Option-key with VNC Viewer to remote control a Mac from a Windows 7 PC

Question

I use a Mac Mini as Home Entertainment System (no keyboard or mouse connected).

To access the Mac Mini from my Windows 7 PC I use VNC (note the Windows 7 PC has a German keyboard).

My problem is that I can't get the Mac "Option-Key" to work. Googling the internet brought up the following tips (which did not olve the problem):

• switching the keyboard to US
• using KeyRemap 4 for Mac
• Change the VNC Viewer (Ultra VNC, Tight VNC)

So I found the special keys configuration in the Mac system preferences > keyboard > special keys. Here I don't manage to make any settings since the remote keyboard (= VNC connection) is not recognised - the system state is "no keyboard connected".

1. Does anyone know a virtual keyboard I could install?
2. Do you know any alternatives on how I can get the options-key to work (using a VNC-viewer)?

Answer 1

Yes there is a virtual keyboard built into OS X.

System Preferences > Keyboard > Show Keyboard & Character Viewer in Menubar [x]

Then you will see an icon in the menubar, click on that and select 'Open Keyboard...'

Answer 2

probably unhelpful shot in the dark here, but does super/windows key not work? It seems like they would be equivalent. Or am i confusing it with the command key?

Answer 3

In UltraVNC you can press the Scroll Lock key once. This allows you to press your Windows key and have it act like the Command key on OSX (it's in the same position too).