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I am supporting a user that can't type and consequently often hits AltGr (on the right side of space-key). He has enough power to decide he wants to disable that key (instead of learning to type). and he asked me to quickly get rid of that key

The only way I found was using KbdEdit and map AltGr to "KANA" (How to) but unfortunately that does not behave as promised. I am waiting for support from the developer, but thought that meanwhile I should see if anyone of you has better suggestion how to address this.

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    get something pointy and painful enough to stick on his altgr key. that way he'll learn not to press it.
    – Lorenzo Von Matterhorn
    Apr 26, 2013 at 14:14
  • Use an app like SharpKeys to map the key to an unused one such as F12 for example.
    – Karan
    Apr 26, 2013 at 15:06
  • Znau, great suggestion, but I have feeling my user won't be happy with that.
    – MBaas
    Apr 26, 2013 at 16:30
  • There is also possibility to turn off AltGr by a keyboard filter driver.
    – pbies
    Feb 6, 2019 at 22:12

5 Answers 5

Reset to default
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I would recommend SharpKeys:

SharpKeys is a Registry hack that is used to make certain keys on a keyboard act like other keys. For example, if you accidentally hit Caps Lock often, you could use this utility to map Caps Lock to a Shift key or even turn it off completely. This official release includes support for up to 104 mappings, an extensive list of available keys, and a "Type Key" option to help when managing mappings.

I have not used it personally, but know someone who has used it in the past and is quite happy with it.

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    I have used it on XP+ and recommend it. Since all utils of this type are simply GUIs for editing the existing ScancodeMap value in the registry, there's no need to keep them running like an AHK script.
    – Karan
    Apr 26, 2013 at 15:02
  • That sounded like exactly what I was looking for, thank you! Unfortunately two probs: NOD32-Antivir wouldn't let me go to the site. So I got it from here instead: sharpkeys.en.softonic.com Now, it cannot just "disable AltGr", so I tried to disable keystrokes such as AltGr+Q (wich create @ on my german kbd). But SharpKeys complained about not recognizing that keystroke - and it did the same for all other AltGr-Combos I tried :(( '
    – MBaas
    Apr 26, 2013 at 16:27
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    @MBaas: Did you try what I suggested in my comment above, i.e. to remap the key to an ordinarily unused/rarely used one?
    – Karan
    Apr 26, 2013 at 23:02
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If I understand you correctly, the problem is not pressing AltGr, but AltGr in combination with other keys?

You might want to get The Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator.

There you Load existing Keyboard... (from File-Menu), select the language and design your user prefers, delete any bindings to keys with the Shift states of AltGr. Then you Build DLL and Setup Package (from Project-Menu) and afterwards install your individual keyboard design to the target machine.

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Why not a hardware solution? Physically remove the key.

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    sure. remotely turn off the tv: slingshot a hammer.
    – Lorenzo Von Matterhorn
    Apr 26, 2013 at 20:06
  • The keys on many types of keyboards snap in and out. Sure, on a laptop or Chiclet type keyboard it won't work so well, but this isn't intended as a blowtorch and jackhammer type of solution.
    – daxlerod
    May 9, 2013 at 12:16
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Thanks guys. MS KLC was also an idea I considered, but as I only wanted to disable that simple key, it seemed too much work to create a separate layout etc. I finally found "keytweak" (here: http://webpages.charter.net/krumsick/ ) and that has an easy switch "disable key" which quickly fixed the problem. :)

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I'm using the keymapper program to accomplish this. It lets you remap and disable keyboard keys using a virtual keyboard.

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