How to disable the "windows" keys

[frogpipe]

Every now and then I get "dumped" out of Trainz or other full screen games by accidentally hitting the "windows" key, a key I never use anyway. Well I did a search today and turns out there's a fix, from Microsoft, to disable the key.

I haven't thoroughly tested it yet, but thought I'd share the link:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/216893

Note that I'm on WinXP, so it might not work if you are on a later OS.

 

[cascaderailroad]

I dint' even know that I had a Windows KB key on my keyboard ... Thanks fer' pointing it out to me !

You could always rip the Windows KB key, off your PC keyboard, using a teeny tiny ska-wuu-dwiv-ah'.

 

[frogpipe]

For the longest time I just refused to switch away from my old IBM "you could use it as a cricket bat" keyboard... But the day finally came where I needed a REAL usb keyboard and not on old one with an adaptor...

 

[mezzoprezzo]

I'm not sure I'd want to disable my Windows flag keys (my keyboard has two, one either side of the spacebar just beyond the Alt keys).

It's the only way I know to toggle from running Trainz full screen to get to other applications.

With the key disabled how would you be able to access other programs such as email, internet access (including the Forum!) unless you were using a second computer?

 

[cascaderailroad]

Even with my big fat ol' fingers, on a 6 year old PC, I have never ever even once, accidently hit the Windows KB key, not even once. Even though it is near my Shift/Ctrl/Alt/Space/Z and X key, I never even knew it was there ... and what is this "Fn" KB key ? I had to wipe the dust bunnies off of it, to be able to read it.

 

[mezzoprezzo]

~snip~ I have never ever even once, accidently hit the Windows KB key, not even once. ~snip~

Me neither, although I do use it deliberately around 200 times a day to toggle from Trainz full screen to the Windows Start button and lower screen application tabs!

The only key which bugs me is the Shift key when used to speed up the graphics, (by a factor of around 10 or more), in Driver DCC when testing routes. When you let it go, motion returns to normal speed, but you can speed up again at the next press. The problem is that using Shift five times in succession open up the Windows sticky key option box. it's a simple matter to say "no", but it is a nuisance.

I don't know what the "Fn" key is. My UK keyboard doesn't seem to have one.

 

[frogpipe]

Fn is unique to laptops from what I've seen, and allows keys to have extra functions.

As far as the windows key goes, guess I'm just extraordinarily clumsy - or maybe I notice it because it I "Widows Key" or even "Alt-tab" out of Trainz in full screen it invariably crashes when I try to return to it....

So there I am, coming into the station, and I try to "alt-D" to open the Draincocks and BOOM it's all over...

 

[frogpipe]

'course now that I've said that, I decided to TRY and crash it having just installed new video drivers and now it doesn't crash!! Gaw!

Still good to know, the page has a do and undo so you don't have to live with it.

 

[lewisner]

If you get a decent "gaming keyboard" most of them have a facility to disable the Windows key.

 

[shaneturner12]

If it's really causing an issue, there is software available to remap the key so it does either nothing or a different function entirely - http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/map-any-key-to-any-key-on-windows-xp-vista/ has an example of this.

Shane