Disable/Enable Windows key on the fly w/no reboot?

[ukdboyd]

Is there any way to disable the Windows/Start Menu key via Macro Scheduler? And then re-enable it?

I know that there are a couple of registry tweaks that will do it, but it requires a reboot to activate.

Here's what I'm trying to accomplish: After a user logs into the computer, a special application runs from the Startup folder that covers the entire screen and requires input from the user. Until the user inputs their information they cannot use the computer. Problem is, the Windows key still works and therefore they have access to everything in the Start Menu. I want to be able to disable the Windows key until they have entered their info.

Any ideas?

Thank you!

[JRL]

This won't make the winkeys non-functional but it will make them unusable. Use Onevent>KEY_DOWN,VK91 and VK92. The left and right winkey codes. When the user presses a winkey the menu pops up but the subroutine called by onevent immediately presses esc 30 times (or however many times you need to press it). The number of times isn't important as long as its enough to catch the menu and close it. Really only one well timed esc press is needed. This will stop the winkey from being used but what about ctrl+exc or alt+tab or alt+f4 or other hot keys the user could set up? We can't interupt key presses but we can similarly deal with their results. Have fun.

Sample:

Code: Select all

OnEvent>KEY_DOWN,VK91,0,WinKey
OnEvent>KEY_DOWN,VK92,0,WinKey

SRT>WinKey
Let>kk=0
Repeat>kk
  Add>kk,1
  Release LWinKey
  Release LWinKey
  Press Esc
  Wait>0.01
Until>kk,30
END>WinKey

Label>loop
wait>0.01
goto>loop

[ukdboyd]

That worked!! Thanks

I almost have this thing the way I want but it's not quite right. Here's what I have now:

• Run Program>c:\program files\stats\complab.exe
  
  OnEvent>KEY_DOWN,VK91,0,WinKey
  OnEvent>KEY_DOWN,VK92,0,WinKey
  
  SRT>WinKey
  Let>kk=0
  Repeat>kk
  Add>kk,1
  Release LWinKey
  Release LWinKey
  Press Esc
  SetFocus>Comp*
  Wait>0.01
  Until>kk,30
  END>WinKey
  
  Label>WindowCheck
  GetWindowHandle>Comp*,hwnd
  LibFunc>User32,IsIconic,rI,hwnd
  LibFunc>User32,IsZoomed,rZ,hwnd
  If>rI=1
  GoTo>EndProgram
  Else
  If>rZ=1
  Goto>WindowCheck
  Endif
  Endif
  
  Label>loop
  wait>0.01
  goto>loop
  
  Label>EndProgram
  Press Shift
  Press ESC
  END>EndProgram

I want Complab.exe to run. SRT WinKey will kill any Windows Key presses and put the focus back on the Complab window (I think). Although that doesn't always seem to work.

After the user logs into Complab, that program minimizes itself. At that point. i want the script to stop, so that the user has access to the Windows keys again. That's the part that isn't quite right yet. The script never stops.

Any suggestions? Thanks again!

[ukdboyd]

I got this to work, if anyone is interested. Took out the Release LWinkey and Release RWinkey statements and reworked the focus app and kill script sections. Here's what I have now. Any streamlining suggestions would be appreciated.

• Run Program>c:\program files\stats\complab.exe
  
  OnEvent>KEY_DOWN,VK91,0,WinKey
  OnEvent>KEY_DOWN,VK92,0,WinKey
  
  SRT>WinKey
  Let>kk=0
  Repeat>kk
  Add>kk,1
  Press ESC
  Wait>0.05
  GoSub>FocusApp
  Until>kk,5
  END>WinKey
  
  SRT>FocusApp
  SetFocus>Comp*
  End>FocusApp
  
  SRT>EndProgram
  Press Shift
  Press ESC
  End>EndProgram
  
  GoTo>WindowCheck
  
  Label>WindowCheck
  GetWindowHandle>Comp*,hwnd
  LibFunc>User32,IsIconic,rI,hwnd
  LibFunc>User32,IsZoomed,rZ,hwnd
  If>rI=1
  GoSub>EndProgram
  Else
  Goto>WindowCheck
  Endif

[JRL]

Here we are approaching three years later. I have a "streamlined" way to stop those pesky user key presses. Basically you just kill explorer.exe. When you're ready to give the computer back to the user you restart explorer.exe

Code: Select all

Run>taskkill /f /im explorer.exe

MDL>ok,  test all the button combinations you know and see if any work.

Run>explorer.exe

This works for me in WinXP, I have no idea if it will work in Vista or Win7.