Keyboard key strokes different to what they should be

[Guest]

I have 2 Windows 2000 servers (1 file server, 1 DC) that I've inherited with
my job so I don't know what's been done with them in the past. Both of them
have the same problem - when logging on the keyboard has one setup ie the @
symbol is entered by SHIFT-2 but then once logged on it's next to the Return
key where it should be. When using VNC to access the servers and I need to
unlock the machine, the keyboard is also different.

I have found what I think is the problem but want to make sure that it won't
cause any problems when I change it. In the Registry in HKU\.DEFAULT\Keyboard
Layout\Preload there are 2 entries - one has a value of 00000409 and the
other is 00000809. Looking at other machines it looks like it should only be
00000809. I just want to be sure that if I change this and reboot that Ill be
able to get back into the server ie if it doesn't work then the keyboard will
be screwed up and I won't be able to log on at all!

Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance

 

[Mark V]

In microsoft.public.win2000.registry

I have 2 Windows 2000 servers (1 file server, 1 DC) that I've
inherited with my job so I don't know what's been done with them
in the past. Both of them have the same problem - when logging
on the keyboard has one setup ie the @ symbol is entered by
SHIFT-2 but then once logged on it's next to the Return key
where it should be. When using VNC to access the servers and I
need to unlock the machine, the keyboard is also different.

I have found what I think is the problem but want to make sure
that it won't cause any problems when I change it. In the
Registry in HKU\.DEFAULT\Keyboard Layout\Preload there are 2
entries - one has a value of 00000409 and the other is 00000809.
Looking at other machines it looks like it should only be
00000809. I just want to be sure that if I change this and
reboot that Ill be able to get back into the server ie if it
doesn't work then the keyboard will be screwed up and I won't be
able to log on at all!

Any thoughts?

Not enough.
But you can see at
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout
\DosKeybCodes\
that "409"="us" and "809"="uk"
And at
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Keyboard Layout\Preload\
I imagine you are seeing "809"

I cannot guaranty anything of course, but with a Full Registry
Backup made in advance and a Recovery Console available if needed,
I'd certainly try your idea as it seems a sound solution to me.
FWIW and YMMV.

 

[Guest]

Thanks Mark. You are correct in the Registry settings you pointed out. It's
just the HKU\.DEFAULT\Keyboard Layout\Preload setting that has US first then
UK.

I'll make a backup of Registry and ERD and try changing it.

Thanks

 

[Mark V]

In microsoft.public.win2000.registry
[ ]

Thanks Mark. You are correct in the Registry settings you
pointed out. It's just the HKU\.DEFAULT\Keyboard Layout\Preload
setting that has US first then UK.

I'll make a backup of Registry and ERD and try changing it.

Then perhaps you could simply reverse them?