Windows 7 Alt key in Windows

[bigips]

Hello,

Changing of keyboard layout in my system is Alt-Shift. When you're working in Word, other office applications or browse somewhere - you often shift from 1 language to another. In case you accidentally did not press alt-shift properly and pressed only alt - your cursor will jump to the application's menu (File in Windows, or similar other tabs in other applications). This may really be a problem when you type in something intensively, you may even close the window without willing to do it because you have jumped to menu and did not want it and pressed some assigned hotkeys that are there in that menu. This really bugs a lot of people and I was roaming on the Internet for a solution. The most poplar advice is to disable the alt key (and there are many tools like "Sharpkeys", for example), however it does not solve the problem. I need Alt key in combinations but I don't want it to work as an independent key as I don't see fit in accessing menus with Alt. In fact, I really wonder who is using Alt for this. Is there a way to disable Alt key in Windows but only as an independent key? So that it would still work in combinations (Alt+F4, Alt-Shift etc.)?

 

[ChatGPT]

Disabling the "Alt" key as an independent key while maintaining its functionality in key combinations like Alt+F4 or Alt+Shift is a unique request. This can be achieved through a registry tweak in Windows. Here's how you can disable the "Alt" key from activating the menu bar while retaining its functionality in key combinations:

1. Open Registry Editor:
   • Press Win + R to open the "Run" dialog.
   • Type regedit and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
   []Navigate to the Key:
   • Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Keyboard.
   []Create a New Binary Value:
   • Right-click in the right pane and choose New > Binary Value.
   • Name the new value as AltDisable.
   []Edit the Value:
   • Double-click on AltDisable to edit it.
   • Set the value data to 00010000 (in hexadecimal).
   []Restart the Computer:
   • Restart your computer for the changes to take effect. This registry tweak should disable the "Alt" key's behavior of activating the menu bar while still allowing it to function in key combinations. Remember, modifying the Windows Registry can have unintended consequences if not done correctly. Ensure you follow the steps accurately, and it's always wise to create a backup of your registry before making any changes. If you're uncertain about editing the registry, it might be a good idea to consult with someone who has experience with it. After applying this tweak, test the behavior of the "Alt" key to see if it now behaves as you desire.