[naylorbobs]

Can anyone help with the problem that a lot of people will have come across.
It's how to disable the power and sleep buttons on my keyboard (actually i've got approx. 100)
I've tried using the software supplied by the manufacturer (Elite Century Technology - www.newone.com.cn) but it doesn't have the options. I did find the program "i hate this key", the deluxe version (at www.bytegems.com/ihatethiskey.shtml) worked great but the licensing of such a product for the whole school would be very expensive!
Don't like the idea of taking the keyboard apart and using insulating tape, etc.

Any ideas???

[Marsden]

Turn off those features in the BIOS...

[naylorbobs]

The only problem with doing that is that then all the systems would have to be reinstalled because they have the incorrect hal. When i try this the systm constantly reboots. I have seen documents talking about filter drivers and in fact when i installed the software from the k/b manufacturers a filter device could be found in the registry. The only snag is the s/w doesn't give options to change the buttons it only hooks in to display a green neon graphic.

[zprog]

Actually, to avoid the unneccessary licensing nightmare, taking the keyboards apart and using insulating tape is your best option, if that is what you wish to do. I guess I am electronically-biased, so it's not a big deal for me, but it will only take you a weekend's work to disable all the keys. Just uscrew it, put down a piece of masking tape, and screw it back together. Really easy.

I know, not much of advice.

[naylorbobs]

Thanks for the advice zprog, i'll prob end up doing that...

Something so simple... Infuriates so much!

3 cheers for microsoft, hip hip...

[Marsden]

How does turning off power via the keyboard in BIOS require a different HAL? I have motherboards with this feature and it was a simple enable/disable and it certainly did not require a different HAL.

You have 4 differnet HALs... ACPI, non ACPI, single CPU, multi-CPU.

[naylorbobs]

Sorry Marsden, me know nothing, confusing different hal with different driver for computer option in device manager. I have now though tried to change it to "standard pc" before changing bios, and then disabling ipca (apci).

Strangely though the power button on the keyboard still seemed to shut windows down even when looking at the power options there wasn't any just monitor and hard disk power down times???

[MadGutts]

Depending on the bios make/version...

There should be an option "Power on by Keyboard" or simular. if this is set to off... it should only stop the pc turning on and off via this button... There must be a reg key or something that will stop a restart/ shutdown if this is pressed...

The other option is to replace the keyboards with ones without the extra 3 buttons !

Sorry cant be more help than that, but if you dont have the time to disable the power keys, then this may be the only answer !

[naylorbobs]

Already working on the replacement keyboards as i opened a keyboard and the **** thing has individual membranes, which would probably lead to problems with other keys considering the number (100)