- Download and install AutoHotkey_L, let it associate with .ahk files
- Grab the script called "Keyboard Hook - 90L" from Scriptlet to find Scancode of a Key and save it somewhere, e.g. My Documents/keys.ahk
- Navigate to the file you saved and double click it
- Move the mouse over the "Keyboard Hook" window and press the button you want to map, e.g. Home key
- Note the value in the Scan column (e.g. SC132)
- Create your own .ahk script
- Add the .ahk script to your Startup folder
Your script should contain e.g.
SC132::Send {Media_Next}
Or, you could map Windows+Left to previous track and Windows+Right to next track with this AutoHotkey script:
#Left::Send {Media_Prev}
#Right::Send {Media_Next}
Or this way works even if the window is hidden or minimized:
#Left::SendMessage, 0x319, 0, 0xC0000, , iTunes
#Right::SendMessage, 0x319, 0, 0xB0000, , iTunes
but you have to Google to find out the values like 0xC0000.
Some other useful shortcuts:
#Up::Send {Volume_Up}
;#Up::SoundSetWaveVolume, +20
#Down::Send {Volume_Down}
;#Down::SoundSetWaveVolume, -20
;#NumpadIns::Send {Media_Play_Pause}
;#Numpad0::Send {Media_Play_Pause}
#Ins::SendMessage, 0x319, 0, 0xE0000, , iTunes
#Del::Send {Volume_Mute}
#NumpadIns::SendMessage, 0x319, 0, 0xE0000, , iTunes
#Numpad0::SendMessage, 0x319, 0, 0xE0000, , iTunes
; works on Vista without IntelliType
#NumpadDot::Send {Volume_Mute}
#NumpadDel::Send {Volume_Mute}
; works on Vista with IntelliType when AutoHotKey.exe is in Windows XP mode
;#NumpadDot::SoundSet, +1, , mute
;#NumpadDel::SoundSet, +1, , mute
See the AutoHotkey docs for more details.
Best Answer
The best tool for the job is Microsoft's own
remapkey.exe, available as part of the Windows Resource Kit. (That link is for Windows 2003; I've used it successfully over the years on many versions of Windows, including Windows 7; have not tested Windows 8).remapkey.exewill write the mapping directly into the registry, I believe, and does not require a running process. You simply drag from actual key to desired key, and save.