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How would you disable the Windows key from bringing up the start menu



 
 
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  #1  
Old July 26th 18, 06:07 PM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.comp.os.windows-8
Arlen Holder
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Posts: 466
Default How would you disable the Windows key from bringing up the start menu

How would you disable the Windows key from bringing up the start menu but
still enabling it for the win+prtscrn and other shortcuts?

Specifically, is there a way to disable *only* the Win key from popping up
the start menu?

Here's the annoyance:
1. I *never* use the Windows key to bring up the start menu
2. I *always* use Win+PrtScrn to snap screenshots directly to a folder

The problem is I often have to hold the Windows key down to find the right
moment to snap that screenshot into the folder, so only one key is pressed
for, say, 10 or 20 seconds and then the other key is pressed.

You can only do it one way, which is hold the Windows key and then when the
moment you need to snap shows, you press the PrintScreen key. You can't do
it the other way.

However, if you bounce your finger even a little bit on the Windows key,
then you're dealing with the Start Menu constantly getting in the way.

Of course you can disable the windows key entirely:
https://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-disable-your-keyboard-windows-key/
https://www.pcgamer.com/how-to-disable-the-windows-key/
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/73314-enable-disable-windows-key-windows-10-a.html
https://windowsreport.com/disable-windows-key/
etc.

But you don't want to completely disable the Win key because you still want
it to bring up the print-screen-to-file keyclick.
(Certainly Irfanview does that, but it's another dependency added.)

This also has a dependency on another program:
https://www.howtogeek.com/194811/how-to-prevent-the-windows-key-alttab-and-sticky-keys-from-ruining-your-gaming/

*All you want to disable is the Win key popping up the Start Menu."

There's a solution here, but it involves coding.
https://autohotkey.com/board/topic/51631-disable-windows-key-start-menu-but-not-shortcuts/
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/16556433/how-to-disable-windows-keys-logo-key-and-menu-key-using-javascript
etc.

There are reports of people "accidentally" getting this functionality:
https://superuser.com/questions/774805/windows-key-not-bringing-up-start-menu
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-desktop/windows-logo-key-stopped-working-for-start-menu/7225075b-eb40-4e82-a39b-21859acb6b34

It's not a big deal, so just let me know off the cuff how you'd solve this
problem (or if you've already solved this problem). I'll eventually figure
it out.

Almost certainly I'll need to redefine keys, and most likely I'll need
third-part software, but what I'm hoping for is to simply disable the Win
key from popping up the start menu using the registry, but leaving the Win
key for everything else that it does.

Is there a way to disable *only* the Win key from popping up the start
menu?
  #2  
Old July 26th 18, 06:32 PM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.comp.os.windows-8
Paul[_32_]
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Default How would you disable the Windows key from bringing up the startmenu

Arlen Holder wrote:
How would you disable the Windows key from bringing up the start menu but
still enabling it for the win+prtscrn and other shortcuts?

Specifically, is there a way to disable *only* the Win key from popping up
the start menu?

Here's the annoyance:
1. I *never* use the Windows key to bring up the start menu
2. I *always* use Win+PrtScrn to snap screenshots directly to a folder


Snippingtool is for recording the screen.

Some versions include a "delay" option, which you set first,
before you select "window" or "full screen" Snip. You can
delay for 5 seconds, then run your mouse over to a menu
and open it... to get a Menu shot.

Yes, PrtScreen works. But if you have a fetish about
the Windows key, you don't absolutely have to use
the Windows key when SnippingTool is in W7/W8/W10.

I keep SnippingTool pinned to the Task Bar.

*******

In addition, if you're preparing tutorial material,
and expect to be shooting 30+ pictures, you can use
FFMPEG as a screen recorder. Or for that matter,
any other screen recorder that doesn't deliver
adware when you install it.

The following command example, puts one frame per
second in your "output_folder". You can bump the
framerate number to 30 in Win10, or 60 in Win8
if you want lots more data. If you have a gutless
computer, using too high a framerate could affect
your work. The mjpeg codec isn't the best, but
it is multithreaded, which is why I like it. The
ringing on sharp edges in the capture, I could
do without, but that's JPG for you.

cd output_folder

C:\FFMPEG\bin\ffmpeg -framerate 1 -f gdigrab -i desktop -f image2 -q:v 1 -c:v mjpeg a%05d.jpg

Depending on the expected duration of the capture,
the a%05d might need to be changed to a%06d so the
filename can accommodate enough files. I find
generally 60000 pictures in one folder, is sufficient
to bring out the worst of the bugs in File Explorer...

To *play* a folder of JPGs, use avidemux2_qt4.exe .
The frame number and the filename in the recording
should match, allowing you to pick out the frames
you like. I use AviDemux 2.5 for this.

My original copy.

Name: avidemux_2.5.2_win32.exe
Size: 10327518 bytes (9 MB)
SHA1: 9E33B753C771AB63CCED4A1A8781443D3CA05C19

https://www.filehorse.com/download-avidemux-32/19974/

Go half way down the page until you see blue text
right above the row of screenshots, then click

"Download Avidemux 2.5.2 (32-bit)"

Newer versions support more file formats, but
introduce other issues. Since I have limited things
I do with it, I keep it just for this particular task.

HTH,
Paul
  #3  
Old July 26th 18, 07:48 PM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.comp.os.windows-8
Arlen Holder
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Posts: 466
Default How would you disable the Windows key from bringing up the start menu

On 26 Jul 2018 10:32:36 GMT, Paul wrote:

Snippingtool is for recording the screen.


Thank Paul, for offering helpful advice.

I should have been clear that what I really want is to disable the Start
Menu from coming up when I press the Windows key.

If the screenshot is the *only* thing that I want, there are *plenty* of
ways to take a screenshot, e.g., Irfanview freeware already has
*everything* anyone could want to capture screenshots directly to a file.

What I really want is to disable the Windows key from bringing up the Start
Menu.

I keep SnippingTool pinned to the Task Bar.

I keep Irfanview pinned to the task bar.

In addition, if you're preparing tutorial material,
and expect to be shooting 30+ pictures, you can use
FFMPEG as a screen recorder. Or for that matter,
any other screen recorder that doesn't deliver
adware when you install it.


I do create tutorials all day every day, which is mostly why I capture
screenshots, and where I sometimes record video, but not that often simply
because it's harder to upload video to registration-free sites (for privacy
reasons).

It has been so long since I recorded screen video that I forgot what
GUI-based programs I used, offhand, where I always seek the canonical best
freeware for any task - so it's good that you recommend ffmpeg on the
command line, where the youtube download conversions call the fmpeg
automatically from the current directory, so we all already have ffmpeg
installed.

Looking at my youtube-dl log file, here's where my ffmpeg came from:
http://ffmpeg.zeranoe.com/builds/win...n64-static.zip

According to my youtube-dl install log file, that zip contains:
{ffmpeg.exe, ffprobe.exe, & ffplay.exe}

The following command example, puts one frame per
second in your "output_folder". You can bump the
framerate number to 30 in Win10, or 60 in Win8
if you want lots more data. If you have a gutless
computer, using too high a framerate could affect
your work. The mjpeg codec isn't the best, but
it is multithreaded, which is why I like it. The
ringing on sharp edges in the capture, I could
do without, but that's JPG for you.

cd output_folder

C:\FFMPEG\bin\ffmpeg -framerate 1 -f gdigrab -i desktop -f image2 -q:v 1 -c:v mjpeg a%05d.jpg


I'm going to add this to the log file in the ffmpeg folder so that I can
use it in the future. Thanks for increasing our tribal knowledge on
recording screen video.

Newer versions support more file formats, but
introduce other issues. Since I have limited things
I do with it, I keep it just for this particular task.


My rule is to use the *oldest* version of any tool that still works.
(There are reasons for that rule, learned over time, but they vary.)

Video capture aside though, what I really want is to disable the Windows
key from bringing up the Start Menu.
  #4  
Old July 26th 18, 07:58 PM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.comp.os.windows-8
Paul[_32_]
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Posts: 11,873
Default How would you disable the Windows key from bringing up the startmenu

Arlen Holder wrote:

what I really want is to disable the Windows
key from bringing up the Start Menu.


There are some options here.

https://superuser.com/questions/1384...he-windows-key

Set a restore point before doing the registry one, just in case.
Anything remotely related to keyboard disablement,
spells trouble. Right ?

Paul

  #5  
Old July 27th 18, 06:39 AM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.comp.os.windows-8
Arlen Holder
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Posts: 466
Default How would you disable the Windows key from bringing up the start menu

On 26 Jul 2018 11:58:54 GMT, Paul wrote:

There are some options here.
https://superuser.com/questions/1384...he-windows-key


Hi Paul,
Thanks. As you know, I researched first, so I know I can completely
*disable* the Windows key, but that's not what I want to do.

I want to only disable the windows key from bringing up the Start Menu.

I realize you probably assume that maybe one of the options in that article
(or in some of the ones I unearthed earlier) will have a *selective*
disable of the Windows key.

This may be the case. I'll check out the packages which I knew about
already, so that was my plan B all along if nobody knows.

Generally I don't ask a question if the answer is easy to find by looking
it up (despite Wolf K always assuming everything has an easy to find
answer).

It's ok if nobody knows how to selectively disable just the start menu from
coming up when the windows key is pressed. I'll figure it out over time,
or, perhaps, this may be one of the rare times I'll fail if there truly is
no way to do it.

In summary, I knew about Sharpkeys and the registry hacks before I had
asked this question - but - maybe there is something in them that will
*selectively* disable just the Start Menu from coming up.

Thanks.
  #6  
Old July 27th 18, 06:42 AM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.comp.os.windows-8
Arlen Holder
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Posts: 466
Default How would you disable the Windows key from bringing up the start menu

On 26 Jul 2018 17:07:38 GMT, Arlen Holder wrote:

Is there a way to disable *only* the Win key from popping up the start
menu?


I just realized, while responding to Paul, that maybe there's a different
solution to the problem.

Maybe I can remap to a different keyset the Print-to-File command that
Windows runs when we press Win+PrtScrn?

Anyone know, offhand, what that command line argument is?
(I ran a quick search which didn't find it so it may be part of svchost or
some other process.)
  #7  
Old July 28th 18, 11:07 PM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.comp.os.windows-8
Stan Brown
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Posts: 2,904
Default How would you disable the Windows key from bringing up the start menu

On Thu, 26 Jul 2018 17:07:38 -0000 (UTC), Arlen Holder wrote:
Specifically, is there a way to disable *only* the Win key from popping up
the start menu?


I expect you can do it in the free utility from Autohotkey.com.

You can do pretty much everything else in Autohotkey, and I know that
it knows about the Windows key.

--
Stan Brown, Oak Road Systems, Tompkins County, New York, USA
http://BrownMath.com/
http://OakRoadSystems.com/
Shikata ga nai...
  #8  
Old July 28th 18, 11:15 PM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.comp.os.windows-8
Ken Blake[_5_]
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Posts: 2,221
Default How would you disable the Windows key from bringing up the start menu

On Sat, 28 Jul 2018 18:07:13 -0400, Stan Brown
wrote:

On Thu, 26 Jul 2018 17:07:38 -0000 (UTC), Arlen Holder wrote:
Specifically, is there a way to disable *only* the Win key from popping up
the start menu?


I expect you can do it in the free utility from Autohotkey.com.

You can do pretty much everything else in Autohotkey, and I know that
it knows about the Windows key.




You can also disable it very easily with the free Sharpkeys at
https://github.com/randyrants/sharpkeys
  #9  
Old July 29th 18, 07:09 PM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.comp.os.windows-8
Arlen Holder
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Posts: 466
Default How would you disable the Windows key from bringing up the start menu

On 28 Jul 2018 15:15:42 GMT, Ken Blake wrote:

You can also disable it very easily with the free Sharpkeys at
https://github.com/randyrants/sharpkeys


I appreciate the help, but I did explain why that isn't the goal in the
least in the OP, and in every subsequent post, so it bears repeating that
we need to keep in mind that if the problem were as simple as "disabling"
the Windows key, then any of the URLs in the original post would have
sufficed and I wouldn't have bothered all of you to ask the question.

I don't generally ask a question that has an easy answer.

In general, only people like Paul can answer my questions.

I'm sure I sometimes ask questions that anyone (even Wolf K for heaven's
sake) can answer, if I blitz out and turn my mind off).

But, in general, if I ask a question, then nobody will know the answer
unless they've already solved that exact technical problem.

Disabling the key is NOT and never was the problem.
Finding a third-party screenshot program is also not the problem.
(remember, we already all have Irfanview if that was what we wanted.)

There are only a few ways (I can think of) that will solve the problem.
1. Remap "just" the Windows key to not bring up the Start Menu (ideal)
2. Find some other way to do a default Windows screenshot (acceptable)
3. Give up on Windows & use a 3rd party keyboard snapshot tool (workaround)

Again, I repeat as I have done in every post in this thread, if the problem
were as simple as disabling the Windows key, I wouldn't have asked the
question.

I do appreciate the help - where I think an expert can help - and where I
think the suggestions to use Autohotkey are the next logical step for sure,
to see if it can *selectively* remap the Windows key so as to not bring up
the Start Menu.

If that fails, I'll see if I can map Irfanview to somehow, come up and then
go away and then snap the screenshot and then save it, as I need the
screenshot to save to a file from a single keystroke without the program
already running in the background (everyone would benefit from this
feature, but we all use the Win+PrtScreen key to obtain it)!
  #10  
Old July 29th 18, 07:18 PM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.comp.os.windows-8
Arlen Holder
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Posts: 466
Default How would you disable the Windows key from bringing up the start menu

On 29 Jul 2018 18:09:09 GMT, Arlen Holder wrote:

I don't generally ask a question that has an easy answer.


Actually, I may have been unfair to Ken who was trying to help, so I
apologize for my frustration (I'm dealing with bully trolls on the iOS
newsgroup and I have to realize that most people here are purposefully
helpful as opposed to most people there).

I apologize Ken Blake as your advice might work as might the advice of Paul
and Stan Brown.

Here's my plan, where I won't respond further until I at least test out the
plan (or if new information arises).

a. I know that Sharpkeys exists - so I need to test if it does what I need,
which is to *selectively* disable *just* the Start Menu from coming up when
the Windows key is pressed, leaving all other Windows-key shortcuts intact.

b. I know that Autohotkey exists - so I need to test if it does what I
need, which is to *selectively* disable *just* the Start Menu from coming
up when the Windows key is pressed, leaving all other Windows-key shortcuts
intact.

c. I know snapshot-specific tools exist (e.g., Irfanview, Snippingtool,
etc.) which will snap a screen directly to a file but they all seem to need
to be running in the background (which is not what I want, nor which is
what most people want, I would think).

The overall goal is to do exactly what Win+PrtScreen does, which is snap a
screenshot to a file in a single keystroke, without having to run a program
first - and where accidentally bouncing my finger on the Windows key does
NOT bring up the Start Menu.

I think the only valid solutions are the following, all of which I will
test over time, but I won't be spending tons of time on it so folks need to
know I will respond with the solution later rather than sooner.

I do apologize to Ken Blake again, for my previous response moments ago,
which I tried to stop, but it went through. I was in a bad mood and I
apologize because Ken was being purposefully helpful (which is all that
matters).

I apologize to Ken. I was wrong.

Back to the solution... I see only these methods:
a. Figure out if Sharpkeys or Autohotkey can selectively disable "just" the
Start Menu from coming up (leaving all other Windows key functions alive).
b. Figure out how to script a shell script that accomplishes the same thing
as does Win+PrintScreen, bearing in mind it has to be able to work without
a program running in the background (unless that's completely transparent).

Thanks again for the purposefully helpful advice, and apologies to Ken for
my untoward response to his purposefully helpful suggestion.
  #11  
Old July 29th 18, 06:57 PM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.comp.os.windows-8
Arlen Holder
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Posts: 466
Default How would you disable the Windows key from bringing up the start menu

On 28 Jul 2018 15:07:13 GMT, Stan Brown wrote:

I expect you can do it in the free utility from Autohotkey.com.

You can do pretty much everything else in Autohotkey, and I know that
it knows about the Windows key.


Thank you Stan Brown for your purposefully helpful advice and accolades for
the "Autohotkey" program.

Your confidence in that program (as was Paul's I believe) is helpful
because, as an avowed expert in finding the best freeware, I know how
important it is to have someone advise me who isn't a shill for some web
site (like many so-called "reviews" turn out to be).

I apologize for my late response, as I'm normally far more responsive in
testing out suggestions, but I worked for days last week on writing up a
step-by-step tutorial for replacing a clutch, which, as my first clutch
ever, was obviously taxing (I did the equivalent of a thousand situps).

Char Jackson, remember you challenged me to compare your value added to
that of mine, and I said you added exactly zero tutorials while I had
something like thousands of tutorials in many newsgroups over the decades?

Well, here's just one more tutorial, posted to give back to Usenet, since
I'm a good Usenet citizen, for you as proof (as my factual credibility is
pristine and I care that it remains so).
https://groups.google.com/d/msg/alt.home.repair/qEhph1MmSKs/4iok3tYEBwAJ
  #12  
Old July 29th 18, 07:01 PM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.comp.os.windows-8
Arlen Holder
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Posts: 466
Default How would you disable the Windows key from bringing up the start menu

On 29 Jul 2018 17:57:15 GMT, Arlen Holder wrote:

Char Jackson, remember you challenged me to compare your value added to
that of mine, and I said you added exactly zero tutorials while I had
something like thousands of tutorials in many newsgroups over the decades?

Well, here's just one more tutorial, posted to give back to Usenet, since
I'm a good Usenet citizen, for you as proof (as my factual credibility is
pristine and I care that it remains so).
https://groups.google.com/d/msg/alt.home.repair/qEhph1MmSKs/4iok3tYEBwAJ


Oooooops.

This is the correct link (that other one wasn't bad - but this is the WIP
DIY that I'm writing (which is akin to a tutorial) to give back to the
team, as my strategy is to always *add* to the technical tribal knowledge
in every post.

https://groups.google.com/d/msg/alt.home.repair/qEhph1MmSKs/S_R2Y4gRBwAJ
  #13  
Old August 5th 18, 06:02 PM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.comp.os.windows-8
Mr. Man-wai Chang
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Posts: 1,941
Default How would you disable the Windows key from bringing up the startmenu

On 7/27/2018 1:07 AM, Arlen Holder wrote:

Is there a way to disable *only* the Win key from popping up the start
menu?


You can just disable the Left Window$ key via registry?

--
@~@ Remain silent! Drink, Blink, Stretch! Live long and prosper!!
/ v \ Simplicity is Beauty!
/( _ )\ May the Force and farces be with you!
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  #14  
Old August 6th 18, 05:52 PM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.comp.os.windows-8
notX
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Posts: 68
Default How would you disable the Windows key from bringing up the startmenu

On 08/05/2018 12:02 PM, Mr. Man-wai Chang wrote:

[snip]

You can just disable the Left Window$ key via registry?


I like what you did to the 's' (in the OS name). It makes it seem more
appropriate, especially with Window$ 8+.
  #15  
Old August 6th 18, 06:23 PM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.comp.os.windows-8
Char Jackson
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Posts: 10,449
Default How would you disable the Windows key from bringing up the start menu

On Mon, 6 Aug 2018 11:52:55 -0500, notX wrote:

On 08/05/2018 12:02 PM, Mr. Man-wai Chang wrote:

[snip]

You can just disable the Left Window$ key via registry?


I like what you did to the 's' (in the OS name). It makes it seem more
appropriate, especially with Window$ 8+.


Meh. In the US, the character becomes a dollar sign, which makes no
sense.

 




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