Windows key

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Windows key or Windows logo key (in short WinKey, or rarely Flag key) is a keyboard key originally introduced for the Windows 95 operating system. Historically, the addition of two Windows keys and a menu key marked the change from the 101-key to 104-key layout for PC keyboards:^[1] with respect to the former layout, a Windows key was placed between the left control key and the left alt; another Windows key and—immediately to its right—a menu key were placed between the AltGr and the right control. In laptop and other compact keyboards it is common to have just one Windows key (usually on the left). Also, on Microsoft's Entertainment Desktop sets (designed for Windows Vista), the Windows key is in the middle of the keyboard, below all other keys (where the user's thumbs rest).

Licensing

Microsoft regulates the appearance of the Windows key with a specially crafted license for keyboard manufacturers ("Microsoft Windows Logo Key Logo License Agreement for Keyboard Manufacturers"). With the introduction of a new Microsoft Windows logo, first used with Windows XP, the agreement was updated to require that the new design be adopted for all keyboards manufactured after September 1 2003.^[2]

Usage with Windows

Within the standard Windows shell, pressing the Windows key by itself opens the Start Menu (focusing the Quick Search box in Windows Vista).

Pressing the key in combination with other keys allows invoking many common functions through the keyboard. What Windows key combinations ("shortcuts") are available and active in a given Windows session depends on many factors, including accessibility options, the type of the session (regular or Terminal Services), the Windows version, the presence of specific software such as IntelliType, and others. The External links section below provides a list of Microsoft articles with more details.

Usage with other operating systems

The Windows key can also generally be used under different operating systems. Under Unix and Unix-like operating systems it is often used as the Meta key or Compose key.

Desktop environments such as KDE and GNOME for GNU/Linux support it, though it may be necessary to configure its functionalities after installation.

Apple's Mac OS X uses the Windows key as a replacement for the Command key if a third-party keyboard is used that does not include the latter. BeOS on x86 systems also does this, although as a replacement for the Option key, not the Command key.

Issues and alternative designs

The original placement of the Windows keys, especially the left one, has been a cause of troubles for the possibility of hitting them inadvertently causing the deactivation of the current window,^[3] while trying to use CTRL or ALT. To avoid such problems, some applications disable the Windows keys while they are running and some users simply remove them from the keyboard.

Users of non-Windows systems may be frustrated by having a Windows-specific logo on their keyboard. For this reason, sets of stickers and keycaps are available, mainly from the Internet, which can be used to restyle the Windows keys with a Tux image, a logo of KDE, of a specific Linux distribution or other graphics. Some keyboard manufacturers, such as Cherry, also produce keyboards with a Tux key.

Notes

See also

• Menu key
• Taskbar
• Command key (Apple)

External links

Windows-specific articles

Windows shortcuts

• Windows XP keyboard shortcuts
• Windows 95, 98, Me keyboard shortcuts

Disabling the Windows key

• Disabling the Windows Key

Overriding or Disabling Default WinKey Keyboard Shortcuts

• Overriding or Disabling Default WinKey Keyboard Shortcuts