Removing 'custom' keyboard functionality

[alanbloom]

I look after a training room with number of computers, most of which have keyboards with an annoying 'special feature'.

This 'feature' has 'Wake', 'Sleep' and 'Power' buttons on the keyboard, right underneath page down. Not that anyone would want such a handy button in easy reach to shutdown a computer... unfortunately, upon pressing power off on the keyboard, Windows promptly does shutdown with no warnings at all, cancelling everything that was open or unsaved. Unbelievable, I know, because there are normally precautions through the shutdown process to make sure documents are saved, etc.

We have online examinations on the computers and although very rare, one student managed to accidently tap the power button on the keyboard, narrowly missing the 'Page down' target key... which cancelled his exam there and then as the computer shutdown. Luckily, we set up the exam again and he had only lost ten minutes...

How can I disable this 'feature' of the keyboard? The reason I'm unsure is that it has the standard 101-102 key drivers, and there is nothing else I can find to control these rogue keys #:-(

 

[JohnOB]

If there are no settings for this within Control Panel > Keyboard, then perhaps you will find them in Power Settings.

Or if you go into the list of programs, you may see software there related to the Manufacturer (not sure what make these PCs are) and you may find something there.

I suppose as a last resort you could just get rid of the keyboards, and replace them with cheap ones with no power related buttons.

"Stupid isn't not knowing the answer, it's not asking the question

 

[pam196]

You could try remapping the keys with some software e.g.

http://webpages.charter.net/krumsick/

There's plenty of other software like that including ones which work on a regional local (which could be changed for a particular user rather than being global).

 

[Lemon13]

check in bios "power-management" at event "power off button" and choose "no action" or disabled