keyboard problem

[brian]

I've just purchased a new PC with XP preinstalled. On
starting up I get presented with a welcome screen asking
for the new license key. I can't enter this because the
keyboard is not transmitting certain characters.
The problem is not with the new keyboard because I get the
same problem with any keyboard I try.
The welcome procedure allows you to change country
settings and I've tried standard UK and US settings. The
keyboard is in fact a UK Windows one.
I've heard of other people having problems with XP losing
keyboard settings but I can't even start up the system.
This looks like a hardware or BIOS problem to me but I'm
not getting much help from the supplier.

 

[Malke]

I've just purchased a new PC with XP preinstalled. On
starting up I get presented with a welcome screen asking
for the new license key. I can't enter this because the
keyboard is not transmitting certain characters.
The problem is not with the new keyboard because I get the
same problem with any keyboard I try.
The welcome procedure allows you to change country
settings and I've tried standard UK and US settings. The
keyboard is in fact a UK Windows one.
I've heard of other people having problems with XP losing
keyboard settings but I can't even start up the system.
This looks like a hardware or BIOS problem to me but I'm
not getting much help from the supplier.

Is this a usb keyboard? If yes, then be sure that usb is enabled in the
BIOS. If this is a usb keyboard, then try with a regular ps/2 keyboard.
If you've tried all that, then take the computer back to where you
bought it and demand one that works.

Malke

 

[Alex Nichol]

I've just purchased a new PC with XP preinstalled. On
starting up I get presented with a welcome screen asking
for the new license key. I can't enter this because the
keyboard is not transmitting certain characters.
The problem is not with the new keyboard because I get the
same problem with any keyboard I try.
The welcome procedure allows you to change country
settings and I've tried standard UK and US settings. The
keyboard is in fact a UK Windows one.

You ought to be OK if you use numbers on the main keyboard, not the
number pad, and type as if in lower-case - don't use shift or Caps lock,
and the letters will be translated. There are no characters in the key
that are not standard alpha or digits. Only other thing I can think of
is that it is a laptop with its num-lock on, so it is treating letters
to the right as if they were a number pad - there should be a num-lock
key to hit to turn that off (see its manual)