Hey everyone, I need some help! I'm using a gaming laptop with Windows 10, and in a bit of an impulsive moment, I disabled my Windows key. I didn't take the straightforward approach; I messed around with some registry edits or maybe shell commands—I'm not really sure. The weird part is that the key works fine with the on-screen keyboard, but when I press it, it only sometimes opens the Start menu after a second press. I even checked for a Scancode map, but there's nothing there. Can someone please help this confused user get their Windows key working again?
3 Answers
It sounds like you've made some changes in the registry. Check out these common locations:
1. `HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlKeyboard Layout` - Look for a `Scancode Map` value here.
2. `HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesExplorer` - Sometimes the `NoWinKeys` DWORD can be set to 1.
You can also reset the key mappings with PowerShell. Just run this command in PowerShell as Admin:
`Remove-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:SYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlKeyboard Layout" -Name "Scancode Map" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue`. Also, check if your laptop has a physical key to toggle the Windows key on and off—many gaming laptops do!
Another option is to perform a system restore to a point before you made the changes. Just keep in mind, if you're not super tech-savvy, make sure to follow the prompts carefully as it might affect your personal files or settings, but it can be a simple fix!
I haven’t done a system restore in years! Are there any risks for someone who's not really techy?
You could also try using the Registry Editor more directly:
1. Press `Win + R`, type `regedit`, and hit Enter.
2. Go to `HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlKeyboard Layout`.
3. If you find a `Scancode Map`, just right-click and delete it, then restart your PC. Usually, this fixes issues with remapped or disabled keys like the Windows key.
Haha, I actually checked this earlier, and there’s still no Scancode map. Appreciate the suggestion, though!
Thanks for the tips! I checked, and there’s no Scancode map or DWORD. I also reset the button mapping, but it didn’t help. On my Acer Predator laptop, I made sure the toggle for the Windows key is turned off. Interestingly, Button 5 is set to 'Win+D' and that works fine.