Windows 8 shortcut keys via RDP

The problem can be solved if you can convince your users to use the product Royal TS, an RDP client program that offers more features than the standard Windows Remote Desktop Client. (version 1.5 is still freeware).

This product actually uses the Windows Remote Desktop ActiveX, but embedded in its own windows. These windows can be organized in tabs, so you can enjoy multi-tab remote desktop. Most important for you, you can define multiple logins, each with its own user name and password (unlike Microsoft's RDC which only remembers the last login). You can even access the same site concurrently through multiple windows with different/same logins for each window. The logins can be organized in a 2-level hierarchical tree.

Use Autohotkey. The scripting language is non standard and can be difficult to learn, but if all you're wanting to do is reliably launch programs, its simple. Plus you can base shortcuts off the Windows key! Use following sample script and modify it to your needs. (Lines starting with ; are comments.)

;win + alt + e ... unload ipod
#!E::
   run d:\Downloads\Apps\deveject\eject ipod.bat
   return

;win + w ... launch winamp
#w::
    run c:\program files (x86)\winamp\winamp.exe
    return

;win + a ... launch AS400
#a::
    run C:\Program Files (x86)\IBM\Client Access\Emulator\Private\1.ws
    return

;win + Shift a ... launch AS400 Printer
#+a::
    run C:\Program Files (x86)\IBM\Client Access\Emulator\Private\3.ws
    return

;win + ctrl + Shift a ... launch 2nd AS400 
#^+a::
    run C:\Program Files (x86)\IBM\Client Access\Emulator\Private\2.ws
    return

Save this as a .ahk file on your desktop, install autohotkey and run it.

Every time you press any key combination, AutoHotkey will scan this script. If it matches any of the key combinations that preceed a ::, it will execute the next command. If the return statement is missing, the AHK will continue to scan the script for matches after executing your statement. The key combinations are described below.

# = Windows Key
+ = Shift
^ = Control
! = Alt

You can use these in any combination with the letters of your keyboard. One combination I find extremely useful is as follows.

; ALT Backtick ... ctrl f4
!`::
    Loop, parse, RcvCtrlW, `,
    {
     IfWinActive %A_LoopField%
     {
        sendinput ^w
        Return
     }
    }
    sendinput ^{f4}
    return

; win Backtick ... alt f4
#`::
   sendinput !{f4}
   return   

This is Alt + ` and Win + `. When this script is running and I press alt + `, the script sends ctrl + F4. Win + ` becomes alt + F4.

Autohotkey is basically its own programming language. I have scripts set up that simulate "Rocker Gestures" system wide. I have GMail like shortcuts for my email. If you spend the time to learn some of its tricks, you can get nuts with it. Lifehacker has a whole bunch of useful scripts for Autohotkey. Have Fun!