I have a keyboard question. Is there a way in WinXP to change the definition of individual keys?

December 4, 2004 2:34 PM

I have a keyboard question. Is there a way in WinXP to change the definition of individual keys? My new computer has a keyboard layout that is subtly different from the old one which results in a smaller space bar and as a result I regularly hit the Alt key by mistake which pops up a menu and often leads to loss of text I've typed. Is there anyway to change another key to Alt and make the Alt key give me a space?
posted by Doohickie to Computers & Internet (5 answers total)

Remapping XP keyboard scancodes
posted by AlexReynolds at 2:39 PM on December 4, 2004

SharpKeys.
posted by Firas at 2:41 PM on December 4, 2004

Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator
posted by grouse at 3:20 PM on December 4, 2004

Response by poster: Thanks for the links. I tried the MS Layout Creator first, and to my chagrin, the Alt key is one of those keys you can't mess with. I may just have to work on my typing technique. I'll mess around with the others and see what they do. Thanks again!
posted by Doohickie at 8:10 PM on December 4, 2004

Great question... after dabbling with OSX and getting used to the command key, I've been dying to remap my Windows and Alt keys so that crtl+v/c doesn't require me to spread my fingers so wide apart.

I just did some searching and found this:
KeyTweak.
... it doesn't require .NET framework (like SharpKeys does) and seems easy to use.
posted by bruceyeah at 11:08 PM on December 4, 2004