Stoic Joker

Why not just send a WM_KEYDOWN message specifying the Win key to the shell?

I've run into this three times where the cause ended up being a malfunctioning multi-media keyboard (1 wired & 2 wireless). If your keyboard has a sleep button, try changing the keyboard. Obviously there are other possible causes, but this is worth checking (if applicable). The first time I'd spent months trying to trouble shoot an intermittent issue for a client before finding out it was the blasted keyboard.

Remember the 3 F's of Engineering Form Follows Function Nobody cares how pretty it is, if it don't work.