Minus Key Results in EXT Message in Status Bar

[cphalen]

I have a user running Excel 2007 having problems entering negative numbers
with the minus key on the numeric keypad. When he presses the minus key
"Extend Selction" shows up in the status bar. He can enter negative numbers
from the regular keys. Turning num lock on and off does not resolve the
issue.

Any ideas on how to fix this?

 

[Bernard Liengme]

It is the F8 key that toggles EXT on and off
Is it possible the keyboard is the problem? Hope it not a laptop!
best wishes

 

[cphalen]

Pretty sure it is not a keyboard issue. User has 3 PC's and is using synergy
software, so same keyboard across all PC's. Problem occurs on 2 of the PC's
and not the other one.

On my PC I can bring up the extend selection in the status bar either by
using F8, or by using the minus key if I have my num lock off, I believe this
is normal, however the user with the issue is having the problem wether his
num lock is on or off.

Could this be caused by a Macro??

 

[Bernard Liengme]

I always have NumLock on. I have never seen the minus key turn EXT on! We
live and learn!
I still suspect the keyboard - why not experiment?
As for macro, try starting Excel in save mode

 

[cphalen]

Trun off your num lock key while in excel and then enter a minus key in a
cell using the number key pad and see if EXT shows up in the status bar
please.

 

[Niek Otten]

YES! I can confirm that! Never seen this before. But the, like Bernard, I
always have NumLock on.

 

[swolski]

I'm running into this problem too! It's like Excel is ignoring the
status of "Num-lock" and always considering it "off" in the case of
the keypad minus key.

 

[swolski]

This seems quite unrelated, but the end symptom is the same...
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/71434

 

[cphalen]

Starting in Safe mode produced the same issue....

Any other thoughts??