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Num Lock on Keyboard

O

Omaha Tony

Flightless Bird
New problem just started and don't know why. When I boot up my PC, the "num
lock" light was always automatically on, allowing me to use the numeric keys.
It wont come on automatically any more. I have to turn it on manually evry
time I boot up the PC. What has caused this change and how can I get it back
to what it used to do. Thank you.

Tony
 
M

mm

Flightless Bird
On Tue, 2 Feb 2010 09:18:05 -0800, Omaha Tony
<OmahaTony@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>New problem just started and don't know why. When I boot up my PC, the "num
>lock" light was always automatically on, allowing me to use the numeric keys.
> It wont come on automatically any more. I have to turn it on manually evry
>time I boot up the PC. What has caused this change and how can I get it back
>to what it used to do. Thank you.
>
>Tony


Isn't this a job for tweakui? A free download. Specify XP.

I don't have it installed right now or I would check.
 
C

chas2209

Flightless Bird
"Omaha Tony" <OmahaTony@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:21C8EDD8-107C-45A3-9032-33EDFB033EB7@microsoft.com...
> New problem just started and don't know why. When I boot up my PC, the
> "num
> lock" light was always automatically on, allowing me to use the numeric
> keys.
> It wont come on automatically any more. I have to turn it on manually
> evry
> time I boot up the PC. What has caused this change and how can I get it
> back
> to what it used to do. Thank you.
>
> Tony


Hi
There is usually a setting in the Bios to set Num Lock on at boot up

chas2209
 
B

boatman312

Flightless Bird
On 02/02/10 12:36 PM, mm wrote:
> On Tue, 2 Feb 2010 09:18:05 -0800, Omaha Tony
> <OmahaTony@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
>> New problem just started and don't know why. When I boot up my PC, the "num
>> lock" light was always automatically on, allowing me to use the numeric keys.
>> It wont come on automatically any more. I have to turn it on manually evry
>> time I boot up the PC. What has caused this change and how can I get it back
>> to what it used to do. Thank you.
>>
>> Tony

>
> Isn't this a job for tweakui? A free download. Specify XP.
>
> I don't have it installed right now or I would check.
>
>

Also, there's usually an option in the motherboard bios setup for the
numlock status.
 
R

Russ SBITS.Biz [SBS-MVP]

Flightless Bird
If the BIOS suggestion doesn't work I've seen this on some windows XP
Systems
Here is a Registry Hack that turn on Numb Lock

Open NotePad.exe Put
---------------- Start -------------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Keyboard]

"InitialKeyboardIndicators"="2"

----------- End -------------

And save it as NumbLock.reg
Run it on the PC
and it should turn on your Numb lock for you
Russ

--
Russell Grover - SBITS.Biz [SBS-MVP]
Microsoft Gold Certified Partner
Microsoft Certified Small Business Specialist
24hr SBS Remote Support - http://www.SBITS.Biz
Second IT Opinion http://www.personalitconsultant.com
Free Trial Microsoft Online Services (BPOS) -
http://www.microsoft-online-services.com


"Omaha Tony" <OmahaTony@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:21C8EDD8-107C-45A3-9032-33EDFB033EB7@microsoft.com...
> New problem just started and don't know why. When I boot up my PC, the
> "num
> lock" light was always automatically on, allowing me to use the numeric
> keys.
> It wont come on automatically any more. I have to turn it on manually
> evry
> time I boot up the PC. What has caused this change and how can I get it
> back
> to what it used to do. Thank you.
>
> Tony
 
S

SC Tom

Flightless Bird
"mm" <NOPSAMmm2005@bigfoot.com> wrote in message
news:fiogm5ll5qju5koqqikt69eobu5gcatock@4ax.com...
> On Tue, 2 Feb 2010 09:18:05 -0800, Omaha Tony
> <OmahaTony@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
>>New problem just started and don't know why. When I boot up my PC, the
>>"num
>>lock" light was always automatically on, allowing me to use the numeric
>>keys.
>> It wont come on automatically any more. I have to turn it on manually
>> evry
>>time I boot up the PC. What has caused this change and how can I get it
>>back
>>to what it used to do. Thank you.
>>
>>Tony

>
> Isn't this a job for tweakui? A free download. Specify XP.
>
> I don't have it installed right now or I would check.
>
>


That's what I thought, too, but I can't find a numlock listing.
I know on my PC, XP remembers the shut down state- if it's off when I turn
the PC off, it'll be off when next I boot up, even though I have it set to
on in BIOS.
--
SC Tom
 
J

Jose

Flightless Bird
On Feb 2, 3:09 pm, "SC Tom" <s...@tom.net> wrote:
> "mm" <NOPSAMmm2...@bigfoot.com> wrote in message
>
> news:fiogm5ll5qju5koqqikt69eobu5gcatock@4ax.com...
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Tue, 2 Feb 2010 09:18:05 -0800, Omaha Tony
> > <OmahaT...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>
> >>New problem just started and don't know why.  When I boot up my PC, the
> >>"num
> >>lock" light was always automatically on, allowing me to use the numeric
> >>keys.
> >> It wont come on automatically any more.  I have to turn it on manually
> >> evry
> >>time I boot up the PC.  What has caused this change and how can I getit
> >>back
> >>to what it used to do.  Thank you.

>
> >>Tony

>
> > Isn't this a job for tweakui?   A free download.  Specify XP.

>
> > I don't have it installed right now or I would check.

>
> That's what I thought, too, but I can't find a numlock listing.
> I know on my PC, XP remembers the shut down state- if it's off when I turn
> the PC off, it'll be off when next I boot up, even though I have it set to
> on in BIOS.
> --
> SC Tom


There may not be a way to set it in every BIOS. The BIOS settings
will get overridden
first by XP, then by the user profile when the user logs in. The XP
default is all indicators
off.

Let's say you could not change it in the BIOS - what would you do?

You could change it in .DEFAULT, but that would only apply to newly
created users, so that isn't
quite right.

XP remembers (possible changes) the setting when a user logs off or
the system is shutdown
and applies it again when the user logs in. This is why the BIOS
setting may appear "not to work" or
the keys seem to keep changing. Nothing is broken, they are behaving.

You will have the same settings when you login that you had when you
logged out or shutdown. Another
user may have different settings.

Each user has their own setting in their profile.

You can adjust the default setting for each newly created user profile
or for an individual
profile by adjusting the value of:

InitialKeyboardIndicators

For the current user the location for InitialKeyboardIndicators is:

HKCU\CONTROL PANEL\KEYBOARD

Here are all the values for InitialKeyboardIndicators:

* 0 - all indicators off
* 1 - Caps Lock on
* 2 - Num Lock on
* 4 - Scroll Lock on

Or, combine them by adding the values to some other number:

* 3 - Caps Lock and Num Lock on
* 5 - Caps Lock and Scroll Lock on
* 6 - Num Lock and Scroll Lock on
* 7 - Caps Lock, Num Lock, and Scroll Lock on

For all (new) users, the location for InitialKeyboardIndicators is:

HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\CONTROL PANEL\KEYBOARD
 
B

Bruce Chambers

Flightless Bird
Omaha Tony wrote:
> New problem just started and don't know why. When I boot up my PC, the "num
> lock" light was always automatically on, allowing me to use the numeric keys.
> It wont come on automatically any more. I have to turn it on manually evry
> time I boot up the PC. What has caused this change and how can I get it back
> to what it used to do. Thank you.
>
> Tony



By default, the NumLock key is turned off as WinXP starts, and
keeps it off until someone logs in and initializes a user profile. WinXP
will remember the NumLock's last state, meaning that if you log out with
the NumLock on, it will automatically turn on the next time you log in;
If you log out with the NumLock off, it will be off the next time you
log in.

If one needs the NumLock on _before_ logging in, a registry edit
can be used to change WinXP's default behavior:

How to Set the NUM LOCK State at Logon in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314879


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot
 
T

Twayne

Flightless Bird
In news:21C8EDD8-107C-45A3-9032-33EDFB033EB7@microsoft.com,
Omaha Tony <OmahaTony@discussions.microsoft.com> typed:
> New problem just started and don't know why. When I boot up my PC,
> the "num lock" light was always automatically on, allowing me to use
> the numeric keys. It wont come on automatically any more. I have to
> turn it on manually evry time I boot up the PC. What has caused this
> change and how can I get it back to what it used to do. Thank you.
>
> Tony


The tickmark to start with NumLock turned ON is missing in your CMOS BIOS
settings. Add it back and all should work UNLESS
the coin-sized battery on the motherboard is failing. A symptom of that is
usually incorrect date and time displays in the TaskBar.

Twayne
--
Life is the only real counselor; wisdom unfiltered
through personal experience does not become a
part of the moral tissue.
 
T

Twayne

Flightless Bird
In news:fiogm5ll5qju5koqqikt69eobu5gcatock@4ax.com,
mm <NOPSAMmm2005@bigfoot.com> typed:
> On Tue, 2 Feb 2010 09:18:05 -0800, Omaha Tony
> <OmahaTony@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
>> New problem just started and don't know why. When I boot up my PC,
>> the "num lock" light was always automatically on, allowing me to use
>> the numeric keys. It wont come on automatically any more. I have to
>> turn it on manually evry time I boot up the PC. What has caused
>> this change and how can I get it back to what it used to do. Thank
>> you.
>>
>> Tony

>
> Isn't this a job for tweakui? A free download. Specify XP.
>
> I don't have it installed right now or I would check.


No, it's a simple boot time setting.

--
--
Life is the only real counselor; wisdom unfiltered
through personal experience does not become a
part of the moral tissue.
 
T

Twayne

Flightless Bird
In news:ebe48e75-1617-43df-908a-b388b3eac8ce@l26g2000yqd.googlegroups.com,
Jose <jose_ease@yahoo.com> typed:
> On Feb 2, 3:09 pm, "SC Tom" <s...@tom.net> wrote:
>> "mm" <NOPSAMmm2...@bigfoot.com> wrote in message
>>
>> news:fiogm5ll5qju5koqqikt69eobu5gcatock@4ax.com...
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>> On Tue, 2 Feb 2010 09:18:05 -0800, Omaha Tony
>>> <OmahaT...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>>
>>>> New problem just started and don't know why. When I boot up my PC,
>>>> the "num
>>>> lock" light was always automatically on, allowing me to use the
>>>> numeric keys.
>>>> It wont come on automatically any more. I have to turn it on
>>>> manually evry
>>>> time I boot up the PC. What has caused this change and how can I
>>>> get it back
>>>> to what it used to do. Thank you.

>>
>>>> Tony

>>
>>> Isn't this a job for tweakui? A free download. Specify XP.

>>
>>> I don't have it installed right now or I would check.

>>
>> That's what I thought, too, but I can't find a numlock listing.
>> I know on my PC, XP remembers the shut down state- if it's off when
>> I turn the PC off, it'll be off when next I boot up, even though I
>> have it set to on in BIOS.
>> --
>> SC Tom

>
> There may not be a way to set it in every BIOS. The BIOS settings
> will get overridden
> first by XP, then by the user profile when the user logs in. The XP
> default is all indicators
> off.
>
> Let's say you could not change it in the BIOS - what would you do?
>
> You could change it in .DEFAULT, but that would only apply to newly
> created users, so that isn't
> quite right.
>
> XP remembers (possible changes) the setting when a user logs off or
> the system is shutdown
> and applies it again when the user logs in. This is why the BIOS
> setting may appear "not to work" or
> the keys seem to keep changing. Nothing is broken, they are behaving.
>
> You will have the same settings when you login that you had when you
> logged out or shutdown. Another
> user may have different settings.
>
> Each user has their own setting in their profile.
>
> You can adjust the default setting for each newly created user profile
> or for an individual
> profile by adjusting the value of:
>
> InitialKeyboardIndicators
>
> For the current user the location for InitialKeyboardIndicators is:
>
> HKCU\CONTROL PANEL\KEYBOARD
>
> Here are all the values for InitialKeyboardIndicators:
>
> * 0 - all indicators off
> * 1 - Caps Lock on
> * 2 - Num Lock on
> * 4 - Scroll Lock on
>
> Or, combine them by adding the values to some other number:
>
> * 3 - Caps Lock and Num Lock on
> * 5 - Caps Lock and Scroll Lock on
> * 6 - Num Lock and Scroll Lock on
> * 7 - Caps Lock, Num Lock, and Scroll Lock on
>
> For all (new) users, the location for InitialKeyboardIndicators is:
>
> HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\CONTROL PANEL\KEYBOARD


That's excellent information, Jose! Thanks.

TWayne
--
Life is the only real counselor; wisdom unfiltered
through personal experience does not become a
part of the moral tissue.
 
J

Jose

Flightless Bird
On Feb 4, 2:14 pm, "Twayne" <nob...@spamcop.net> wrote:
> Innews:ebe48e75-1617-43df-908a-b388b3eac8ce@l26g2000yqd.googlegroups.com,
> Jose <jose_e...@yahoo.com> typed:
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Feb 2, 3:09 pm, "SC Tom" <s...@tom.net> wrote:
> >> "mm" <NOPSAMmm2...@bigfoot.com> wrote in message

>
> >>news:fiogm5ll5qju5koqqikt69eobu5gcatock@4ax.com...

>
> >>> On Tue, 2 Feb 2010 09:18:05 -0800, Omaha Tony
> >>> <OmahaT...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>
> >>>> New problem just started and don't know why. When I boot up my PC,
> >>>> the "num
> >>>> lock" light was always automatically on, allowing me to use the
> >>>> numeric keys.
> >>>> It wont come on automatically any more. I have to turn it on
> >>>> manually evry
> >>>> time I boot up the PC. What has caused this change and how can I
> >>>> get it back
> >>>> to what it used to do. Thank you.

>
> >>>> Tony

>
> >>> Isn't this a job for tweakui? A free download. Specify XP.

>
> >>> I don't have it installed right now or I would check.

>
> >> That's what I thought, too, but I can't find a numlock listing.
> >> I know on my PC, XP remembers the shut down state- if it's off when
> >> I turn the PC off, it'll be off when next I boot up, even though I
> >> have it set to on in BIOS.
> >> --
> >> SC Tom

>
> > There may not be a way to set it in every BIOS.  The BIOS settings
> > will get overridden
> > first by XP, then by the user profile when the user logs in.  The XP
> > default is all indicators
> > off.

>
> > Let's say you could not change it in the BIOS - what would you do?

>
> > You could change it in .DEFAULT, but that would only apply to newly
> > created users, so that isn't
> > quite right.

>
> > XP remembers (possible changes) the setting when a user logs off or
> > the system is shutdown
> > and applies it again when the user logs in.  This is why the BIOS
> > setting may appear "not to work" or
> > the keys seem to keep changing.  Nothing is broken, they are behaving..

>
> > You will have the same settings when you login that you had when you
> > logged out or shutdown.  Another
> > user may have different settings.

>
> > Each user has their own setting in their profile.

>
> > You can adjust the default setting for each newly created user profile
> > or for an individual
> > profile by adjusting the value of:

>
> > InitialKeyboardIndicators

>
> > For the current user the location for InitialKeyboardIndicators is:

>
> > HKCU\CONTROL PANEL\KEYBOARD

>
> > Here are all the values for InitialKeyboardIndicators:

>
> >     * 0 - all indicators off
> >     * 1 - Caps Lock on
> >     * 2 - Num Lock on
> >     * 4 - Scroll Lock on

>
> > Or, combine them by adding the values to some other number:

>
> >     * 3 - Caps Lock and Num Lock on
> >     * 5 - Caps Lock and Scroll Lock on
> >     * 6 - Num Lock and Scroll Lock on
> >     * 7 - Caps Lock, Num Lock, and Scroll Lock on

>
> > For all (new) users, the location for InitialKeyboardIndicators is:

>
> > HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\CONTROL PANEL\KEYBOARD

>
> That's excellent information, Jose!  Thanks.
>
> TWayne
> --
> Life is the only real counselor; wisdom unfiltered
> through personal experience does not become a
> part of the moral tissue.


I've fought this battle before. ;)
 
B

Bruce Chambers

Flightless Bird
Twayne wrote:
>
>
> The tickmark to start with NumLock turned ON is missing in your CMOS
> BIOS settings. Add it back and all should work ...



Not so.

WinXP, like its predecessors WinNT and Win2K, by design, ignores
the BIOS settings for the NumLock key as a standard security feature.
(I'm afraid I can't remember the "security" issue initially addressed.)
By default, the NumLock key is turned off as WinXP starts, and keeps
it off until someone logs in and initializes a user profile. WinXP will
remember the NumLock's last state, meaning that if you log out with the
NumLock on, it will automatically turn on the next time you log in; If
you log out with the NumLock off, it will be off the next time you log in.

If you need the NumLock on _before_ logging in, a registry edit can
be used to change WinXP's default behavior:

How to Set the NUM LOCK State at Logon in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314879


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot
 
B

Bruce Chambers

Flightless Bird
Twayne wrote:
>
> No, it's a simple boot time setting.
>


Only if one is running Win9x or earlier.

--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot
 
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