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Where did that list come from? I'm running WinXP Pro, and Windows + N doesn't open notepad (along with other inconsistancies). DevastatorIIC 02:46, 13 February 2006 (UTC)
"Needs to be incorporated into another article, either "IBM PC Keyboard" or "computer keyboard." " GCW
Maybe add an explanation of "NT systems only" like "NT systems only (Windows NT, 2000, XP)" because somebody using Windows XP may not know that his Windows is "NT system"
Ciao!
I also tried to clarify the whole paragraph about Windows and Linux. I rewrote this slightly confusing sentace. I hope everyone understands.
"Under Windows, it acts as a modifier key, with the available key combinations depending on a number of factors better detailed in the resources linked to below."
Actaully, the above sentance is a bit redundant because a section called "Windows key shortcuts" exists. Maybe one of us can merge the sentance about the modifier key into the section called "Windows key shortcuts"?
Keep up the good work everyone! -- Starionwolf 22:35, 30 April 2006 (UTC)
Firefox homepage
[1]
they don't seem to allow "inline lists" of links. Thus I stuck to our usual layout with the external links in a separate section. Please, don't change the article structure again. I've seen that you spent several hours on it, and it took me three hours to bring it back to the current status. I don't think so much work is worth the result: in the end it is not much different from the version you started with, and the improvements (if any) are minimal. Of course the matter would be different if we had substantially new information. Ah, as to the use with GNOME and KDE, we could add external links the same way we have done for Windows; however the situation in that case is much more complicated due to the amount of versions and the high configurability of Linux DEs. A couple of high-quality links would be ok but the section can —and should, IMHO— be kept to minimum, I guess, as Linux users generally know what to do with their system ;) Please, don't make major changes to the article without discussion, I wouldn't like to waste hours on it considering the relatively low importance of the topic. Cheers,
Gennaro Prota
21:17, 1 May 2006 (UTC)It would be nice if someone mentions the terrible mistake of the position of the left windows keys with respect to most fps, since shift, ctrl and alt are used intensively within the game and the windows key tends to leave the game for the start menu. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.178.75.154 ( talk • contribs)
-- Knulclunk 00:12, 14 December 2006 (UTC)
I am a heavy user of the Windows key and I only want to disable it when I play a game and without a reboot. I found the solution: A little AutoHotKey.com-script: "LWin::return". When it is started, the left Windows key is immediately disabled without a reboot. And you can enable it at anytime by right clicking on the green "H" in the Windows try. But I also want to help people with the same problem who do not want to mess with Autohotkey. Therefore I provided an executable: http://helgehelge.de/DisableLeftWindowsKey.exe (This was generated with AutoHotKey's ahk2exe-compiler.)
I think we could make many people happy by putting it into the article.
HelgeHan ( talk) 08:55, 25 April 2008 (UTC)
Last time I checked GNOME refers to the Windows Key as "Super" and the menu key next to it as "Hyper". Shouldn't this have a mention in the article Whitehornmatt 14:23, 22 December 2006 (UTC)
The name I have heard which fits the key's image best is the "flag" key. I can't put this on the main page because I can't cite a reference of where I heard it. Everweb ( talk) 14:15, 20 July 2009 (UTC)
The article states that Mac OS X maps the Windows key as the Command key, and the Alt key as the Option key. AFAIK this is incorrect (at least OS X 10.4.8 Intel does this differently): Windows key get's mapped to the Option ("Apple") key, while the Alt key becomes the Command key. This error is spanning across multiple pages. -- NetRolller 3D 20:51, 28 February 2007 (UTC)
Some information on how to access this key in software or using macros would be nice. For instance, the SendKeys method in Visual Basic *cannot* access this key, whereas some third-party extensions (such as this) can. 99.137.110.204 ( talk) 17:24, 9 June 2008 (UTC)
This edit re-added original research to the article, along with an unneeded point which is actually confusing (as KDE and GNOME are not Linux-specific). It should be reverted. Chris Cunningham (not at work) - talk 18:07, 2 March 2009 (UTC)
Recently I overheard someone mention "WinKey ... allows me to define short-cut keys". In Wikipedia, WinKey redirects here to "Windows key". Is that person talking about a button on the keyboard, or some sort of software with a confusingly-similar name? -- 68.0.124.33 ( talk) 16:50, 10 March 2009 (UTC)
I am a Canadian and I have never seen this key referred to as the Go To Key. I've asked several other people who gave me blank stares when I asked them what the Go To Key is. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Hauskaz ( talk • contribs) 16:14, 11 December 2009 (UTC)
Although I am not Canadian, I asked several Canadians, and none of them knew what the Go To Key referred to either.
Daryl (
talk)
16:16, 11 December 2009 (UTC)
This key was used on keyboards long, long before Gates stole it, just like everything else. It was used in UNIX, and the word META was written on it instead of this absurd square symbol. In UNIX, the Meta key is also frequently used, and I think that, since "both keys" make the same scan code, and they are located at the same place on the Model M-style keyboard, they should be one article. Votes? -- 174.95.52.90 ( talk) 05:33, 25 August 2010 (UTC)
222.154.234.89 has repeated added a link to WinkeyPlus A small website dedicated to selling a single piece of software, no information to add to this article. He has also repeatedly added it to List of Repetitive Strain Injury software. The Sanest Mad Hatter ( talk) 00:15, 4 September 2010 (UTC)
This article doesn't explain why all keyboard manufacturers in the world bother to create the windows logo, even the round embossed one now, even when it doesn't even fit the font or style of the rest of the keys on the keyboard. Why do keyboard manufacturers bother at all to "license" the logo of this key and even have to put texts at the bottom of the keyboard stating they licensed it? Why not just use some other symbol instead? It'd look better too. Is it enforced by law that every keyboard has to have that logo on it or something? Anyway, again, the article doesn't mention why it was possible that starting from 1995 *every* keyboard manufacturer add this key and starting from 2003 *every* keyboard manufacturer started using the embossed one, while they're free to choose the appearance of every other key. 193.190.253.144 ( talk) 23:28, 23 September 2010 (UTC)
I am just an ordinary user and not too pendantic and this is just IMHO. This is a great article, easy to read and lots of information for users like me. Why doesn't MS or other providers have information like this? Yes, they do, but how long woulld it take me to find it and how many different places would I have to look? This article, starting over again, would take some time to create. THANX to the people who started and refined this article. 81.106.168.147 ( talk) 10:03, 9 April 2011 (UTC)
I don’t use Windows and I’ve never seen a Windows key. With that advantage, I was able to notice that this coverage of Windows keys doesn’t mention what the key actually does until the 20th line (not counting the contents box). I kept wondering when somebody was going to finally tell me what the heck a Windows key was! It seems more in line with encyclopedia style to start with: The Windows logo key - also known as the Windows key, the WinKey, the Start key, MOD4[citation needed], or the Flag key (sometimes shortened to Flag) - is a keyboard key which, within the standard Windows Shell, opens the Start Menu ... And on to explain the uses of the key. THEN the history and the problems. Just my opinion. Zipzip50 ( talk) 03:05, 9 August 2011 (UTC)
Even though they are separate keys, The windows key is refereed to as the 'meta key' way more often then the MIT Keyboard is even thought about. By popular usage, I have added it in as a name for the Windows Key. I believe this is correct because in my line of work, I hear 'Meta' used way more then any other name. It is also historically actuate, as I work with a company who was making keyboards around 95. We directly changed the label of a key labeled "META" to the windows logo for some models, on others there was simply a dot or "SUPER" But super was only used on one model of keyboard. I am now the senior director for my company, so I can say this straght from the horses mouth. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.89.220.108 ( talk) 22:56, 28 August 2011 (UTC)
Please rename the article or tell me why the article is called Windows key. (not to be a dick, but this is about the actual key, which should be called super or meta key) -- Stijn Brouwer ( talk) 11:40, 13 April 2012 (UTC)
I sometimes need to document window key combinations like ⊞ Win+B. That ⊞ Win symbol is inserted in a wiki document by typing "keypress|Win" in double curly brackets. But how would one use a little window symbol like that in word processing? I can't figure it out, and it seems like a good addition to this page. After all, if we can type alt and Unicode characters like ♀, ♪ and ♣ then why not a little window icon? When documenting outside of Wikipedia, I don't know how to get a window symbol like ⊞ Win. Tdk408 ( talk) 18:54, 2 July 2014 (UTC)
The closest glyph I can find is ⊞, which is 228E in Unicode. It is called "squared plus". It's not exactly right, but it's better than nothing. Tdk408 ( talk) 15:30, 3 July 2014 (UTC)
How about the Japanese character for field: 田 ? Or perhaps to be more neutral, something like ╋ or ╬ ? --
TiagoTiago (
talk)
04:44, 17 March 2016 (UTC)
The character on the keypress macro is U+229e: ⊞ type ⊞ into wiki markup to get it. The field character is U+7530: 田, type 田 to get it. Note the field character showed up in an old browser that does not draw the one being used for the Win key macro, possibly the macro should be changed. It also looks a bit more like a Windows logo. Spitzak ( talk) 16:43, 17 March 2016 (UTC)
Note that U+228e is ⊎, I think he meant U+229e.
Windows key + u in win 98 does not bring up utility menu or utilman = 'not found'
totally new at this (commenting on wiki article / info. just hoping to be helpful DM in Phx AZ (IP address probably changes - ISP cox.net) — Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.201.182.11 ( talk) 00:44, 9 August 2016 (UTC)
I am confused why Xbox 360 is listed as a non-ms operating system. the os was designed by ms along with the rest of the console. Does this need to be changed? -A Fluffy Kitteh (FluffyKittehz User Profile Page) 18:17, 5 January 2022 (UTC)
Considering the "is" and "was" in the Windows key for Windows XP, should it be "is" or "was"? WP:PAST seems to state that discontinued products are still "is" unless no longer meaningful. In the case of Windows XP, the product itself still lives, and thus still counts as "is", but what about the Windows key on keyboards designed for XP? Qwertyxp2000 ( talk | contribs) 09:42, 4 July 2022 (UTC)
They are the same thing, and this article largely focuses on its use within Microsoft Windows, which would be a perfectly reasonable section in Super key (keyboard button). Thoughts? QoopyQoopy ( talk) 13:54, 29 April 2023 (UTC)
This article is outdated. There should be a section on Windows 11, as there have been some reassignments. 2601:406:0:270:C9D8:7FB:9059:F288 ( talk) 21:40, 26 July 2023 (UTC)
I've already edited a tiny section of this page to include this information, though I want to elaborate. In some Microsoft CD samplers from late-1994 to mid-1995, there is a presentation for the Microsoft Natural Keyboard. The Natural Keyboard, when it was first released, came with IntelliType software developed with Windows 3.1 in mind. With the software installed, pressing the Windows key brings up an updated graphical task manager; which includes an application swapper, buttons to arrange your windows, and a customizable quick launch menu. The presentation also mentions how the Windows key will do more "in the future," likely referring to Windows 95's Start menu. Perhaps this information could be written into the article in some form? LightCorp ( talk) 09:06, 29 June 2024 (UTC)
This is the
talk page for discussing improvements to the
Windows key article. This is not a forum for general discussion of the article's subject. |
Article policies
|
Find sources: Google ( books · news · scholar · free images · WP refs) · FENS · JSTOR · TWL |
![]() | This article is rated B-class on Wikipedia's
content assessment scale. It is of interest to the following WikiProjects: | |||||||||||||
|
Where did that list come from? I'm running WinXP Pro, and Windows + N doesn't open notepad (along with other inconsistancies). DevastatorIIC 02:46, 13 February 2006 (UTC)
"Needs to be incorporated into another article, either "IBM PC Keyboard" or "computer keyboard." " GCW
Maybe add an explanation of "NT systems only" like "NT systems only (Windows NT, 2000, XP)" because somebody using Windows XP may not know that his Windows is "NT system"
Ciao!
I also tried to clarify the whole paragraph about Windows and Linux. I rewrote this slightly confusing sentace. I hope everyone understands.
"Under Windows, it acts as a modifier key, with the available key combinations depending on a number of factors better detailed in the resources linked to below."
Actaully, the above sentance is a bit redundant because a section called "Windows key shortcuts" exists. Maybe one of us can merge the sentance about the modifier key into the section called "Windows key shortcuts"?
Keep up the good work everyone! -- Starionwolf 22:35, 30 April 2006 (UTC)
Firefox homepage
[1]
they don't seem to allow "inline lists" of links. Thus I stuck to our usual layout with the external links in a separate section. Please, don't change the article structure again. I've seen that you spent several hours on it, and it took me three hours to bring it back to the current status. I don't think so much work is worth the result: in the end it is not much different from the version you started with, and the improvements (if any) are minimal. Of course the matter would be different if we had substantially new information. Ah, as to the use with GNOME and KDE, we could add external links the same way we have done for Windows; however the situation in that case is much more complicated due to the amount of versions and the high configurability of Linux DEs. A couple of high-quality links would be ok but the section can —and should, IMHO— be kept to minimum, I guess, as Linux users generally know what to do with their system ;) Please, don't make major changes to the article without discussion, I wouldn't like to waste hours on it considering the relatively low importance of the topic. Cheers,
Gennaro Prota
21:17, 1 May 2006 (UTC)It would be nice if someone mentions the terrible mistake of the position of the left windows keys with respect to most fps, since shift, ctrl and alt are used intensively within the game and the windows key tends to leave the game for the start menu. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.178.75.154 ( talk • contribs)
-- Knulclunk 00:12, 14 December 2006 (UTC)
I am a heavy user of the Windows key and I only want to disable it when I play a game and without a reboot. I found the solution: A little AutoHotKey.com-script: "LWin::return". When it is started, the left Windows key is immediately disabled without a reboot. And you can enable it at anytime by right clicking on the green "H" in the Windows try. But I also want to help people with the same problem who do not want to mess with Autohotkey. Therefore I provided an executable: http://helgehelge.de/DisableLeftWindowsKey.exe (This was generated with AutoHotKey's ahk2exe-compiler.)
I think we could make many people happy by putting it into the article.
HelgeHan ( talk) 08:55, 25 April 2008 (UTC)
Last time I checked GNOME refers to the Windows Key as "Super" and the menu key next to it as "Hyper". Shouldn't this have a mention in the article Whitehornmatt 14:23, 22 December 2006 (UTC)
The name I have heard which fits the key's image best is the "flag" key. I can't put this on the main page because I can't cite a reference of where I heard it. Everweb ( talk) 14:15, 20 July 2009 (UTC)
The article states that Mac OS X maps the Windows key as the Command key, and the Alt key as the Option key. AFAIK this is incorrect (at least OS X 10.4.8 Intel does this differently): Windows key get's mapped to the Option ("Apple") key, while the Alt key becomes the Command key. This error is spanning across multiple pages. -- NetRolller 3D 20:51, 28 February 2007 (UTC)
Some information on how to access this key in software or using macros would be nice. For instance, the SendKeys method in Visual Basic *cannot* access this key, whereas some third-party extensions (such as this) can. 99.137.110.204 ( talk) 17:24, 9 June 2008 (UTC)
This edit re-added original research to the article, along with an unneeded point which is actually confusing (as KDE and GNOME are not Linux-specific). It should be reverted. Chris Cunningham (not at work) - talk 18:07, 2 March 2009 (UTC)
Recently I overheard someone mention "WinKey ... allows me to define short-cut keys". In Wikipedia, WinKey redirects here to "Windows key". Is that person talking about a button on the keyboard, or some sort of software with a confusingly-similar name? -- 68.0.124.33 ( talk) 16:50, 10 March 2009 (UTC)
I am a Canadian and I have never seen this key referred to as the Go To Key. I've asked several other people who gave me blank stares when I asked them what the Go To Key is. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Hauskaz ( talk • contribs) 16:14, 11 December 2009 (UTC)
Although I am not Canadian, I asked several Canadians, and none of them knew what the Go To Key referred to either.
Daryl (
talk)
16:16, 11 December 2009 (UTC)
This key was used on keyboards long, long before Gates stole it, just like everything else. It was used in UNIX, and the word META was written on it instead of this absurd square symbol. In UNIX, the Meta key is also frequently used, and I think that, since "both keys" make the same scan code, and they are located at the same place on the Model M-style keyboard, they should be one article. Votes? -- 174.95.52.90 ( talk) 05:33, 25 August 2010 (UTC)
222.154.234.89 has repeated added a link to WinkeyPlus A small website dedicated to selling a single piece of software, no information to add to this article. He has also repeatedly added it to List of Repetitive Strain Injury software. The Sanest Mad Hatter ( talk) 00:15, 4 September 2010 (UTC)
This article doesn't explain why all keyboard manufacturers in the world bother to create the windows logo, even the round embossed one now, even when it doesn't even fit the font or style of the rest of the keys on the keyboard. Why do keyboard manufacturers bother at all to "license" the logo of this key and even have to put texts at the bottom of the keyboard stating they licensed it? Why not just use some other symbol instead? It'd look better too. Is it enforced by law that every keyboard has to have that logo on it or something? Anyway, again, the article doesn't mention why it was possible that starting from 1995 *every* keyboard manufacturer add this key and starting from 2003 *every* keyboard manufacturer started using the embossed one, while they're free to choose the appearance of every other key. 193.190.253.144 ( talk) 23:28, 23 September 2010 (UTC)
I am just an ordinary user and not too pendantic and this is just IMHO. This is a great article, easy to read and lots of information for users like me. Why doesn't MS or other providers have information like this? Yes, they do, but how long woulld it take me to find it and how many different places would I have to look? This article, starting over again, would take some time to create. THANX to the people who started and refined this article. 81.106.168.147 ( talk) 10:03, 9 April 2011 (UTC)
I don’t use Windows and I’ve never seen a Windows key. With that advantage, I was able to notice that this coverage of Windows keys doesn’t mention what the key actually does until the 20th line (not counting the contents box). I kept wondering when somebody was going to finally tell me what the heck a Windows key was! It seems more in line with encyclopedia style to start with: The Windows logo key - also known as the Windows key, the WinKey, the Start key, MOD4[citation needed], or the Flag key (sometimes shortened to Flag) - is a keyboard key which, within the standard Windows Shell, opens the Start Menu ... And on to explain the uses of the key. THEN the history and the problems. Just my opinion. Zipzip50 ( talk) 03:05, 9 August 2011 (UTC)
Even though they are separate keys, The windows key is refereed to as the 'meta key' way more often then the MIT Keyboard is even thought about. By popular usage, I have added it in as a name for the Windows Key. I believe this is correct because in my line of work, I hear 'Meta' used way more then any other name. It is also historically actuate, as I work with a company who was making keyboards around 95. We directly changed the label of a key labeled "META" to the windows logo for some models, on others there was simply a dot or "SUPER" But super was only used on one model of keyboard. I am now the senior director for my company, so I can say this straght from the horses mouth. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.89.220.108 ( talk) 22:56, 28 August 2011 (UTC)
Please rename the article or tell me why the article is called Windows key. (not to be a dick, but this is about the actual key, which should be called super or meta key) -- Stijn Brouwer ( talk) 11:40, 13 April 2012 (UTC)
I sometimes need to document window key combinations like ⊞ Win+B. That ⊞ Win symbol is inserted in a wiki document by typing "keypress|Win" in double curly brackets. But how would one use a little window symbol like that in word processing? I can't figure it out, and it seems like a good addition to this page. After all, if we can type alt and Unicode characters like ♀, ♪ and ♣ then why not a little window icon? When documenting outside of Wikipedia, I don't know how to get a window symbol like ⊞ Win. Tdk408 ( talk) 18:54, 2 July 2014 (UTC)
The closest glyph I can find is ⊞, which is 228E in Unicode. It is called "squared plus". It's not exactly right, but it's better than nothing. Tdk408 ( talk) 15:30, 3 July 2014 (UTC)
How about the Japanese character for field: 田 ? Or perhaps to be more neutral, something like ╋ or ╬ ? --
TiagoTiago (
talk)
04:44, 17 March 2016 (UTC)
The character on the keypress macro is U+229e: ⊞ type ⊞ into wiki markup to get it. The field character is U+7530: 田, type 田 to get it. Note the field character showed up in an old browser that does not draw the one being used for the Win key macro, possibly the macro should be changed. It also looks a bit more like a Windows logo. Spitzak ( talk) 16:43, 17 March 2016 (UTC)
Note that U+228e is ⊎, I think he meant U+229e.
Windows key + u in win 98 does not bring up utility menu or utilman = 'not found'
totally new at this (commenting on wiki article / info. just hoping to be helpful DM in Phx AZ (IP address probably changes - ISP cox.net) — Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.201.182.11 ( talk) 00:44, 9 August 2016 (UTC)
I am confused why Xbox 360 is listed as a non-ms operating system. the os was designed by ms along with the rest of the console. Does this need to be changed? -A Fluffy Kitteh (FluffyKittehz User Profile Page) 18:17, 5 January 2022 (UTC)
Considering the "is" and "was" in the Windows key for Windows XP, should it be "is" or "was"? WP:PAST seems to state that discontinued products are still "is" unless no longer meaningful. In the case of Windows XP, the product itself still lives, and thus still counts as "is", but what about the Windows key on keyboards designed for XP? Qwertyxp2000 ( talk | contribs) 09:42, 4 July 2022 (UTC)
They are the same thing, and this article largely focuses on its use within Microsoft Windows, which would be a perfectly reasonable section in Super key (keyboard button). Thoughts? QoopyQoopy ( talk) 13:54, 29 April 2023 (UTC)
This article is outdated. There should be a section on Windows 11, as there have been some reassignments. 2601:406:0:270:C9D8:7FB:9059:F288 ( talk) 21:40, 26 July 2023 (UTC)
I've already edited a tiny section of this page to include this information, though I want to elaborate. In some Microsoft CD samplers from late-1994 to mid-1995, there is a presentation for the Microsoft Natural Keyboard. The Natural Keyboard, when it was first released, came with IntelliType software developed with Windows 3.1 in mind. With the software installed, pressing the Windows key brings up an updated graphical task manager; which includes an application swapper, buttons to arrange your windows, and a customizable quick launch menu. The presentation also mentions how the Windows key will do more "in the future," likely referring to Windows 95's Start menu. Perhaps this information could be written into the article in some form? LightCorp ( talk) 09:06, 29 June 2024 (UTC)