Num Lock Key

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  • Start date Start date
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Guest

Can anyone tell me where (and how) to set the num lock key to already be on,
after shutting down the computer or coming out of standby?
Win XP Professional, some of the new computers in my office already stay on,
but mine and a couple of others that are also new, dont keep it on.


Jen

you can reply directly to my email..
(e-mail address removed)
 
Slightly OT, but do you know of any way to automatically enable the F-lock
key on MS desktop keyboards? Darned things drive me nuts!
 
Windows XP ignores whatever setting that you have for Num Lock in the BIOS.

The status of the NUM LOCK key is specific for each user and it is disabled
by default. If you want the NUM LOCK key enabled for use before a user
presses CTRL+ALT+DEL to log on, you must use Registry Editor to change the
default behavior.

HKEY_USERS\.Default\Control Panel\Keyboard
Value Name: InitialKeyboardIndicators
Data Type: REG_SZ
Value Data: 0 or 2
0 = Num Lock off before a user logs on.
2 = Num Lock on before a user logs on.

from...
How to enable the NUM LOCK key for the logon screen
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/154529

HKEY_USERS\.Default stores the profile used when no users are logged on to
the computer (such as when the CTRL+ALT+DELETE logon prompt is
displayed).

This only applies until a user logs on, then...
HKEY CURRENT USER\Control Panel\Keyboard
Value Name: InitialKeyboardIndicators
takes over.

Windows XP will remember the status of the Num Lock key and enable it after
you next log on. If Num Lock is on when the machine is shutdown, then Num
Lock will be on the next time after you log on. If Num Lock is off when the
machine is shutdown, then Num Lock will be off the next time after you log
on.

You can change settings in the key below, all you want. But, Windows XP
will remember the status of the Num Lock key and enable it that way the next
time after you log on.

Toggling the Num Lock key toggles the value from 0 to 2 in the registry key
below. But the data isn't written to the registry key until you log off or
shutdown.

HKEY CURRENT USER\Control Panel\Keyboard
Value Name: InitialKeyboardIndicators
Value Type: REG_SZ
Value Data: 0 or 2
0 = Windows XP turns NUMLOCK off when it starts.
2 = Windows XP turns NUMLOCK on when it starts.

[[Change method
To change the value of this entry, press the NUMLOCK key on your keyboard.]]
from...
InitialKeyboardIndicators
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/Windows/2000/server/reskit/en-us/regentry/34674.asp

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
 
Go to: Start/Run/Regedit

HKEY CURRENT USER\Control Panel\Keyboard\
InitialKeyboardIndicators

0 = numberlock off
2 = numberlock on

If you want the numlock on at the welcome screen you also need to change:

HKEY USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Keyboard\
InitialKeyboardIndicators same number values as above.

Or...

Set Numlock State On or Off at Startup (Line 4)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

I have the edit for download here:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_n.htm#numlock

Create a vbs file and put it in the start folder:

set WshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
WshShell.SendKeys "{NUMLOCK}"

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm
 
Jen said:
Can anyone tell me where (and how) to set the num lock key to already be on,
after shutting down the computer or coming out of standby?
Win XP Professional, some of the new computers in my office already stay on,
but mine and a couple of others that are also new, dont keep it on.


Jen

you can reply directly to my email..
(e-mail address removed)
Click to expand...


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:



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
 
AJR said:
It's a BIOS setting.
Click to expand...

No, it's not, actually. 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.)


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



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
 
Can anyone tell me where (and how) to set the num lock key to already be
on,
after shutting down the computer or coming out of standby?
Win XP Professional, some of the new computers in my office already stay
on,
but mine and a couple of others that are also new, dont keep it on.
Click to expand...

Lol, Jen sure got the royal treatment and all the fixins.
 
thanx so much.. that did the trick.. not sure why some of the computers here
had the default to have it "on" when you log on, but a couple of the new
computers (including mine) werent set up, and amazingly our IT "specialist"
didnt know how to change it..lol
thanx again
 
no kidding.. i left the post for a week, and i check it today and "BAM" i
have a butt load of replies.. and now its fixed.. thanx to all for their input
 
Apparently some tech had the idea to "fix" some of them. Of course you
don't want to do that little fix to a laptop or there will be mass
confusion. ;-)
 
Most welcome, GAry.... <w>

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm


Gary S. Terhune said:
THANK YOU!!!! One major PITA a thing of the past.

[:-)

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
www.grystmill.com

Kelly said:
Hi GAry (yep, I still remember)....

See Jason's page here: http://jtsang.mvps.org/flock.html
He has written a few scripts.

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
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