Prevent Windows Key from Opening Start Menu in Windows 7

Question

I'd like to be able to stop the Windows Key from activating the Start Menu on Windows 7. I don't want to disable the Windows Key completely. I'd like Ctrl + Esc to still open the Start Menu.

I know that you can use AutoHotKey to disable the Windows Key completely.

The reason I want this functionality is that I have a lot of shortcut keys linked to the Windows key and this often results in accidentally opening the start menu.

Answer 1

Sorry folks. I should have searched longer before posting the question.

Here is the solution: http://www.autohotkey.com/forum/topic55858.html

Use the following code in AutoHotKey:

~LWin Up:: return
~RWin Up:: return

Answer 2

I believe you can only unregister a global hotkey if you're the application that registered it, and since explorer.exe registers the global hotkey, you probably would need a modified version of that, which I think would be impossible to find.