I use Windows via Parallels a lot. I like to have the all the keys in windows mapped the same keys as the Mac (shift+2 should get me an @ sign etc.). When I set up my XP vm sometime ago I did find a Keyboard map that mostly worked and that was OK, but after hunting around I couldn't find it any more (or a different one that was decent and mapped all the keys I want to use), so I decided to make my own.

This actually turned out to be pretty easy using the The Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator from within windows and Full Key Codes on the Mac.

The only slightly anoying thing is the hash key (#). In OS X alt+3 gets you there (on a UK Keyboard at least), in Windows I can't map the alt key so I have to use ctrl+alt+3. I can live with that. I have also tested this layout with a USB Apple Keyboad and it works 99% (the = key on the numeric keypad is not mapped, I honestly don't think I have ever used it, so again, I will live with that...).

Anyway this works in XP and Vista for sure, I would expect it to work in Windows Server 2003 and 2008 also. Windows 2000? MS say it will, suck it and see I guess.

If you think you might find it useful help yourself...

Download

MacBook Pro UK Keyboard layout for windows.zip (252.62 kb)

NOTE: This post releates to Parallels 3

Often when I resume a parallels session (always when I move from one wireless network to another, I think) the networking breaks in my Windows XP VM. For some reason pvsnatd on my Mac Book Pro seems to freak out, restarting the process always fixes the problem. To restart pvsnatd, open up Terminal and enter the command below.

sudo /Library/StartupItems/Parallels/pvsnatd restart

You should now be back in buisness :)