I am hopefully getting a 12" PowerBook soon and will need to kill the Caps Lock light. I always remap Caps Lock to Control, and with the ABD keyboard in the laptops, it seems the only way to do this is with uControl. Only problem here is that there doesn't seem to be anything to kill the light from toggling with the key, even though it's always Control.

Anyone know how I can kill the light under the key? I wouldn't want to hurt anything.

Thanks.

You might try taking the key off of the keyboard and seeing if there is a wire. If so you could detach that. If not maybe you can use a piece of tape or something on the underside. Not too sure what the underside of the keyboard looks like. I got a powerbook myself, and I can't really figure out how to get the key up, like I could on the ibook. Let us know what you find out.

Well see that's the thing. I don't feel like screwing up a brand new machine if I don't know what something will do, you know?

O I know what you mean, but chances are you are one of the first if not the first to attempt this. Someone has to try it first. Why don't you see if you can find a build guide on the powerbook and see if there are some instructions on how to take off the keyboard. However, I think that it is really integrated and you are going to have a really really hard time with it. You might be able to find some sort of firmware hack or something, but I doubt anyone has done this. Doesn't seem like a very popular thing to do. Whats wrong with the light though? Why not have it?

Actually I just looked again and I was able to lift mine up enough to get a nice look under it. Looks like there is a little light under there that is shining through the hole and around the key a little. You could take a piece of black electrical tape and put it on the end of a paperclip, very carefully, slowly put it down ontop of the light. After you got it alligned with the paperclip, come back with a knife or a small screwdriver and make sure that it is on there tight enough. There might be a way to get this key off. I was looking and there seems to be some sort of clip in there that looks like it could be slid out of place with a paperclip or something. Maybe try those methods. Let me know how you come out.

i was also about to sugg. the electrical tape. lol

Thanks, guys. Yeah, I'm looking around now for some docs on removing the key caps so I can look underneath and just put some tape to block the light. I would think it's something basically like prying up the key cap and just popping it off, but I need to find exactly instructions. Anyone know? I don't see anything about it at Apple's site.

Btw, the problem with the light is that that key is now Control, not Caps Lock. Even though the key itself works as Control, the light will still go on and off every time you hit it. I don't want that.

One time when one of my friends was messing w/ my computer, he broke off one of the keys, it attached back fine, basically you could pop it off (pocket knife???) and put tape on the little clip that holds it in place. It should work. I would sugest "gaffers tape" rather than electrical, its a little thicker (black ducktape type stuff...) and it should blank out the light. But if its an LED, you could just take it out and put on a simple wire in its place. (ps to take leds off see the Red to blue mouse page, i forgot what its called...)

-Knife

Red to Blue Mouse Mod

http://www.macmod.com/content/view/30/2/

Ok i was bored so i poped up my caps lock key from the front.... it appears to be an led, but you would have to open the comp all up to remove it, i sugest just pulling the key up, (FROM THE FRONT, APPERENTLY APPLE THOUGHT PPL WOULD WANT TO OPEN THE CAPS LOCK KEY< SO THEY MADE IT TO OPEN FROM THE FRONT...) and put a small peice of tape over the little thing with the marker cercle over it. then close. like i said get a small peice of gaffers tape... and press the button down hard after repair... enjoy.

-Knife