How to disable the Windows key

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Pat Briams
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How to disable the Windows key

Post by Pat Briams » Sun Jul 04, 2010 7:19 am

So I've been playing around with my dad's new PC. One thing drives me nuts (apart from its operating system): the Windows key. I've lost count of how many times I've accidentally brought up the start menu while trying to access my quickslots in NWN.

Microsoft's (hideous) solution can be found here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/216893

Does anyone know of a way to easily disable/enable the Windows key without having to reboot? Ideally, I would like to only prevent the start menu from popping up. The keyboard shortcuts such as Win+E should still function normally.

And no, I don't plan to pluck out the key...
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Re: How to disable the Windows key

Post by spool32 » Sun Jul 04, 2010 8:37 am

Lern 2 tipe.



heh, I have no solution except to get used to it. :(
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Re: How to disable the Windows key

Post by Obscure » Sun Jul 04, 2010 8:52 am

Other solution would be to buy a keyboard on which you can turn it off
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Re: How to disable the Windows key

Post by S_N » Sun Jul 04, 2010 12:26 pm

I run linux!, and have no trouble with those wendows keys. In fact, they are quite useful for playing games.

I think there's a way to disable them even if you aren't brave enough to convert yet ;)
Google found me this, that might point you in the right direction:
http://johnhaller.com/jh/useful_stuff/d ... ndows_key/

maybe this works? (no idea)
http://winkill.clangen.org/
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Re: How to disable the Windows key

Post by MadK@ » Sun Jul 04, 2010 1:25 pm

Place screw driver at 45 degree angle, wedge between Alt and windows key, gently lever screw driver until you hear a pop and the windows key launches, proceed as normal.
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Re: How to disable the Windows key

Post by Kip Durrin » Sun Jul 04, 2010 1:48 pm

MadK@ wrote:Place screw driver at 45 degree angle, wedge between Alt and windows key, gently lever screw driver until you hear a pop and the windows key launches, proceed as normal.
+1
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Re: How to disable the Windows key

Post by Nighthawk4 » Sun Jul 04, 2010 2:26 pm

Use a Mac :lol:
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Re: How to disable the Windows key

Post by gutemensch » Sun Jul 04, 2010 2:49 pm

Win Key Assassin

just google it
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Re: How to disable the Windows key

Post by Ringwraith » Sun Jul 04, 2010 2:50 pm

spool32 wrote:Lern 2 tipe.
The master at work I see. :P

Also, I've learn to just avoid it. I run NWN in a window anyway, so it's not a big deal even if I do hit it.
Permanently confused.
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Re: How to disable the Windows key

Post by wolfwielder » Sun Jul 04, 2010 3:53 pm

MadK@ wrote:Place screw driver at 45 degree angle, wedge between Alt and windows key, gently lever screw driver until you hear a pop and the windows key launches, proceed as normal.
:cooler: :cooler: :cooler: :cooler:
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Re: How to disable the Windows key

Post by Grunt » Sun Jul 04, 2010 3:57 pm

Pat Briams wrote:So I've been playing around with my dad's new PC. One thing drives me nuts (apart from its operating system): the Windows key. I've lost count of how many times I've accidentally brought up the start menu while trying to access my quickslots in NWN.

Microsoft's (hideous) solution can be found here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/216893

Does anyone know of a way to easily disable/enable the Windows key without having to reboot? Ideally, I would like to only prevent the start menu from popping up. The keyboard shortcuts such as Win+E should still function normally.

And no, I don't plan to pluck out the key...
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A few keymap solutions there (including the aforementioned registry change)

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Re: How to disable the Windows key

Post by Gorgon » Mon Jul 05, 2010 6:40 am

MadK@ wrote:Place screw driver at 45 degree angle, wedge between Alt and windows key, gently lever screw driver until you hear a pop and the windows key launches, proceed as normal.
Works for CAPSLOCK too!
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Re: How to disable the Windows key

Post by Albion » Mon Jul 05, 2010 1:05 pm

I found a great little programme called ITP*86_1033. It lets you disable the left windows key and caps lock key as well in a few clicks.

For me caps lock is even more annoying especially when you start typing in game then find you have hit caps lock and are shouting.
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Re: How to disable the Windows key

Post by Gorgon » Mon Jul 05, 2010 1:19 pm

My keyboard lets me reprogram anything on it. I still pop out the caps and win key, mostly so I can use the empty spaces as guides for my left hand during pub crawls ;) I've been hen pecking at the keyboard for ... a long time, and at least that lets me do it without looking, while still keeping one hand on the mouse.
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Re: How to disable the Windows key

Post by loki70 » Mon Jul 05, 2010 3:03 pm

I just have nimble fingers. You can take out the windows key and put a label on it that says "any key" and then see how many people press it when asked.
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Re: How to disable the Windows key

Post by S_N » Mon Jul 05, 2010 4:36 pm

(Keyboard.hacks.so.nerdy.)
I remap CapsLock to be an additional ESC for easy access when touch-typing.
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Re: How to disable the Windows key

Post by Gairus » Mon Jul 05, 2010 10:26 pm

http://www.logitech.com/en-us/keyboards ... vices/3498

with user profiles for each you! :D
(then remap on yours without annoying Dad. just make sure to not let him keep the spensive thing <_<)
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Re: How to disable the Windows key

Post by Pat Briams » Tue Jul 06, 2010 4:45 am

That's perfect! Thank you, S_N~ And thanks to all who have replied :prost:

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Re: How to disable the Windows key

Post by Tel » Tue Jul 06, 2010 6:41 am

From shiba:
Fixed

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Re: How to disable the Windows key

Post by Pathos Street » Tue Jul 06, 2010 3:17 pm

Obscure wrote:Other solution would be to buy a keyboard on which you can turn it off
I have this, and it is great.
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Re: How to disable the Windows key

Post by Grunt » Tue Jul 06, 2010 4:23 pm

Pat Briams wrote:
That's perfect! Thank you, S_N~ And thanks to all who have replied :prost:

self.nerdLore++;
Sweet! I've got this running now as well. I'm forever hitting the windows key instead of CTRL or Shift.

One other annoyance from the windows key is when I come back from alt-tabbing/Windows key minimizing sometimes, my focus is frozen...everything is still happening but mouse/keyboard won't work. Themicles let me know to just hit the alt key and it will return focus :D

Now to figure out why sometimes it shifts my screen horizontally. Same resolution, just... there's a black bar on the left sideand the entire picture is shifted over and some is off of the viewable area of the screen... X:| another alt-tab usually fixes it.

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