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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
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

Was this answer helpful?

100+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
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

Was this answer helpful?

70+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

137 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2016-03-06T01:51:28+00:00

    “InitialKeyboardIndicators” is in more than one place in the registry.  You will have to search and fix them all.  There are a couple of places where the value is "2".  I left those alone.  Works fine now.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2016-01-09T13:35:20+00:00

    I'm sorry but my experience does not backup what you are saying.  Every time I restart my windows 10 pro machine the numlock is turned off.  I need it on to enter the PIN  instead of a password.  When I restart the PC the numlck key is turned off again.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2015-12-15T16:28:20+00:00

    To Mr. Urban, 

    I downloaded Win 10 on Friday.   Every morning when I sign back on it has been something new.

    Yesterday my wallpaper was changed to Microsoft's choice instead of my own landscape photo.  I figured that out. This morning another surprise ....not only did I have your welcome screen, but I had to sign in to get any further.  Since I very rarely go to Microsoft I had no clue what my password was.  I am the only one using this computer and do not need a password to sign in to play my games and read my emails.   ALSO, in the 6 years I have had this computer I have NEVER had to use my number lock key, it is always on.  Guess what wasn't on this morning?  It was on last night when I PROPERLY shutdown.  So I put it on again.   Properly Shutdown to go to the store, returned a few minutes ago and guess what?   The number lock is off again.  So much for your advice to the previous question.

    I am not a happy camper.   What Microsoft has got to realize is there are a lot of us out there who don't have smartphone, notepads, tablets, etc...  We have desktop PCs and don't need all the **** you are including in all these new apps.  We like what we are used to.  

    I personally do not want to sign in every time I open my computer.  That's my my laptop sits in the bottom of the closet with Win 8 on it .... Absolutely HATE Win 8.   I don't want to have to check every key to make sure everything I want on and had set to be on, is on.  

    I thought after all this time Win 10 would have ironed out the bugs in their program.  Maybe they shouldn't have been annoying/threatening people about downloading it until was really ready to go.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments