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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  1. Anonymous
    2010-07-26T15:53:02+00:00

    I have had the same issue as the users reported, which seems that the so called "MVP"'s have completely failed to truly answer. But, here is something I found in another blog that I believe truly does explain the string and answers the question:

    >> Thanks for the advice but within the Initialkeyboardindicators i expected

    >> a 0 but the is a number 2147483648 mentioned.

    >> What is the meaning of it, can i just overwrite it with a 2

    >> Further i suppose i have to put "2" (a two between quotes"

    >>

    >> Please your final advice before i do the change.[/color]

    >

    > The number "2147483648" is the decimal equivalent of 0x80000000. Why MS

    > uses a RegSZ (text string) to hold a number which needs to be translated

    > to a binary value is a mystery.

    >

    > A bit of experimentation shows that you can turn on the NumLock latch

    > during login by changing the setting of InitialKeyboardIndicators from

    > 2147483648 to 2147483650 (which is 0x80000002) in the HKU.Default\Control

    > Panel\Keyboard key. (Just edit the final "48" to "50".)

    >

    > I don't know the significance of the leading one-bit so I suggest not

    > disturbing it.

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-01-20T13:18:01+00:00

    the answer given above,

    "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 not correct.

    I have to turn on Numlock manually everytime I start up. I too would like to know if is safe to change the vaue given in IntialKeyboardIndicator from 2147483648 to 2.

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  3. Anonymous
    2010-02-06T15:50:56+00:00

    I am also looking for the num lock setting.  I shut my computer down properly everday with my num lock on, and upon each start up I have to push the num lock key.  I have always been able to find this setting and years ago I beleive it was in the BIOS, but cant find it.

    I would really like to skip the step of setting it everyday.  Any assistance is appreciated.

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