Turn NUM LOCK on at start-up

Anonymous
2009-12-27T01:45:17+00:00

How do you edit InitialKeyboardIndicators in the registry editor so num lock is on at start-up? One instruction I read said to change the value to 2.  The number that is already present is 2147483648 which I have no idea what it stands for!  Can anyone help me out here? Thanks

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Devices and drivers

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Anonymous
2009-12-27T08:21:38+00:00

By default the numlock status is the same as it was in when you properly shut down the computer. If it was on when you shut it down it will be on when you again turn the computer on.

--

Richard Urban

Microsoft MVP

Windows Desktop Experience/Security

"BJ55" wrote in message news:b6f5c70d-a053-431 1-946d-ba9e8879f644...

How do you edit InitialKeyboardIndicators in the registry editor so num lock is on at start-up? One instruction I read said to change the value to 2.  The number that is already present is 2147483648 which I have no idea what it stands for!  Can anyone help me out here? Thanks

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Anonymous
2010-06-04T13:27:04+00:00

I haven't read through every reply, but just in case there has not been an answer for this, here is what you do.

By default, NumLock, CapsLock, and ScrollLock are set to off on power up in WindowsXP.  If you want to modify this to allow one or all of them to be on by default at power up, follow the below instructions.

  1. Click Start
  2. Click Run
  3. Type RegEdit
  4. Expand to HKEY_Users
  5. Expand .Default
  6. Expand Control Panel
  7. Expand Keyboard
  8. Find sting value InitialKeyboadIndicators. (By default this will be set to '0' which means Num Lock, Scroll Lock, and Caps Lock are all turned off.)
  9. Double click the "InitialKeyboardIndicators" string value and make the following changes.
  • 0 - Turns off Num Lock, Caps Lock, and Scroll Lock
  • 1 - Turns on Caps Lock
  • 2 - Turns on Num Lock
  • 3 - Turns on Caps Lock and Num Lock
  • 4 - Turns on Scroll Lock
  • 5 - Turns on Caps Lock and Scroll Lock
  • 6 - Turns on Num Lock and Scroll Lock
  • 7 - Turns on Caps Lock, Num Lock, and Scroll Lock

Exit the Registry. When you restart, the new setting will take effect

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137 additional answers

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-09-11T15:52:36+00:00

    Hi, 

    I have tried everything written above.

    • in BIOS is set Num Lock to ON,
    • in registry is value ending "50"
    • even in WIN.INI file I was trying somehow to force him my idea by writing InitialKeyboardIndicators=2147483650

    but still after each PC start is Num Lock OFF.

    There was explained, that the activation Num Lock ON is after user Login

    (that's make sense to me because by regedit command you change registry in folder HKEY_USERS  - I think...)

    BUT

    I am using NumKeys to enter a password to Log in so I have to still press Num Lock every time 

    I start PC.

    Amazingly the Num Lock is ON when I just restart the PC....

    Does anybody have any other advice what should I do to have Num Lock ON before I Log in??

    Thank you.

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-09-14T16:56:33+00:00

    The above answer: "By default the numlock status is the same as it was in when you properly shut down the computer. If it was on when you shut it down it will be on when you again turn the computer on." is incorrect or incomplete for Windows 7 Home Edition on my Dell laptop, as others have mentioned in this forum.  Please remove the "ANSWER"  icon from this incorrect/incomplete entry.

    The answer that really worked for me was a combination of the answers from Jugg3r and Rober555:

    1. Click Start
    2. Click Run
    3. Type RegEdit
    4. Expand to HKEY_Users
    5. Expand .Default
    6. Expand Control Panel
    7. Expand Keyboard
    8. Find sting value InitialKeyboadIndicators. (By default this will be set to '0' which means Num Lock, Scroll Lock, and Caps Lock are all turned off.)
    9. Double click the "InitialKeyboardIndicators" string value and make the following changes:
    10. Change the string value from 2147483648 to 2147483650, by just changing the final "48" to 50"
    11. Exit the Registry. When you restart, the new setting will take effect

    Thanks!

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-09-14T18:49:39+00:00

    No, I doesnt work...

    I have W10 and changing something in folder ...?users has an influence only when you are already Logged in... I think...

    Even when I shut down W10 correctly and start it again, when I am prompt to Log in the Num Lock is off....

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