Windows 10 Calculator Key

Question

My keyboard has a "calculator" key on it. In the registry at:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\AppKey\18

I have ShellExecute set to C:\Program Files (x86)\SpeedCrunch\SpeedCrunch.exe.

While regedit is open focused, pressing the calculator key opens up SpeedCrunch, but at any other time the key opens up Windows 10's calculator app.

How can I set it to open SpeedCrunch at all times with my calculator key?

Answer 1

Try surrounding the path to SpeedCrunch in quotation marks ("):

1. Create a new registration file with a text editor and save as keyboard_calc_to_speedcrunch.reg:

   Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
   
   [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\AppKey\18]
   "ShellExecute"="\"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\SpeedCrunch\\speedcrunch.exe\""
   

2. Import/merge keyboard_calc_to_speedcrunch.reg into the registry.

3. Refresh Windows Explorer (using NirCmd): nircmd.exe shellrefresh

---

To restore the original behaviour, create and merge keyboard_calc_restore.reg:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\AppKey\18]
"ShellExecute"=-

Answer 2

Try using AutoHotKey for this action.

http://ahkscript.org/

https://autohotkey.com/docs/KeyList.htm

sample:

;Winkey+C-- you can cutomise as per your need even the special keys

 #C::
    IfWinExist SpeedCrunch
       WinActivate
  else
     Run C:\Program Files (x86)\SpeedCrunch\SpeedCrunch.exe
return