Cannot Assign a Deleted Shortcut Key to a Different Shortcut

ID: Q182366

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 4.0, 4.01 for Windows 95
• Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 4.0, 4.01 for Windows NT 4.0

SYMPTOMS

If you delete a shortcut to which you assigned a shortcut key, you may be unable to assign the same shortcut key to a different shortcut.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if both of the following conditions exist:

• The shortcut key contains a function key.
• The Windows Desktop Update component is installed.

RESOLUTION

To prevent this behavior from occurring, reassign or remove the shortcut key before you delete the shortcut to which it is assigned. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Right-click the shortcut you want, and then click Properties.

2. On the Shortcut tab, click the Shortcut Key box.

3. Reassign the shortcut key by typing a new key combination, or remove

   the shortcut key by pressing the BACKSPACE key (None appears in the
   Shortcut Key box).

To work around this behavior, create a new shortcut using the same name as the shortcut you deleted. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Right-click the location where you want to create a new shortcut, point

   to New, and then click Shortcut.

   shortcut you deleted.

MORE INFORMATION

If you create a new shortcut using the same name as the shortcut you deleted, the program to which the new shortcut points is started when you press the shortcut key that was assigned to the deleted shortcut. This occurs even if you do not assign a shortcut key to the new shortcut.

If you assign a different shortcut key to the new shortcut, both the shortcut key that was assigned to the deleted shortcut and the new shortcut key can be used to start the program to which the new shortcut points.

Additional query words: 4.00 4.01 hotkey

Keywords          : kbenv msiew95 msient 
Version           : WINDOWS:4.0,4.01
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: March 18, 1999