Keyboard-Buffer in Windows

Question

In Linux it is possible to read keystrokes directly from a device file. The device file is located under / dev / input / event *. Is there a similar possibility under Windows?

Answer 1

Windows devices are not organized that way (most are specialized rather than generic). There are legacy names such as CON which have no associated path but can be referenced in a batch file, while the newer ones (which also can be referenced by name) generally require specialized drivers.

For more information on the legacy names:

• What's the deal with those reserved filenames like NUL and CON?
• Device Names for Windows
• MS-DOS Device Driver Names Cannot be Used as File Names

The place to start with newer devices names is in the Windows Driver Kit. In particular DevCon.exe shows (and manipulates) these.

Of course, you can manipulate devices with PowerShell:

• Device Management PowerShell Cmdlets Sample - An introduction
• Logging Keys with PowerShell: Get-Keystroke
• Powershell Clear-Host alternative to preserve the buffer