Comments for How do I get NUMLOCK to default to ON in Windows 2000?

Comment from Frank Quesada on 2008-05-01

2008-05-01T17:06:10Z

Just tried this on an XP machine and it worked like a charm.

Thanks!

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A comment on: How do I get NUMLOCK to default to ON in Windows 2000?

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Comment from Phil Tkachuk on 2007-03-16

2007-03-16T22:53:17Z

There are actually TWO distinct places for Windows to remember the state of the keyboard indicators. One is before logon, the other is after logon.
According to Microsoft to change the default settings requires using the Registry Editor. This is only true if you want to change the default settings for a NEW user at First logon. See: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q154529/ It does not change the settings for existing users already using the machine. It would have to be changed in the All Users section of the registry, but I have not investigated if this is possible.

First, you need to have Admin rights to the computer you are using…it won't work otherwise...
To get Windows to remember your preferred keyboard settings do the following: (applies to Windows 9.x, NT4, 2000, XP and I suspect Vista as well, (but as I don't have Vista yet I haven't verified this))

After you have logged in, set your Num-lock the way you like it - do a Alt-Ctrl-Del sequence and select Logout. The trick is the Alt-Ctrl-Del sequence - logging out of Windows using Start-Shutdown-Logout doesn’t cause Windows to remember the keyboard settings, Alt-Ctrl-Del & Logout does (or Shutdown or Restart).

To get Windows to remember the Keyboard settings for the Logon Screen (before Sign-on), with the Sign-on screen showing on the desktop, set the NumLock the way you want it, and use the option for Shutdown or Restart. As it takes a Alt-Ctrl-Del sequence to get to the logon screen, the Shutdown or Restart will cause Windows to remember you want the NumLock on or off at the Logon Screen.

I stumbled across this after several months of fruitless searching - Microsoft is wrong, this is just another undocumented feature - they think they know better and override the Bios settings…along with other undocumented features and default settings that frustrate many users.

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A comment on: How do I get NUMLOCK to default to ON in Windows 2000?

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Comment from Ancelin on 2005-10-20

2005-10-21T00:04:17Z

Hi Leo,
I tried the following and didn't work.....

Right click on My Computer
Select Properties
Click on the Advanced tab.
Click on Environment Variables
In the System Variables section, click on New...
The variable to be added is called NUMLOCK, and the value is ON

I used the suggetion posted by Steve on August 29 2005 and it worked.
I also changed HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Keyboard\InitialKeyboardIndicators from 0 to 2 inorderd to keep the NumLock stay ON.

Thanks for the Help
Ancelin

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A comment on: How do I get NUMLOCK to default to ON in Windows 2000?

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Comment from Steve on 2005-08-29

2005-08-29T14:01:09Z

To enable NUM LOCK before a user logs on, use the steps below.

1. Run Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).
2. Navigate to HKEY_USERS\.Default\Control Panel\Keyboard.
3. Change the value for InitialKeyboardIndicators from 0 to 2.

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A comment on: How do I get NUMLOCK to default to ON in Windows 2000?

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Comment from Leo on 2005-01-07

2005-01-08T06:54:05Z

Unfortunately that setting doesn't always carry through. And not all BIOS's have it.

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A comment on: How do I get NUMLOCK to default to ON in Windows 2000?

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Comment from Bear on 2005-01-07

2005-01-08T06:22:17Z

Or the standard way is to set it to on from the System Bios

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A comment on: How do I get NUMLOCK to default to ON in Windows 2000?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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