the desktop or in a window Ctrl + E Select all items in a document or window Ctrl + Esc Opens the Start menu Ctrl + F4 Closes the active document in programs that allow multiple documents to be open simultaneously Ctrl + Shift + Esc Accesses the Task Manager Ctrl + Mouse scroll wheel To change the size of the icons in the desktop Ctrl + Shift + L Change keyboard layout when multiple keyboard layouts are enabled Alt + Home View the main “Help and Support” page Alt + A View the customer support page in Windows Help Alt + C Show table of contents in W7 Help Alt + N Show “Connection Settings” menu in W7 Help Alt + Tab Switch between the open windows or elements Alt + Space Bar View the context menu for the active window Alt + Enter Display properties for the selected element Alt + Esc Cycle through all elements in the order in which they are opened Alt + Up Arrow View the level of a folder in Windows Explorer Alt + F4 Close the active item or exit the active program Shift + Delete Delete a selected item, but do not move it to the recycle bin Shift + An arrow key Select multiple items in one window or on the desk. It is also used to select text in a document Shift + F10 Show the context menu of the chosen item F1 Get screen help F2 Rename the chosen item F3 Search for a specific file or folder F4 Display the Explorer address bar list Windows F5 Refresh the active window F6 Allows you to scroll through the elements contained on the desktop or on the screen of a window F10 Activate the menu bar in the active software F11 Minimize or maximize the window you are in, within Windows Explorer Start Go to the beginning of a specific topic End Go to the end of a specific topic Shift + F10 Show the context menu of the selected item Shift + any arrow key To select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or its default , select text in a document Shift when inserting a CD Prevent the CD from playing automatically Shift + Tab Move backward through the or options in a dialog box Shift + click on a taskbar button Open a program or quickly open another example of a program Shift + right-click on a taskbar button Displays the window menu for the Program

Learn step by step how to modify keyboard shortcuts in Windows 7

Just as Windows offers a bunch of key sequences created and designed to allow its users to get more productivity to perform different actions on their PC, so too offers the ability to modify and customize keyboard shortcuts . Well, it is a functionality that serves to optimize each user’s experience .

Therefore, if you want to know how to change keyboard shortcuts in windows 7 to improve your actions vastly according to your requirements on the PC, we invite you to read the following procedure.

Let’s see each of the steps to follow for this:

Get the shortcut of the program you want to create a keyboard shortcut for

To start, you have to choose and locate the program to which you want to modify or customize a keyboard shortcut in W7 . For this, it will also be necessary make use of its shortcut and if you don’t have it, you need to establish one using the executable file and accessing its options, to select the one that says “Create a shortcut” .

On the other hand, if the software or application in question is within the Start Menu from your computer, you don’t need to search for its executable file. Since, simply, you can drag it to the Desktop and from there, create its shortcut manually .

Access the “Properties” of the program in question

Once you obtain the shortcut file of the program or application that you want to customize by means of a keyboard shortcut, it is time to access its Properties menu . To do it, simply click on that file with the right mouse button . Next, among all the options available within the contextual menu, go to the end of it and press the selection called “Properties” .

Select the “Shortcut” tab

Once the above is done, a menu will open that has several sections and among them, you have to click on “Direct access” . Afterwards, you will get various options available and there, You must locate yourself in the “Shortcut key” bar .

In general, if the program does not have any hotkeys so far, the term “None” will be displayed . Therefore, to customize it, you simply have to enter the key combination you want to access the program or application in question . It’s recommended that, start with “Ctrl + Alt” and is easy to memorize.

Save the new custom keyboard shortcut

Finally, when you have entered the keyboard shortcut to use to enter the indicated program, it is time to save the new keyboard shortcut on your PC. For this, only you have to click on the “OK” button or, failing that, select the “Apply” option . Thus, you will manage your actions in a more comfortable, fast and efficient way in windows 7 .

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Watch CBS News

Assign Keyboard Shortcuts to Any Program in Windows 7

By Dave Johnson

Updated on: July 30, 2009 / 11:16 PM EDT / MoneyWatch

Just right click a program icon (or its entry in the Start menu) and choose Properties . On the Shortcut tab, click in the Shortcut key field and enter your shortcut of choice. That's all there is to it.

Don't know where the program icon is located on your labyrinthine hard drive? Don't forget that you can just use the search box in the Start menu to get the app to appear, and then right click it to get to the Properties dialog.

Want to explore some more goodies in your test build of Windows 7 on this hot, lazy Friday? We've got a veritable clown's bounty of other Windows 7 tips, too:

• Optimize Vista and Windows 7 with Ultimate Windows Tweaker
• Make Windows 7 Jump Lists Even More Convenient with 7stacks
• Install Windows 7 on a Netbook -- Without a DVD Drive
• Get More Out of the Windows 7 Beta: The Definitive List of Win7 Tips

View all articles by Dave Johnson on CBS MoneyWatch » Dave Johnson is editor of eHow Tech and author of three dozen books, including the best-selling How to Do Everything with Your Digital Camera . Dave has previously worked at Microsoft and has written about technology for a long list of magazines that include PC World and Wired .

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