Annoying Windows key

Frizzle Fry

Frizzle Fry

Well-known member
Don't know if this thread belongs elsewhere. Move if necessary.

So I was doing a bunch of editing recently and kept accidentally hitting the "windows key" on the lower right side of the keyboard. It was driving me nuts cause one time, after a few strokes I looked up at the screen and saw "Save changes before exiting?" and I'm like WTF??? Damn Windows key!!! Actually, it's an ongoing issue, but that was the final straw.

I thought, there has to be a way to disable that key, and sure enough:

http://johnhaller.com/jh/useful_stuff/disable_windows_key/

Another annoyance eliminated!
 
I do the same thing whenever I use photoshop. It drives me nuts, especailly since I go from work using a Mac and then home using a PC. The alt key on a MAC is in the same place as the windows key, so whenever I zoom, or try to clone stamp, I almost always hit the windows key.
So before I go and download this, have you noticed and side effects? Such as any other keys not working. That warning seemed a bit harsh. Are you having any strange problems?
 
Yeah, I think that's my problem, too. Mac at work, Windows at home. Gotta tell ya, that Mac keyboard is nice! (but it's also like $60)

The harsh warning is pretty standard fare when you are editing the registry. What you should do any time you edit the registry is back it up first. Go to Start>Run. Type in "regedit" and then go to File>Export... and choose the C:\ root folder, name it with today's date and save. Then double click on the .reg file you downloaded. You've have to restart for the change to take effect.

That way if you do experience strange problems, you can import the old registry before you edited it. With that out of the way, no I have not experienced any strange effects whatsoever! It works great! Basically, all it does is remap the keys, leaving that key out of the mapping. The key becomes deactivated. Very little risk of messing up your system.
 
Going back and forth between platforms will drive you insane. You can disable the windows button by pulling the button off the keyboard (ugly) or by placing a small rock under the key so it can't be pressed. :)

Does your keyboard have a "Power" key up near the F12 key? When using Dreamweaver I'm constantly hitting F12 to preview in Internet Explorer. But sometimes I'll hit the Power key instead and the computer shuts down. Of course the solution is easy; change the hot key to something other than F12, but I'm too lazy.
 
you should hot glue a thumbtack sticking up onto the nasty keys.. you will learn very quickly not to accidentally press them anymore. either that or stick a little thimbal with acid in it on there.. that would do it too i think.your finger would just get shorter evey time you hit the key unill you couldnt hit it anymore.
 
I just pried both of mine off - however on some keyboards you can't do it with your fingers (my keyboard) so I just used a tweezers for leverage and BAM popped both of em right off
 
I don't think I've ever accidentally hit the windows key. Though I don't switch between platforms. Plus my Intuous3 has the hot key on it, so I'm usually using those in photoshop.
 
Why not buy a $10 keyboard and pull the key off with a pair of pliers? You can always plug in another keyboard for non-editing functionality.
 
My cat sleeps between the keyboard and monitor, and recently discovered that I get really pissed off when it rests its head or paw on the "power-down" key.

So of course now whenever it wants attention (for a cat there's no such thing as bad attention) it starts randomly pawing in that area of the keyboard to shut the computer off (it has been successful many times.)

Stupid cat.

When I'm rendering, I have to unplug the keyboard (it also discovered the "esc" key.)
 
I can't believe you guys are botherd by a single key. It's actually kind of helpful for me. For instance when I'm at work surfing for porn... I meant research, all I do is hit the windows + D and it minimizes the screen. But of course I'm doing research so there's no need to do that. Oh shoot, someone is here...
 
hahaha. i guess i have found a new title for this thread. "annoying windows key for mac switch hitters." there's no doubt it bothers folks who use both KBs more than folks who just use Windows, who don't seem to know what the hell i'm talking about. :)

hmmm, how to explain it...imagine you use an electric screwdriver at work. if you press left, the screwdriver turns clockwise, and right, counter-clockwise. you go home and pick up your screwdriver--which is identical to your work screwdriver except for the color and feel--but your home screwdriver goes counterclockwise when you press left, and clockwise when you press right. seriously, this is the only analogy i can think of because there's really no direct comparison.

being able to disable the key is good news for some of us, completely non-applicable to others.
 
Here's a comparison...I lent my car out and got the other persons in exchange. The car I had for two days was a standard, mine's an automatic. First thing I did when I got my car back was put my foot on the clutch (non existent) before I started it. My foot had become conditioned in two days.
 
Haha Mino! I can't stand driving automatic transmissions. I learned on a standard and it's stuck I guess.
 
I get the same problem sometimes...but then one nite...i was eating some chinese food and i had a lot of rice in my mouth...and i accidently coughed and all the rice went into my keyboard..and a majority of it went into the cracks under the Windows key...so its jammed for me now....and im happy about it. lol

i got short fingers...

No joke either...true story.
 
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