The how depends on which windows too. The windows key also has combinations that do things too:
Windows logo key (alone): Opens the Start menu
Windows logo key+E: Starts Windows Explorer
Windows logo key+R: Opens the Run dialog box
Windows logo key+F: Opens the Search menu
Windows logo key+U: Starts Utility Manager
Windows logo key+F1: Starts Windows Help
Windows logo key+F3: Opens the Search menu.
The following applies to NT and win 2000. It requires editing registry so be sure to do backups before you start.
To disable the Windows key, do the following steps:
Click Start, click Run, type regedt32, and then click OK.
On the Windows menu, click HKEY_LOCAL_ MACHINE on Local Machine.
Click the System\CurrentControlSet\Control folder, and then double-click the Keyboard Layout folder.
On the Edit menu, click Add Value, type in Scancode Map, click REG_BINARY as the Data Type, and then click OK.
Type 00000000000000000300000000005BE000005CE000000000 in the Data field, and then click OK.
Close the Registry Editor and restart the computer.
You can also do this:
The following script used in conjunction with the Regini.exe utility from the resource kit disables the left and right Windows logo keys on the Microsoft Natural Keyboard and other compatible keyboards.
To disable all Windows keyboard shortcut keys, save the following text in a REGINI script called Disable_wins.ini. Run the script from the Windows NT command prompt. For example, from the C:\users\default> prompt, type regini disable_wins.ini. Restart the computer to make the changes take effect
Code:
[REGINI SCRIPT STARTS HERE:]
;
; This mapping is used to turn both Windows keys off
;
\Registry\Machine\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout
Scancode Map = REG_BINARY 24 \
0x00000000 0x00000000 3 \
0xE05B0000 0xE05C0000 \
0x0
; Here is an explanation of all the values:
;
; 24 Size of the scancode map including header, in bytes
; 0x00000000 Header : Version
; 0x00000000 : Flags
; 3 : Number of entries (includes null terminator)
; 0xE05B0000 left Windows -> nul (0xE0 0x5b -> 0x00)
; 0xE05C0000 right Windows -> nul (0xE0 0x5c -> 0x00)
; 0x00000000 null terminator
[REGINI SCRIPT ENDS HERE]
An added FYI: WINXP has more options with the Winlogo key
[code]
[b]Press To [/b]
Windows logo key Display or hide the Start menu
Windows logo key+L Lock the computer
Windows logo key+BREAK Display the System Properties dialog box
Windows logo key+D Show the desktop
Windows logo key+M Minimize all windows
Windows logo key+SHIFT+M Restore minimized windows
Windows logo key+E Open My Computer
Windows logo key+F Search for a file or folder
CTRL+Windows logo key+F Search for computers
Windows logo key+F1 Display Windows Help
Windows logo key+R Open the Run dialog box
Windows logo key+U Open Utility Manager