Forum: gaming.stackexchange.com
Tags: <starcraft-2><keyboard>
Title: How do I disable the windows key when in-game?
Question: Trying to get rid of the 'press windows key in middle of game and it returns back to windows, and then I can't alt-tab back in for 15 seconds' problem.  Specifically, I'm playing SC2 on a 32-bit Windows7 computer.  I've looked at WinKeyKiller, but it appears not to be doing the job.  Is there no simple way to say 'disable the win, alt-tab, etc, keys when some process is running?'  Thanks!

Answers:
sents: text: For Starcraft II specifically there's actually an in-game option to disable windows key and/or alt-tab.
text: It's under "Gameplay" the 2nd and 3rd last options.
text: Also for SC2 if you set the graphics setting to "Windowed (Fullscreen)
text: " it will let you instant-alt-tab.
text: It says it may cause a drop in performance
text: but I personally haven't noticed it and the ability to alt-tab instantly is worth any small performance drop unless you're on a really low end system.
text: (I browse the web when searching for matches, and just have "Play in background" turned on for the sound so I can hear when one is found).
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/2452/Davy8
score: 53
sents: text: Microsoft Support Article KB216893
text: How to disable the keyboard Windows key Alternatively, you can use AutoHotkey to disable hotkeys globaly or selectively , based on the program that is currently active.
text: This should work for any program, and any key (combination) out there.
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/29/alexanderpas
score: 29
sents: text: This certainly isn't a general answer, but some keyboards (usually the fairly expensive gaming keyboards, like the G15) have a physical switch that will disable the Windows key.
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/1119/Cooper
score: 6
sents: text: i prefer brute force to disable the window key, by pulling it out of the keyboard.
text: This may not be a very beautiful method, but its effective.
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/2788/Rito
score: 4
sents: text: This approach should work for any game: Download AutoHotKey
text: Right click on the desktop or on a folder and choose New > AutoHotKey Script Right click the script and choose Edit Script Paste this at the end of the file: #IfWinActive ahk_class NotepadLwin::returnRwin::return#IfWinActive
text: This will suppress the start key when Notepad is open.
text: Now we need to find the actual window to target.
text: Launch AutoIt3 Window Spy which is installed with AutoHotKey
text: Open your game and look at ahk_class ___ and use that name in the script Now to make the script start automatically with Windows Select the script file and copy it
text: Right-click on the start button and select Open > Programs > Startup
text: Right-click in the folder and select Paste shortcut
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/18702/RandomEngy
score: 2
sents: text: AutoHotKey is an excellent tool, but if all you want to do is disable one key, it's clearly overkill.
text: Let me suggest an open-source application that I created: Disable Windows Keys
text: It very straightforward: open the app to disable the Windows keys, close it to restore them.
text: It's a native application, and therefore, has a minimal footprint.
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/245388/Benoit Blanchon
score: 2

Summary of the answers:
There is an in-game option to disable the windows key in Starcraft II.
The windows key can be disabled from the in-game options.