Disable Number Pad in Windows 7

Question

This question refers to a desktop computer. Is there a way to disable the number pad under windows 7? Alternatively, is there a way to disable certain keys?

Thanks.

Solution

You can disable the numpad completely through Autohotkey. You can set Autohotkey scripts to run on startup. You can also compile the script to a standalone executable if you do not wish to keep Autohotkey installed. This script will cause all standard numpad buttons to do nothing:

*NumLock::
*Numpad0::
*Numpad1::
*Numpad2::
*Numpad3::
*Numpad4::
*Numpad5::
*Numpad6::
*Numpad7::
*Numpad8::
*Numpad9::
*NumpadDot::
*NumpadDiv::
*NumpadMult::
*NumpadAdd::
*NumpadSub::
*NumpadEnter::
*NumpadIns::
*NumpadEnd::
*NumpadDown::
*NumpadPgDn::
*NumpadLeft::
*NumpadClear::
*NumpadRight::
*NumpadHome::
*NumpadUp::
*NumpadPgUp::
*NumpadDel::
Return

Each hotkey carries on to the next, because nothing is assigned to them, until it reaches the Return, which causes the hotkey to end - and since nothing has been done so far, nothing happens. A drawback of this approach is that virtual keypresses would be blocked too; the script could be modified to confirm it's only blocking the physical keypress if necessary, but that's a fair bit of work, so unless you need it...

Comments

[user49390]

I want to disable the numpad completely. I use a trackball mouse and if I can put it on top of the numpad, it would make my workstation more comfortable. I have a very flat keyboard.

[tvdo]

I think you may have hit one of the very few real reasons to disable a desktop numpad. If no one else has answered, I'll look in to an Autohotkey solution tomorrow morning, when I actually have a desktop keyboard to test with ;)

[kokbira]

You can use a hammer to break the keys or to pull them off, or a ripper to split numpad and the rest of kb. You can also use glue and some papers to isolate that area on keyboard (label it as "no trepassing"). Or you can simply buy a keyboard without numpad.

[Thalys]

It might help to say what these links actually are

[Thalys]

I'm not sure if this is an elegant on inelegant solution to the issue... ;p

[tvdo]

Well, it does work. If necessary, it's even possible to assign a hotkey to toggle (enable/disable) the keys, so it's also quite versatile ;)