Add right-click to XP on MacBook and MacBook Pro

If you've used Bootcamp to install XP on your MacBook or MacBook Pro, you might have been frustrated by not being able to right-click. While shift + f10 will usually work, you might be looking for something more familiar. Apple Mouse Utility will let you use Control-click to right click. Simply place it in your Startup folder, and call it with /s, so that it launches silently on startup.

Also, KeyTweak will allow you to remap your Windows keyboard, useful for reassigning modifiers like Control-C to the Mac's Command-C, etc.

[robg adds: Don't worry, we're not turning into Win XP Hints, despite old April 1st announcements to that effect. But if there are general tips that will help Mac users make their time in Windows more productive, such as this pointer to a couple of very useful apps, we'll run them. What we won't do, however, are run hints regarding using Windows XP itself ("How to configure a wireless connection in XP"). There are lots of places for such help, but we'll continue to focus on hints regarding OS X!]

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The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.

Add right-click to XP on MacBook and MacBook Pro
Authored by: djones on Wed, May 31 2006 at 8:33AM PDT

I find Input Remapper to be loads more useful than either of the suggestions in the published hint. It makes ALL of your function modifiers work, and has greater flexibility over key use for click modifiers.

Add right-click to XP on MacBook and MacBook Pro
Authored by: xSmurf on Wed, May 31 2006 at 11:33AM PDT

I have to agree with you InputRemapper does the job, does it great and does it easily. I haven't tried it in Parallel yet. But on a side note, if you're trying to right click while in parallel, exit the mouse capture (hit ctrl-alt) and then right click in the window (ctrl-click or double finger tap). It will bring up the contextual menu in windows. Not such a "clean" solution, but it does the job.

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PM G4 DP 800 / 1.25gb / 120Gb+80Gb / CD/DVD±RW/RAM/DL
- The only APP Smurf

Add right-click to XP on MacBook and MacBook Pro
Authored by: xSmurf on Wed, May 31 2006 at 12:00PM PDT

I just tested this and InputManager doesn't seem to work under Parallel (didn't try too hard though). AppleMouse does work though, and since fn-delete already does I just that's fine!

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PM G4 DP 800 / 1.25gb / 120Gb+80Gb / CD/DVD±RW/RAM/DL
- The only APP Smurf

Add right-click to XP on MacBook and MacBook Pro
Authored by: jwyner on Thu, Jun 1 2006 at 8:25AM PDT

Right-clicking in Parallels is accomplished by Shift-Ctrl-Click rather than the usual Ctrl-Click

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"The significant problems we face cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them."
-- Albert Einstein

Add right-click to XP on MacBook and MacBook Pro
Authored by: monickels on Wed, May 31 2006 at 9:25AM PDT

I'm sorry but I don't understand "call it with /s." How is that done if one has added an alias to the Startup folder in the Programs folder of the Start menu?

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Double-Tongued Word Wrester: a growing dictionary of old and new words from the fringes of English.

Add right-click to XP on MacBook and MacBook Pro
Authored by: ScottTFrazer on Wed, May 31 2006 at 10:53AM PDT

Right-click on the alias in the startup folder, select properties and change the target to include "/s" at the end.

If your target contains quotes, put the /s outside the quotes, i.e.:

"C:\Program Files\mouse.exe" /s

(I don't remember what the actual program name is, so it's probably different than what I've written)

A few Windows hints can be a good thing ...
Authored by: osxpounder on Wed, May 31 2006 at 1:03PM PDT

... if it gets happy Mac users up and working with it on their Mac boxen. I'm all for a section of just Windows On Mac tips.

If I knew of a Windows tips site as good as yours, or if you ran one for Windows, I'd be there. I use it just enough to want tips that get me through the unpleasantness faster and back to my happy little Mac!

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osxpounder

install parallels tools
Authored by: arvee on Thu, Jun 1 2006 at 1:31PM PDT

just install parallels tools from the vm menu and all the mac functionality is there (two finger tab for contextual menu and two finger scrolling.

Add right-click to XP on MacBook and MacBook Pro
Authored by: 23646266 on Wed, Aug 30 2006 at 3:26AM PDT

hello world,

right 'apple command' key with mouse click will give you the right mouse button!

right handed middle finger + thumb to klick

greetz
=:-)f

All you need built in :)
Authored by: sotl on Sat, Jun 2 2007 at 7:22PM PDT

If you can scroll with 2 fingers in xp you can also right click without any additional software.

Put two fingers on the trackpad such as your index and middle fingers. With your thumb click the button. Instant right click in windows xp. Try it!

Found this out by accident on a MBP 15" that's only 2 months old so I can't say it will work with everyone. It's a three finger job, but it works so well that once you get past the awkwardness it becomes much more natural than ctrl-click.

All you need built in :)
Authored by: marklark on Wed, Mar 12 2008 at 2:20PM PDT

Mod parent up! ;^)

Add right-click to XP on MacBook and MacBook Pro
Authored by: jarobata on Wed, Jun 4 2008 at 3:10PM PDT

Can someone please explain the /s thing?

Add right-click to XP on MacBook and MacBook Pro
Authored by: dangr on Fri, Aug 15 2008 at 8:53AM PDT

I'm right there with you.... I'd love to know, too.

Also, on my MacBook running XP in Bootcamp, the double tap doesn't work for a right click, unlike what one of the commenters said. I can scroll with two fingers, but clicking just doesn't work

Add right-click to XP on MacBook and MacBook Pro
Authored by: paul h on Sun, Sep 7 2008 at 1:24AM PDT

You have to enable it in system preferences->keyboard and mouse->trackpad

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