If you’re someone who frequently uses an external keyboard or mouse with your Windows computer, you may have experienced the frustration of accidentally pressing keys on your laptop keyboard and disrupting your work. Luckily, there is a simple solution to this problem – using a keyboard shortcut to temporarily disable your keyboard. In this article, we will guide you through the steps to set up this shortcut and make your work more efficient.
Why Disable Your Keyboard?
There are a few reasons why you may want to temporarily disable your keyboard. One common reason is if you are using an external keyboard or mouse and don’t want to accidentally press keys on your laptop keyboard. This can be especially useful if you are playing a game or working on a project that requires precision and any accidental key presses can be disruptive. Another reason may be if your keyboard is malfunctioning and you need to use an external keyboard until you can get it fixed.
Setting Up the Shortcut
The first step to setting up a keyboard shortcut to disable your keyboard is to create a new shortcut on your desktop. Right-click on your desktop and select “New” and then “Shortcut”. In the location field, type in the following command: “C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /c “C:\Program Files\DevCon\devcon.exe” disable *PNP0303″. This command will disable your keyboard using a program called DevCon.
Next, you will need to assign a keyboard shortcut to this new shortcut. Right-click on the shortcut and select “Properties”. In the “Shortcut” tab, click on the “Shortcut key” field and press the key combination you want to use as your shortcut. For example, you can use “Ctrl + Alt + K” to disable your keyboard. Click “Apply” and then “OK” to save your changes.
Using the Shortcut
Now that you have set up the shortcut, you can easily disable your keyboard by pressing the designated key combination. This will bring up a command prompt window and your keyboard will be disabled. To re-enable your keyboard, simply press the same key combination again and your keyboard will be back to normal.
Customizing the Shortcut
If you want to customize the shortcut further, you can do so by modifying the command in the shortcut properties. For example, you can change the key combination to something that is easier for you to remember or you can change the command to disable a specific keyboard device if you have multiple keyboards connected to your computer.
Conclusion
Using a keyboard shortcut to temporarily disable your keyboard can save you time and frustration. It is a simple and effective solution for those who frequently use external keyboards or have a malfunctioning keyboard. By following these steps, you can easily set up and use this shortcut on your Windows computer. Have you tried this shortcut before? Let us know in the comments.
