Tech: How do I get the Keyboard to UK settings

Subject: Folklore: How do I get the Keyboard to UK settings
From: GUEST,Murray MacLeod
Date: 02 Dec 09 - 02:50 PM

I know there is a simple answer to this, I am working away fromn home and the computer to which I have access infuriatingly cannot print a pound symbol or the @ sign where it is supposed to (the @ prints by pressing shift+2 and the pound sign comes out as #.

I would like to reset the keyboard to the proper settings.

OS is WIndows XP Home Edition .

All help gratefully received.

Subject: RE: Tech: How do I get the Keyboard to UK settings
From: Bill D
Date: 02 Dec 09 - 03:05 PM

have you looked at
start->settings->control panel->keyboard?

Subject: RE: Tech: How do I get the Keyboard to UK settings
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Dec 09 - 03:07 PM

I did go to control panel, but there is no >keyboard option, is it under something else ?

Subject: RE: Tech: How do I get the Keyboard to UK settings
From: Bill D
Date: 02 Dec 09 - 03:08 PM

hmmm..no, I think that's just for refresh rates and such.

Subject: RE: Tech: How do I get the Keyboard to UK settings
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Dec 09 - 03:12 PM

maybe it needs a new driver ?

Subject: RE: Tech: How do I get the Keyboard to UK settings
From: Bill D
Date: 02 Dec 09 - 03:15 PM

It is usually settings, not drivers.... but I have never had to 'fix' mine.

I have seen programs to do keyboard mapping and control all the settings, but never needed one.

Subject: RE: Tech: How do I get the Keyboard to UK settings
From: Bill D
Date: 02 Dec 09 - 03:18 PM

Take a look at these links Keyboard mapping

Subject: RE: Tech: How do I get the Keyboard to UK settings
From: GUEST,Murray MacLeod
Date: 02 Dec 09 - 03:41 PM

well Bill, I did eventually get to the language options on Control Panel (you have to switch to classic view to see it) and changed to English (UK) ( previous default had been English (US)) but it still prints a hash sign instead of a pound sign. Also the " symbol and the @ symbol seem to occupy each other's space. Weird , huh ?

Anyway, it's not my computer so I'm not really worried.

Subject: RE: Tech: How do I get the Keyboard to UK settings
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 02 Dec 09 - 05:24 PM

The keyboard itself is actually different if you purchase a computer "regionalized" for UK than for one purchased for the US.

You can map the keys to a different setup; but not all regionalized layouts can be easily mapped to all keyboards; and of course you can't change the "keycaps" so that you see the correct glyph on the keys.

For occasional use, you can use the "Character Map" (Start|Programs|Accessories|SystemTools|Character Map) to find a character you need.

The idiot method is to select the characters that aren't on the keyboard, which puts them into the "selected" box which you then copy and paste somewhere in another program from which you can copy and paste the individual characters where you want them.

In most cases, depending on the font selected, you can also read the "number value" for a character and use the Alt-NumPad method to insert that character in almost any Windows program. NumLock must be turned on. Hold down Alt while typing the decimal number on the number pad.

Alt-0163 should give you the pound (sterling) sign = £

You might also have a need for the euro, which on US regionalized keyboards is mapped as a "phony" Alt-0128 = €

For more exotic characters, the Char Map may show you a hexadecimal Unicode number. These can't readily be entered with the NumPad method, but in Word you can type the Hex Code, and with the cursor/insert point immediately on the right of the code you can use Alt-X to flip back and forth between the code and the character glyph. If the character glyph is shown in Word, you can usually copy it from there to paste it in another program that doesn't provide the Alt-X toggle feature.

For a sample, Char Map shows U+025A for a character. In Word you type 025A and press the Alt while hitting X to get ɚ. This method works in some other Office (and other Microsoft compatible programs) but is really consistent only in Word.

Ancient Microsoft KB article of possible interest:

How to change your keyboard layout KB 258824

And

Windows Keyboard Layouts

For the last one, you'll need to be able to read the new .mspx file format introduced with Vista/Office 2007, but the page should give you a link to download an "interpreter" if you need it. When you select a keyboard to view, the unshifted keys are shown in a popup. If you hover a mouse over the Shift, Alt, or Ctl keys on the popup keyboard the Bucky-bit characters will be shown.

A link at the above page tells you how to copy a layout, but you have to do it one layout at a time (with the mouse hovered appropriately), using Alt-PrtScn, Paste to a graphics program, and work from the pasted picture(s).

John

Subject: RE: Tech: How do I get the Keyboard to UK settings
From: Abdul The Bul Bul
Date: 02 Dec 09 - 10:46 PM

Here in Duabi, the keyboards have the @ and " swapped although the keys are 'printed' that way. I get round the lack of pound sign by using 'GBP'.
Al

Subject: RE: Tech: How do I get the Keyboard to UK settings
From: Jim McLean
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 05:37 AM

Have you tried pressing the left Alt key and the shift key together? This switches immediately between US and English keyboard keys.

Subject: RE: Tech: How do I get the Keyboard to UK settings
From: Bernard
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 06:32 AM

Only if the computer was set up to do that during installation, Jim...

Subject: RE: Tech: How do I get the Keyboard to UK settings
From: Bernard
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 06:34 AM

In Control Panel, try 'Regional and Language Options'

Subject: RE: Tech: How do I get the Keyboard to UK settings
From: Simon G
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 07:45 AM

Follow Bernard's lead. Whilst your there, assuming this computer is in the UK change all the other regional settings to UK.

You will probably find the default paper size is Letter on all existing printers making text edge over to the right and top of an A4 page. I am amazed at how many of my contacts have the paper size set to Letter.

Subject: RE: Tech: How do I get the Keyboard to UK settings
From: Jim McLean
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 09:51 AM

Bernard, when I got my PC, XP Home, it was set for USA keyboard. I clicked on the Language bar at the bottom right of my screen and chose Settings. This opened a window headed Text and Languages and I clicked on ADD and chose English (United Kingdom) then Apply.

Subject: RE: Tech: How do I get the Keyboard to UK settings
From: Bernard
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 11:56 AM

That may apply in many cases, Jim, but by no means all. The language bar could be disabled or not present at all.

You can look for it by right clicking on the task bar, and selecting 'toolbars'. If it's there, fine, if not... plan B!

Subject: RE: Tech: How do I get the Keyboard to UK settings
From: GUEST,Murray MacLeod
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 03:15 PM

Thanks to everybody for their help, and as ever, I have discovered much of interest, although I still cannot solve the initial problem.

Bernard is right, there is no language bar on this computer.

Even after changing over to UK settings, it still won't print the pound sign, so I guess it would need Windows reinstalled or something like that, anyway it would be way outside my level of competence, so I will just live with GBP for the nonce.

At lest I now know how to print " and @.

Subject: RE: Tech: How do I get the Keyboard to UK settings
From: Jim McLean
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 04:14 PM

Yes, Bernard, you can reach the same place by going through the Regional and Language Options, Languages and Detail. Do you think Murray needs to try a different keyboard? It seems rather drastic to reinstall Windows .. assuming that will cure the problem.

Subject: RE: Tech: How do I get the Keyboard to UK settings
From: Gurney
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 05:31 PM

I just had problems with the >@ and the >" transposed. Turned out it was the driver for the keyboard.
Or anyway, reinstalling fixed it.

Not much help, if it isn't your computer.

Subject: RE: Tech: How do I get the Keyboard to UK settings
From: Simon G
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 10:24 PM

Categorically doesn't need a Windows reinstall.

Murray I don't think you delved deep enough in the regional settings. It will be under something like change keyboards. You may then need to add a keyboard to the list and this might need access to an XP CD, if the UK keyboard has never been added. And then make that the default.

Subject: RE: Tech: How do I get the Keyboard to UK settings
From: GUEST
Date: 26 May 10 - 01:51 PM

I could kiss you. After reading all the advice, the simplest worked