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It is possible to change the behavior of the different keys on the keyboard by changing the scancode map. This can be used to disable the Windows-key so one is not thrown out of your favorite game, when by accident have pressed the wrong key.

The change the scancode map, so the Windows-key is disabled add/update this binary value:

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout]
"Scancode Map"=hex:00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,03,00,00,00,00,00,5b,e0,00,00,5c,e0,\
00,00,00,00

For those who wants to know the meaning of the above values here goes:

00,00,00,00	Header: Version. Set to all zeroes.
00,00,00,00	Header: Flags. Set to all zeroes.
03,00,00,00	3 entries in the map (including null entry).
00,00,5b,e0	Left Windows Key (0xe05b) -> Disable (0x00).
00,00,5c,e0	Right Windows Key (0xe05c) -> Disable (0x00).
00,00,00,00	Null entry.

To also disable the Shutdown key, one would extend the Scancode Map, so it has 4 entries where the fourth entry becomes ACPI Power Key (0xe0f6) -> Disable (0x00):

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout]
"Scancode Map"=hex:00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,04,00,00,00,00,00,5b,e0,00,00,5c,e0,\
00,00,f6,e0,00,00,00,00

Note it is also possible to map the the Shutdown keyboard key to become Sleep shortcut by going to Control Panel -> Power Options -> Advanced Tab.

More Info KeyTweak by Travis Krumsick
More Info SharpKeys by RandyRants.com
More Info Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator (MSKLC)
More Info Scan Code Mapper for Windows
More Info MS KB Q181348
More Info MS KB Q216893

Related Using keyboard shortcuts/hotkeys to quickly access programs

Credits Jason Tsang