This instruction is for those who have a custom keyboard layout and would like to replace a default Windows 7 keyboard layout with their custom one.
The method to replace a keyboard layout dll file in Windows XP was to start the computer in safe mode, enter as administrator and just drop the dll file in system 32 folder and then restart the computer in normal mode.
In Windows 7 that is not possible because of the default permissions. There is more than one method to change a keyboard layout dll file in Windows 7. The method discussed here, changes the permission on a keyboard layout dll file to introduce a custom dll with the same name in to the system 32 folder.
The following procedure should be done by advanced users or above.
Before doing this, it is advised that you make a restore point in your windows, so that if mistakes are made that you cannot reverse, you would be able to restore your system.
Windows 7 - A method to change keyboard-layout dll files
You need administrator rights for the following procedure
Example replacement of the default Widows 7 KBDFA.DLL (Farsi keyboard layout) with a custom one.
open folder: C:\Windows\System32
Right click KBDFA.DLL - choose properties
click - security tab
click - Advanced tab
click - Owner Tab
click - Edit Button
under "change owner to" - click Administrator
click - OK button
On the dialog box:
"you have taken ownership you will need to close and reopen..." - click OK button
on Owner page - click OK button
on properties page - click OK button
Second time:
Right click KBDFA.DLL - choose properties
click - security tab
click - Edit button
click - administrator
under permissions choose modify (which automatically also activates Write)
click - OK button
on dialog box: "you are about to change permissions..." - click OK button
on security page - click OK button
Rename KBDFA.DLL to KBDFA1.DLL (to keep the old one in the same folder if you want or copy it to an archive folder in another partition)
copy your replacement KBDFA.DLL to system32 folder
restart computer
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Notes
1:
The above method has been successfully tested for Windows 7.
I have not tested Windows Vista, but because of similarities between these two versions, if you have the same problem in Vista, you might want to look in to this method.
2:
Another method which I have not tested and involves changing registry values has been suggested for an example of Farsi keyboard-layout in the following link:
http://farsiweb.ir/wiki/Install_Keyboard
3:
Farsi users can see the attached files for Farsi instructions as well as a Farsi custom keyboard layout dll file. The keyboard layout file can be used in windows 2000 upwards...
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