Un-assigning a default Windows key combination

Larry · External Since: Feb 17, 2005 Posts: 215

I realize this may be a difficult question, but does anyone know of a way to
change the Windows logo key assignments that are given by default in
Windows? I'm not talking about disabling the Windows keys, but changing the
assignment of a particular Windows key combination.

In Windows 98, there are several default assignments, such as Winkey plus D
to show the Desktop, Win + R to open the Run dialog box and so on. All those
defeult assignments are fine. But I acquired a laptop with XP recently, and
it has a default assignment of Win+U for the Utility Manager. The problem
is, I also use the Winkey utility which allows the user to assign the
Windows key plus other keys to a variety of commands, and I was using Win+U
for a frequently used command and I want to keep it.

Even if I removed Utility manager, that wouldn't fix the problem, since
Win+U would keep that assignment to Utility manager and couldn't be assigned
to anything else.

So is there any way to free up that key combo so that I can assign it as I
choose?

I realize this may be a tough question as those default Windows key
assignments seem to be embedded in the Windows programming itself, beyond
the level of the Registry. But it really annoys me that Microsoft takes away
a key assignment I was using and prevents me from getting it back, and I
would love to find a way to reassert control over my computer.

Thanks,
Larry

MEB · External Since: Jul 16, 2009 Posts: 17

Larry wrote:
>
> I realize this may be a difficult question, but does anyone know of a way to
> change the Windows logo key assignments that are given by default in
> Windows? I'm not talking about disabling the Windows keys, but changing the
> assignment of a particular Windows key combination.
>
> In Windows 98, there are several default assignments, such as Winkey plus D
> to show the Desktop, Win + R to open the Run dialog box and so on. All those
> defeult assignments are fine. But I acquired a laptop with XP recently, and
> it has a default assignment of Win+U for the Utility Manager. The problem
> is, I also use the Winkey utility which allows the user to assign the
> Windows key plus other keys to a variety of commands, and I was using Win+U
> for a frequently used command and I want to keep it.
>
> Even if I removed Utility manager, that wouldn't fix the problem, since
> Win+U would keep that assignment to Utility manager and couldn't be assigned
> to anything else.
>
> So is there any way to free up that key combo so that I can assign it as I
> choose?
>
> I realize this may be a tough question as those default Windows key
> assignments seem to be embedded in the Windows programming itself, beyond
> the level of the Registry. But it really annoys me that Microsoft takes away
> a key assignment I was using and prevents me from getting it back, and I
> would love to find a way to reassert control over my computer.
>
> Thanks,
> Larry
>

So which system...

Win9X had a tool offered in kernel toys [1996?] for the function.
Several other applications were designed to supply the function.

XP - check the Server 2003 ResKit Tools, XP ResKit [or was it the
Support Kit on the CD?] offered by Microsoft.

--
MEB
http://peoplescounsel.org/ref/windows-main.htm
Windows Info, Diagnostics, Security, Networking
http://peoplescounsel.org
The "real world" of Law, Justice, and Government
___---

dadiOH · External Since: Mar 28, 2009 Posts: 11

Larry wrote:
> I realize this may be a difficult question, but does anyone know of a
> way to change the Windows logo key assignments that are given by
> default in Windows? I'm not talking about disabling the Windows keys,
> but changing the assignment of a particular Windows key combination.
>
> In Windows 98, there are several default assignments, such as Winkey
> plus D to show the Desktop, Win + R to open the Run dialog box and so
> on. All those defeult assignments are fine. But I acquired a laptop
> with XP recently, and it has a default assignment of Win+U for the
> Utility Manager. The problem is, I also use the Winkey utility which
> allows the user to assign the Windows key plus other keys to a
> variety of commands, and I was using Win+U for a frequently used
> command and I want to keep it.
>
> Even if I removed Utility manager, that wouldn't fix the problem,
> since Win+U would keep that assignment to Utility manager and
> couldn't be assigned to anything else.
>
> So is there any way to free up that key combo so that I can assign it
> as I choose?

Maybe but I doubt it. Best I can suggest is to assign another control key -
Ctrl, Alt, etc. - + "U" for your frequently used command.

BTW, Hot Key Plus is much handier than Windows for assigning hot keys. IMO,
YMMV.
http://www.brianapps.net/hotkeyplus/

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

Larry · External Since: Feb 17, 2005 Posts: 215

> Maybe but I doubt it. Best I can suggest is to assign another control
key -
> Ctrl, Alt, etc. - + "U" for your frequently used command.
>
> BTW, Hot Key Plus is much handier than Windows for assigning hot keys.
IMO,
> YMMV.
> http://www.brianapps.net/hotkeyplus/

Thanks, I'll check out Hot Key Plus, since Winkey doesn't work in the
Windows versions after XP and I'll need to find a replacement eventually.

Larry · External Since: Feb 17, 2005 Posts: 215

> So which system...

It's XP that I want to make the change in, since XP has that built-in Win+
assignment.

> XP - check the Server 2003 ResKit Tools, XP ResKit [or was it the
Support Kit on the CD?] offered by Microsoft.

Great, I'll check this out. I'm actually surprised that Microsoft actually
supplies something that allows the user to change a built in Windows key
assignmemtn.

Larry

MEB · External Since: Jul 16, 2009 Posts: 17

Larry wrote:
>> So which system...
>
> It's XP that I want to make the change in, since XP has that built-in Win+
> assignment.
>
>> XP - check the Server 2003 ResKit Tools, XP ResKit [or was it the
> Support Kit on the CD?] offered by Microsoft.
>
> Great, I'll check this out. I'm actually surprised that Microsoft actually
> supplies something that allows the user to change a built in Windows key
> assignmemtn.
>
> Larry
>

I'm not sure how far you really can go [those were just suggestions],
and the specific one you want to change {win+u} may be impossible. Just
a reminder [this is a 9X discussion group], this is XP actually being
discussed (and I avoid XP).

Overriding or Disabling Hotkeys
http://www.autohotkey.com/docs/misc/Override.htm
Program Your Own Keyboard Shortcuts
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2328732,00.asp

Sometimes the video driver or monitor may have its own over-ride abilities.

I suppose we would be remiss not putting something about what the
hotkeys/shortcuts are in here:

Keyboard shortcuts for Windows
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/126449

And to reset keys [from an XP customizing discussion]:

Control Panel> Regional Language and Language Options > Advanced tab >
check the box at the very bottom (Default user account settings)

--
MEB
http://peoplescounsel.org/ref/windows-main.htm
Windows Info, Diagnostics, Security, Networking
http://peoplescounsel.org
The "real world" of Law, Justice, and Government
___---

thanatoid · External Since: Aug 21, 2006 Posts: 355

"Larry" <larry328NOSPAM.TakeThisOut@att.net> wrote in
news:uExMUG3WKHA.1372@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl:

Check out this page:
http://software.filestube.com/k/key+remap

and go on from there if necessary.

You might also try a utility like FKeys etc.

--
There are only two classifications of disk drives: Broken drives
and those that will break later.
- Chuck Armstrong

Larry · External Since: Feb 17, 2005 Posts: 215

Thanks. I've downloaded and installed. KeyRemapper, which looks as though it
has as much flexibility as I could ask for. I'll find out soon if it can do
what I need.

thanatoid · External Since: Aug 21, 2006 Posts: 355

"Larry" <larry328NOSPAM.RemoveThis@att.net> wrote in
news:#hCchiMXKHA.508@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl:

> Thanks. I've downloaded and installed. KeyRemapper, which
> looks as though it has as much flexibility as I could ask
> for. I'll find out soon if it can do what I need.

Hope it works for you. (Let us know, it's nice to know if a
suggestion was actually helpful!)

--
There are only two classifications of disk drives: Broken drives
and those that will break later.
- Chuck Armstrong

Larry · External Since: Feb 17, 2005 Posts: 215

> > Thanks. I've downloaded and installed. KeyRemapper, which
> > looks as though it has as much flexibility as I could ask
> > for. I'll find out soon if it can do what I need.
>
> Hope it works for you. (Let us know, it's nice to know if a
> suggestion was actually helpful!)

It turns out that Key Remapper just remaps individual keys, not key combos.
For example, I assigned Alt+/ to do the job of Alt+F4, so that I wouldn't
constantly have to reach up to the the F4 key to close a window. But it
wasn't Alt+/ which took the assignement, it was / which took the assignment.
Meaning that pressing / would close a window and also I had lost the ability
to type a forward slash. So that wasn't usable. I wouldn't want a single key
to be able to do something as powerful as close a window—it's too easy to
press a single key by accident. It's impossible to press Alt+/ by accident.

And of course Key Remapper is no help at all in unassigning/assigning
commands to Winkey+[key], which is what I was looking for.

It was useful with one thing. I have a Lenovo laptop, and the keyboard is
very badly designed. For one thing, the Delete key is in the same row as the
function keys, as far away as can be. I have to reach so far every time to
press Delete. So I assigned the ] (close bracket) key to run the Delete key,
and that's been an improvement though far from ideal.

"thanatoid" <waiting.RemoveThis@the.exit.invalid> wrote in message
news:Xns9CB8BD809D812thanexit@188.40.43.245...
> "Larry" <larry328NOSPAM.RemoveThis@att.net> wrote in
> news:#hCchiMXKHA.508@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl:
>
> > Thanks. I've downloaded and installed. KeyRemapper, which
> > looks as though it has as much flexibility as I could ask
> > for. I'll find out soon if it can do what I need.
>
> Hope it works for you. (Let us know, it's nice to know if a
> suggestion was actually helpful!)
>
>
> --
> There are only two classifications of disk drives: Broken drives
> and those that will break later.
> - Chuck Armstrong

thanatoid · External Since: Aug 21, 2006 Posts: 355

"Larry" <larry328NOSPAM.TakeThisOut@att.net> wrote in
news:#liQ05pXKHA.508@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl:

> It turns out that Key Remapper just remaps individual keys,
> not key combos.

There ARE apps which allow you to set combos. Try dome of the
others on that page or now that you know what you're looking
for, do some searching.

> For example, I assigned Alt+/ to do the job
> of Alt+F4, so that I wouldn't constantly have to reach up
> to the the F4 key to close a window. But it wasn't Alt+/
> which took the assignement, it was / which took the
> assignment. Meaning that pressing / would close a window
> and also I had lost the ability to type a forward slash.

Generally speaking, this is what I have found to be the problem
with key remappers. You have to spend /dome time/ dreaming up a
useful key combination which will not conflict or cause
undesirable/disastrous results or both. The ONLY time I used one
successfully was when I had a keyboard so old it didn't have the
Windows keys, so I assigned a couple to those. It worked great.
When the old kbd died I got a newer keyboard and didn't need the
Key remapper anymore.

<SNIP>

> And of course Key Remapper is no help at all in
> unassigning/assigning commands to Winkey+[key], which is
> what I was looking for.

I am not sure since I have managed to "get around" this problem,
but I don't know if there are ANY apps capable of changing those
very basic WinKey assignments...

Still, I would recommend some of the other apps or FKeys-type
apps (assign whatever you want - program, file, text - to an F
key, including Alt/Shift/Ctl modifiers gives you 30-36 in
total...

Maybe even something like ShortKeys Lite might do the job...

> It was useful with one thing. I have a Lenovo laptop, and
> the keyboard is very badly designed. For one thing, the
> Delete key is in the same row as the function keys, as far
> away as can be. I have to reach so far every time to press
> Delete. So I assigned the ] (close bracket) key to run the
> Delete key, and that's been an improvement though far from
> ideal.

I hate laptop keyboards.

Thanks for the update and good luck in finding what you need! It
IS out there!

--
There are only two classifications of disk drives: Broken drives
and those that will break later.
- Chuck Armstrong

"J. P. Gilliver · External Since: Feb 08, 2009 Posts: 44

In message <#liQ05pXKHA.508@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl>, Larry
<larry328NOSPAM.DeleteThis@att.net> writes:
[]
>For example, I assigned Alt+/ to do the job of Alt+F4, so that I wouldn't
>constantly have to reach up to the the F4 key to close a window. But it
>wasn't Alt+/ which took the assignement, it was / which took the assignment.

I suggest Alt+space followed by C: this sounds like a long-winded way of
getting the effect you want, but the keys are very handy (especially for
a left-hander). Alt-space gives the same effect as clicking top left of
a Window - it's the old Windows 3.1 window menu, but it's still there in
'9x and XP (and I think Vista too); from there C to close, or X to
maximise. No need for remappers ... (-:
[]
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G.5AL-IS-P--Ch++(p)Ar@T0H+Sh0!:`)DNAf
** http://www.soft255.demon.co.uk/G6JPG-PC/JPGminPC.htm for ludicrously
outdated thoughts on PCs. **

"Bugger," said Pooh, feeling very annoyed.

"J. P. Gilliver · External Since: Feb 08, 2009 Posts: 44

In message <Xns9CBAF05239BA7thanexit.DeleteThis@188.40.43.245>, thanatoid
<waiting.DeleteThis@the.exit.invalid> writes:
[]
>undesirable/disastrous results or both. The ONLY time I used one
>successfully was when I had a keyboard so old it didn't have the
>Windows keys, so I assigned a couple to those. It worked great.

(But you lost something else, presumably.) Ctrl+Esc gives _some_ of the
same functionality as the Windows key - at least, you get the Start
menu; it doesn't work with combinations though.
[]
>I hate laptop keyboards.
[]
Given the space restrictions, I like my old Toshiba laptop keyboard - it
has the arrows T slightly offset towards me, and - mainly - the standard
sixpack (PgUp/Dn, Insert/delete, Home/End) in the standard arrangement,
slightly offset towards the screen. I don't think I've seen _any_ modern
laptop/netbook keyboard (apart from the ones that are big enough to have
a full numeric pad) that has all four of home, end, Page Up, and Page
Down, and some have even those four as a shifted combination. I don't
think even many of any of the ones that have a numpad have the sixpack
_in the conventional arrangement_ - they're in a row or something.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G.5AL-IS-P--Ch++(p)Ar@T0H+Sh0!:`)DNAf
** http://www.soft255.demon.co.uk/G6JPG-PC/JPGminPC.htm for ludicrously
outdated thoughts on PCs. **

"Bugger," said Pooh, feeling very annoyed.

Larry · External Since: Feb 17, 2005 Posts: 215

>
> I suggest Alt+space followed by C: this sounds like a long-winded way of
> getting the effect you want, but the keys are very handy (especially for
> a left-hander).

I have been using Alt+Space follwed by C occasionally, but that's too many
key strokes for my taste. Smile

Larry · External Since: Feb 17, 2005 Posts: 215

> Given the space restrictions, I like my old Toshiba laptop keyboard - it
> has the arrows T slightly offset towards me, and - mainly - the standard
> sixpack (PgUp/Dn, Insert/delete, Home/End) in the standard arrangement,
> slightly offset towards the screen. I don't think I've seen _any_ modern
> laptop/netbook keyboard (apart from the ones that are big enough to have
> a full numeric pad) that has all four of home, end, Page Up, and Page
> Down, and some have even those four as a shifted combination. I don't
> think even many of any of the ones that have a numpad have the sixpack
> _in the conventional arrangement_ - they're in a row or something.

Yes, key arrangements on laptops (and many full size kayboard as well) are
done with no thought to user-friendliness. For example, pageup and page down
will be in different place, whereas obviously they need to be right
together, because often you switch immediately from one to the other.

And get this: my Lenovo laptop has no Home key and End key! To get that
functionality, you have to hold down a Function key at the left side of the
keyboard while pressing Pageup or Pagedown. That's totally unacceptable.

Larry