Keyboard comand problems, help please guys

[feejer222]

OK I know that this is the best place on the net for advice of any kind and that it will only be a short time before my problem is solved....here goes.

A Friend of mine has bought his first computer. He is 200 miles away and I (foolishly?) believed that I could talk him through the basics over the phone. I got him to get a USB webcam so that I can see his screen but we could not even get far enough to get it on. I didn't realise just how tricky it would be. We intended on calling in on him this weekend on the bike but the weather prevented it so I have spent 3 hours talking him through the simplest of processes.

Anyway, the problem:

It would appear that he has pressed 2 or more keys at once and switched off his shift key. I looked into this and found that if I hold down the Fn (or was it the Ctrl?) key and shift together then any letter it switches off the shift key. Likewise it will switch it back on.

Feeling smug I rang him back and talked him through the process. He did it and now only gets asterisks when he types letters. ***********

We cannot get this to switch off, and if we do we are back to the original problem of no shift key.

Can anyone help please, I know there will be a simple answer to this.

Cheers, Graham.

 

[FatNakedGuy]

check this out to see if it resolves your issue

https://ask-leo.com/help_my_shift_key_is_stuck.html

In the future, if your friend has a computer with internet, have them go to this website and click on START CUSTOMER MODULE and give you the ID/password. You can then remote over to them as if you were sitting there..

https://teamviewer.com

Hope this helps

 

[feejer222]

check this out to see if it resolves your issuehttps://ask-leo.com/help_my_shift_key_is_stuck.html

In the future, if your friend has a computer with internet, have them go to this website and click on START CUSTOMER MODULE and give you the ID/password. You can then remote over to them as if you were sitting there..

https://teamviewer.com

Hope this helps

Thanks, already been to that site though. I will try the remote thing next time though.

 

[feejer222]

Still not sorted this guys, anyone else???

 

[wfooshee]

All I could think of was the stickykeys described before, but that doesn't turn the key off. The vendor may have placed a utility specific to their computers into the keyboard processing. If it's a laptop, he may be switching the numeric mode on and off, as laptops build a number pad onto the alpha keyboard. As an example, I found this listing of Dell <Fn> key combinations.

 

[mdisher]

All I could think of was the stickykeys described before, but that doesn't turn the key off. The vendor may have placed a utility specific to their computers into the keyboard processing. If it's a laptop, he may be switching the numeric mode on and off, as laptops build a number pad onto the alpha keyboard. As an example, I found this listing of Dell <Fn> key combinations.

Gunny!...

It's either Sticky Keys, or an embedded numeric keypad, or... It's just broken... If it's a USB keyboard, you might try unplugging it and plugging it back in...

Sticky Keys can be turned OFF by going Start->Control Pannel->Accessibility Options (under XP, not sure under Vista but you could probably just type Accessibilty in the Search bar and find it.

 

[feejer222]

Thanks guys, I don't know if it has an embeded numeric keypad or not. The real tricky thing is that it's 200 miles away. I might see if he will post it to me and see what I can do with it. It will be much easier if I can get my hands on it and play about. I can't see me making any headway over the phone.

 

[odot]

Wow, feej....you certainly have alot of techical issues goin on. Maybe it's time to sit back, relax and down a few pints 'o ale, eh?

 

[artistonFJR]

Buy a Mac...

C

 

[FatNakedGuy]

For kicks have the person unplug the keyboard from the PC and move it to a different USB port (assuming usb).

 

[feejer222]

For kicks have the person unplug the keyboard from the PC and move it to a different USB port (assuming usb).

Its a notebook.

Cured the asterisk thing.....just the shift button wont work now when we try to put the @ into an email address.

 

[FatNakedGuy]

damn notebooks... buy a mac! kidding..

try contacting Leo, he may have some good suggestions.. https://techguylabs.com/

 

[feejer222]

damn notebooks... buy a mac! kidding..
try contacting Leo, he may have some good suggestions.. https://techguylabs.com/

Thanks.

 

[feejer222]

OK we have sorted the problem.

When first switched on, the computer asked the user to choose English American or English UK keyboard preferences. Whoever loaded it up, (I don't know if it was my friend the novice or someone at the shop), chose the English American option.

On your keyboards the @ is above the number 2.....is that right?

On ours the @ is on the same key as the ' (apostraphy). Once we discovered this it was an easy process to go into control panel and change it back.

Thanks for the help guys, we will be using the team viewer site suggeste by FNG.

 

[colin]

OK we have sorted the problem.
When first switched on, the computer asked the user to choose English American or English UK keyboard preferences. Whoever loaded it up, (I don't know if it was my friend the novice or someone at the shop), chose the English American option.

On your keyboards the @ is above the number 2.....is that right?

On ours the @ is on the same key as the ' (apostraphy). Once we discovered this it was an easy process to go into control panel and change it back.

Thanks for the help guys, we will be using the team viewer site suggeste by FNG.

I added the UK keyset as part of the Regional/Language settings. Mostly to get the funny pound (as in the currency) sign.

I wouldn't advise this, it requires a alt-shift to move between them. more confusion for your friend.... !