Physically swapping the ALT and WINDOWS keys

paulatmodaco · **Joined:** Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:33 am **Posts:** 230

Due to the setup of a real mac keyboard (that I use all day), it would be really useful to physical swap the key tops on the Windows and ALT keys to match. Does anyone know of a safe way to do this?

Cheers!

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mattrb · **Joined:** Sun Jul 06, 2008 7:07 pm **Posts:** 40

not worth the effort, just go to preferences and go to keyboard, then you can swap keys to work there. Done, and with no physical movement.

paulatmodaco · **Joined:** Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:33 am **Posts:** 230

Yeah, but if I do that, then the layout is different to my real mac keyboard, which will be annoying

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esrun · **Joined:** Wed Jul 02, 2008 4:59 am **Posts:** 80

Just like a normal laptop keyboard, pop the caps off gently at the top and them push them back on, its a peice of cake, just be gentle.

paulatmodaco · **Joined:** Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:33 am **Posts:** 230

Thanks esrun, that was the kind of useful response I was hoping for

Watch this space!

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paulatmodaco · **Joined:** Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:33 am **Posts:** 230

Let's have a little game of spot the difference...

Now I just need to get the actualy keyboard map correct for symbols etc...

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paulatmodaco · **Joined:** Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:33 am **Posts:** 230

Now I just need to replace that little sticker on the windows key with an apple logo

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esrun · **Joined:** Wed Jul 02, 2008 4:59 am **Posts:** 80

paulatmodaco wrote:

Now I just need to replace that little sticker on the windows key with an apple logo

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Ha good job! And also get two finger scrolling working somehow since synaptics pads are meant to have this feature most of the time!

paulatmodaco · **Joined:** Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:33 am **Posts:** 230

It's on my list of things to do

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paulatmodaco · **Joined:** Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:33 am **Posts:** 230

For those who have NO idea what i'm talking about:

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doody · **Posted:** Mon Jul 07, 2008 11:16 am

Hehe, good for you that the Alt key and the Windows key are the same size

.

paulatmodaco · **Joined:** Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:33 am **Posts:** 230

Very handy indeed

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Brian · **Posted:** Mon Jul 07, 2008 12:22 pm

Nice! Is the windows-key mapped to the Cmd/Apple one in Kalyway OSX?
Now all you need is a bit of [twink]/[tipp-ex]/[wite-out] to modify your keyboard slightly hehe

paulatmodaco · **Joined:** Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:33 am **Posts:** 230

Yes... that's why I swapped them :-)

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paulatmodaco · **Joined:** Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:33 am **Posts:** 230

Just discovering how lucky we are to have ctrl and fn as they are! (IMHO)

They match the mac keyboard, but not most other laptops

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AndyLT · **Joined:** Mon Jul 07, 2008 11:31 pm **Posts:** 51

a nice little touch :]

angstmann · **Joined:** Tue Jul 22, 2008 10:51 pm **Posts:** 34

Phew! Just managed to do this without any problems... was a bit worried during the wiggling stage, but now I am much happier with the layout!

bigp2 · **Joined:** Thu Jul 24, 2008 7:19 am **Posts:** 6

The next thing you'll want to do is to remap the keys in Windows, if you dual boot.

You need to add a registry entry, of type REG_BINARY, called Scancode Map to key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout

with the following value:

00000000
00000000
03000000
5BE03800
38005BE0
00000000

Phil

erwinquita · **Posted:** Mon Oct 20, 2008 8:51 pm

How did you take off the keys? I want to change mine also but I'm afraid I might break them. What tools did you use? and procedures please. Thanks in advance.

fletch33 · **Posted:** Tue Oct 21, 2008 1:07 am

erwinquita wrote:

How did you take off the keys? I want to change mine also but I'm afraid I might break them. What tools did you use? and procedures please. Thanks in advance.

i just did mine and it was easy. i held down the X key to get to the top of the ALT key and then gently pulled it off from the top and did the same with the windows key by holding down the Z key.

they then just snap back into place.

now im going to print a little apple with some sticker paper and place it over the windows key

here is the rough draft. i am going to print this with the laser printer at work tomorrow and some high gloss sticker paper and then cut it out to fit the current circle of the windows area on the key.

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Physically swapping the ALT and WINDOWS keys

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