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Windows Logo Key for ThinkPads

This page is for A3x ThinkPad Users who want to reassign the Browser "Stop" key (bottom left corner of the keyboard) so that it acts as the Windows Logo Key. Other key reassignments are documented  below

IBM has a Keyboard Customizer Utility for the TP A2*, A3*, R3*, T2*, T30, X2*, X30 machines, but it wouldn't let me reassign the values for the bottom two "web" keys on the A31p, and didn't help with my TransNote or 770 series machines. So if the IBM utility does not do what you need, read on.

Personally I don't have much use for the Windows key but you can only do so much with ctrl-esc . I had never used the WWW Stop button on my A31p so it seemed to be the best candidate for a key to be reassigned.

After you have set this up, you will want to see what you have been missing. Check out the keyboard shortcuts using the Windows key.

BIG DISCLAIMER

This information is presented as is, and documents things that work on my ThinkPads: A31p, TransNote, 770Z with Windows XP Pro & 770ED with Windows 2000, but please understand
you use the following information at your own risk

Overview:
We are adding a key to the Windows Registry that fires the scan code for the Windows Logo key when you depress the Browser Stop key (WWW Stop) at the bottom left corner of the A3x series keyboards. You could think of it this way. We change the scan code

  • from: the default value E0, 68
  • to: the value for the Windows key 5B, E0

We are talking about editing the Windows Registry, and if you have any doubts about what is involved you should take the time to read the overview on Microsoft's site before proceeding

  1. Backup your Windows Registry
    (If you don't know how to do this, you probably should not be messing around with it)
    • You use: Start | Run | regedit | File | Export (then create a file with a name that makes sense to you)
    • -or-
    • within regedit, navigate to
      [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout] 
      and make a backup of this key.
    • Close regedit
  2. Copy the text from the textbox below into a plain text editor (Notepad is fine)
  3. Save the file as StopKey2WinLogo.reg or something similar that makes sense to you.
    The extension .reg is important.
  4. Save the file someplace easy to find like the "Desktop"
  5. Double-click your new file and confirm that you want to update the registry
  6. Reboot your system
  7. Enjoy your new Windows key (see shortcuts below)

Reassign the WWW Stop Key to the Windows Logo Key

(hint: in IE, double click in the textbox to select all the text)

If you don't want to use the WWW Stop key you can refer to
http://panda.cs.ndsu.nodak.edu/~achapwes/PICmicro/keyboard/scancodes1.html
for scan codes for other keys - or see other examples at the bottom of this document

Windows Logo Key Shortcuts:

Press To
Windows logo key Display or hide the Start menu
Windows logo key+L Lock the computer
Windows logo key+BREAK Display the System Properties dialog box
Windows logo key+D Show the desktop
Windows logo key+M Minimize all windows
Windows logo key+SHIFT+M Restore minimized windows
Windows logo key+E Open My Computer
Windows logo key+F Search for a file or folder
CTRL+Windows logo key+F Search for computers
Windows logo key+F1 Display Windows Help
Windows logo key+R Open the Run dialog box
Windows logo key+U Open Utility Manager
Application key Display the Shortcut menu for the selected item

The table above excerpted from
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q294317

 

Other Key Reassignments

Reassign the Right Alt Key to the Windows Logo Key

This is what I used on my TransNote and 770s and will probably do on the 600x when I have a few moments
(hint: in IE, double click in the textbox to select all the text)

Reassign the Right Ctrl Key to the Windows Logo Key

(hint: in IE, double click in the textbox to select all the text)

 

 

 

Copyright © 1996-2002 Jim Hope. All Rights Reserved.
Used with permission on http://thinkpads.com