Driver for Microsoft Office Keyboard?

I just ran the Windows 7 Upgrade Adviser and it reads that my Intellitype Pro 5.0.00.174.0 driver for my ancient Microsoft Office Keyboard (Model RT-9450) won't work with W7. MS has stopped supporting it after XP. For me this is a deal breaker because I love my keyboard with the cut, copy, paste buttons and the scroll wheel on the left side of the keyboard.

The last time I recall I had to install an old French language driver to make the keyboard work with Vista.

Anyone know of a fix?

Thanks,

Kerry
Vista Ultimate

FROM: Microsoft Office Keyboard

Just to update everyone,

I found that you can select "Digital Media Pro" from the IntelliType Pro 6.1 Keyboard Software for Windows, here http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=DF48E271-8973-4F20-8C16-252DFB7D8F9E&displaylang=en for the Microsoft Office Keyboard (RT9450) and every function will work except the scroll wheel.

Moose

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For those of you still struggling, as I did for months, in finding a way to make your Office Keyboard to FULLY function in Vista here is a method that will work. It will take you some time, but a little more time spent to have the keyboard and all settings available for use will be worthwhile.

The first thing to do is to download and "Save" the installation for version 5. The link below to the Microsoft website is the first step.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/results.aspx?pocId=&freetext=MICROSOFT%20OFFICE%20KEYBOARD&DisplayLang=en

Scroll down to: IntelliType Pro 5 Keyboard Software for Windows XP and Windows 2000.

The proper procedure now is to "Save" the Pro 5 to any folder, preferably not on C drive where your OS is located, but if you do then create a new folder to place the download into.

If you are like me you have downloaded or loaded several different versions of IntelliType Pro setup programs. Further, when you attempt through add/remove programs to eliminate the prior version listed you cannot uninstall; maybe delete but that only deletes the surface problem not the registry problem where the program still resides. So you must get rid of all prior installed versions; I would recommend removing a prior installation of Version 5 as well.

To do this open “run” and enter “regedit”. This will lead you to the registry. Yes, if you don’t pay attention you could foul something up but you can always restore to an earlier date and get yourself up and running again. Condense the various categories so only the title of the category shows. Highlight “My Computer” (don’t click it) then open “Edit”. The menu drop down has “Find” so click it. Now type in the blank space “Microsoft Office Keyboard”. The reason we highlighted “My Computer” is that we want the search of the registry to start at the beginning of all available folders and work its way through the entirety of the folder tree.

The search will begin when you click “Find Next”. Delete every occurrence found in this registry search that is associated with any version of Office Keyboard. I had one sub- folder open (can be seen in the left pane the precise folder that is open) that was obviously dedicated to this program, thus I deleted the “folder” not just the contents of the folder. I did not delete any other of the sub-folders that preceded the one that was opened and that numerous entries of Office Keyboard associations and I didn’t want to sit there deleting about two dozen entries one at a time. It was obvious this opened sub-folder was nothing but Office Keyboard related paths and values.

Indeed, this sub-folder was the only location of Office Keyboard within the entire registry.

Next we go to the Control Panel and click “Keyboard”; the Keyboard Properties box will open. Now click the “Hardware” tab; this will open a box that lists “devices” and “Microsoft USB Office Keyboard (IntelliType Pro and version will be shown within the parenthesis)”. A button titled “Properties” should be shown. Click this button. Another box will open entitled “Microsoft USB Office Keyboard” (IntelliType Pro) Properties. Click the “Driver” tab. Go down to the bottom button and click “Uninstall”.

Once the uninstall has finished close out and go back to the Control Panel. This time click on “System” OR as my control panel shows a “Device Manager”; clicking this is a shortcut to where we would go if you click “System” then click “Device Manager” listed to the left under “Tasks”.

In Device manager find “Keyboard” and click it open. “Microsoft USB Office Keyboard (IntelliType Pro)” should be listed. Now double click the name (or you can right click to select “Properties”)and the properties box will open. Once again you will see a “Driver” tab. Again down below is a “Uninstall” button. As before click it to uninstall and when this process is finished close out everything including the Control Panel.

For the next few steps you will not have a keyboard, nor should you need it.

First unplug your keyboard from whatever USB socket it is in.
Second “TURN OFF THE COMPUTER – DO NOT USE RESTART!!” DO NOT RECONNECT THE USB FOR THE KEYBOARD AFTER REBOOTING!! The processes to follow will be accomplished without the keyboard!

Wait about one or more minutes before rebooting. Once you back to your desktop go to where you saved your downloaded Version 5 program installation. The name of your downloaded installation should be: ITP5_OENG.exe – DO NOT LEFT BUTTON CLICK IT!! Right click and a menu opens. Click “Properties”. Click the “Compatibility” tab. Select “Windows XP Service Pack 2”.

Copy the installation execute file and paste directly into the “Program Files” folder (C:\Program Files). Do not open “Program Files” just hover over it so the title is highlighted then past the installation file into “Program Files”.

Now condense the tree so that only your drives and/or partitions are displayed. Re-open C drive and single click “Program Files” so that all files within are displayed only in the right panel. Scroll down to the installation execute file for version 5. Check to make sure the compatibility is still “Windows XP Service Pack 2”. Do not click to install until this compatibility is selected.

Once the compatibility issue is correct click to start the installation. (REMEMBER YOUR KEYBOARD MUST STILL NOT BE RECONNECTED BEFORE THE PROGRAM IS INSTALLED!!) The keyboard was disconnected before you shut down the computer and you do not reconnect the USB until after the following steps. If you have reconnected your keyboard before the installation of the program then you must disconnect, power off and repeat the steps shown above.

During the installation you will get the notorious warnings from Vista. Ignore them and continue to install per the installation instructions. Eventually you will have installed the program including the “Launch” capability that allows you to revise key settings etc. Right now all we want is to complete the installation and nothing more.

Once the installation process has been completed shut down your computer again. Wait for about a minute then boot up.

DO NOT RECONNECT YOUR KEYBOARD!!

When your desktop is back now we are going to get rid of the nuisance that drives everyone to the wall who is trying to run a legitimate program. To exemplify this attempt to open the “Microsoft Keyboard” icon that was placed on your desktop during installation. As you do here comes the Vista warning. Click “Run program” and now you have the problem solved, right? Not yet. The “Keyboard Properties” box will be displayed and when you try to go further you may be able to or not. If you cannot go any further we need to get rid of the nemesis known as DEP which is that feature of Vista that keeps legitimate programs you’ve always used from functioning, such as our keyboard.

What is “DEP”? Simply, Data Execution Prevention. Read about it and the next step we perform may cause fright, but this prevention is what Vista uses to cause us nightmares because we can’t use at all or only partially programs we have been using for years, or in this case our keyboard. DEP works on the premise that anything that tries to function that it is programmed not to allow is treated as a protection against a virus invasion. In other words, any program that attempts to run as it always has in Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows 98 and such suddenly are rendered useless in Vista. Thus when your program tries to use the path(s) it has previously Vista thinks it must be a virus because of the settings within DEP, thus Vista shuts the program down and you are stuck either without the program or function at all or your program is operating with only a portion of its capability.

To go around this problem you have two options: Live with the misery, or modify DEP, or eliminate its insanity. DEP will allow selected programs to function if you have “authority” to do so; however after I attempted to list every known Version 5 file for exemption the problem remained. So I eliminated DEP! I have virus protection and all the programs I use are legitimate and if downloaded from the internet, only known and reputable sites are used. So my fear of a virus is nil. I just want my legitimate programs and devices to function properly and fully.

Click Start, then Run. Type in cmd. When the command prompt displays enter:
bcdedit.exe /set {current} nx AlwaysOn
If you get nervous sometime in the days ahead about DEP no longer functioning you can repeat the process described only this time: bcdedit.exe /set {current} nx AlwaysOff
But of course your programs you like may not function again, or you will not be able to reset your keys on your keyboard unless you go back in to reset DEP as shown.

After having rid ourselves of the dreaded DEP we again shut down the computer and wait for about one minute. While we are waiting you can now reconnect your keyboard to the preferred USB connection. Now reboot and go to your desktop Microsoft Keyboard icon, click it and our DEP friend appears but click “run program” and enter “Keyboard Properties” and set your keys! Or leave them in their default usage setting. All keys will function; both upper and lower use of the function keys; all the buttons will function: Word; Excel; Web/Home; Mail etc. The scroll wheel will work; the application toggle will work. Even the Sleep button!! Which is what you can now do at nights because your favorite Microsoft Office Keyboard is no longer neutered…or spayed by Vista!!

Point of order -
Many hardware devices can use drivers made for similar devices from different mfgrs.

Chip incest.

The trick is determining parentage and is not easy to do.

Thanks Moose. I'm hoping someone will discover a fix that allows the copy, cut, and paste buttons, and the scroll wheel to work.

BTW: I used Barcode's workaround for our Vista using ITP5_0Fra.exe (see instructions Microsoft Office Keyboard RT9450 - Vista Hardware Devices).

Kerry

iKerry said:

Thanks Moose.

That's Mr. Moose to you.

BarCode said:

Hi all. I have Windows 7 now, and still my Mircosoft Office Keyboard. The trick of my previous post for Windows Vista doesn't work under Windows 7. So i found something new to have the keyboard working completely, scroll wheel included.

1. Install Mircosoft IntelliType Pro 7 (last version), select Wireless Desktop Elite Keyboard or Digital Media Pro. All special keys should work, appart the scroll wheel.

2. Install AutoHotkey from AutoHotkey - Free Mouse and Keyboard Macro Program with Hotkeys and AutoText

3. Write this script for AutoHotkey:

; --------------------------------------------------
; Lines that start with a ; semicolon are comments.
; Microsoft Office Keyboard RT9450: Making the ScrollWheel work under Windows 7. ScrollUp/Down Normal, Fast, Faster, Fastest

sc10B Up::Send {WheelDown}
sc111 Up::Send {WheelDown 3}
sc112 Up::Send {WheelDown 5}
sc11F Up::Send {WheelDown 7}
sc10B Down::Send {WheelUp}
sc111 Down::Send {WheelUp 3}
sc112 Down::Send {WheelUp 5}
sc11F Down::Send {WheelUp 7}

Return
; --------------------------------------------------

4. Make this script start at Windows startup with a shortcut in Start menu.

This is working fine for me. The wheel sends 4 special codes depending of the speed you turn it, simulating a key up or down press. These codes are redirected to WheelUp/Down by AutoHotkey, with the number of steps. You can tweak the number following WheelUp or WheelDown. Btw, my keyboard is plugged on PS/2 with adaptator, not sure it works directly on USB.

Downloaded the AutoHotkey software, read the excellent help and had it running in 5 minutes.

My two keyboards now work with all functions uncluding the wonderful scroll wheel.

As a disabled user, the scroll wheel is a godsend, thanks