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What's Dvorak, and why did my keyboard layout suddenly change?

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Summary: If what you type isn't what you get, one possibility is that your keyboard is configured for the Dvorak layout. We'll look at how to check and fix it.

I just installed XP SP2. Occasionally now, my keyboard layout changes without warning and I don't know how to get it back to the normal "qwerty" layout. For example:
q='
w=,
e=.
r=p
t=y
y=f
l=n
I haven't been able to figure out what triggers this. Sometimes it corrects when I change programs; otherwise I reboot. I've checked the language and regional settings; they're okay.

The list of character changes was particularly helpful. It's what happens if a keyboard gets put into Dvorak layout.

But why did it happen? That's a little unclear.

Dvorak is an alternate keyboard layout that's more ergonomic and efficient than the traditional "qwerty" layout we're all familiar with. Where qwerty was designed specifically to slow down typists that were too fast for old mechanical typewriters. Dvorak is designed to be fast and efficient. You can read more about the Dvorak keyboard, its origins, and resources here at The Dvorak Keyboard - A Brief Primer.

It's unlikely that Windows would spontaneously load up the Dvorak driver - the first time takes a reasonably complex procedure.

Once the driver is loaded, you can set it to switch back and forth via an icon in the notification area of the taskbar a specific keyboard sequence. But you'd probably know it, as it has to be set up for either or both.

You can check in Control Panel, Regional and Language Options, Languages, and then the Details button.

Related:

Article C2221 - November 11, 2004

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Recent Comments
13 Comments

I have specifically installed a Danish keyboard layout, so I can change layouts using control+shift to write æ, ø and å.

The trouble I have is that it sometimes spontaneously switches (without control-shift) if I change programs or sometimes within the same program if I pause when typing. I can switch back again, but it is annoying, especially if it happens when you select a password field!

If anybody knows how to disable this "feature", I'd be very grateful.

Posted by: Nikolas Andersen at May 4, 2006 5:33 AM

I've had the same problem for a while. A few months back i was messing with the diffrent keyboard languages, and the thing is, is that there is hotkeys to change them. For instance when im playing a game, i hit alt + shift somtimes, and then all of a suddent my keys are changed. If you go to the control panel, then to regional and language options. Hit the languages tab, and then hit details and your there. Make sure that US is bolded, and not devorak or left handed devorak. If you want just remove those because you wont have to worry about those. Hope that this helped. :)

Posted by: kyle at November 4, 2006 6:34 PM

also, if you want to see the hotkeys for it, while your in the details, if you hit the key settings, it will show you that you can switch the languages buy pressing left shit + alt.

Posted by: kyle at November 4, 2006 6:36 PM

Tfne is right: When I installed Dvorak, my system had only the standard US keyboard listed. Dvorak wasn't even on the list until I put it there from the installation CD. If I decide that Dvorak is not for me, then I will delete the listing -- a habit since Win31.

Posted by: Cliff at November 25, 2006 6:48 AM

I have been trying to add a second keyboard for a user who has one hand that doesn't work as well. When I change applications it always seems to go back to US standard. I am thinking about having a second user created for her so that only one keyboard is installed for each user.

Posted by: Rhys at September 3, 2007 5:49 AM

I don't remember when, but at some point last year I had installed the Dvorak keyboard option (I guess I was just curious) and had forgotten about it. Flash-forward to this year and I'm typing in Lotus Notes and go to cut+paste something and start to type again - and the keys have gone all funny.

I called my helpdesk and they said my keyboard was going bad, which I knew wasn't the case because it was only happening in Lotus Notes (twice in two weeks!) and exiting and coming back in resolved the problem.

So to appease the helpdesk, I switched keyboards with someone else to see if I could eliminate the problem, and two weeks later, it's happening again, only this time it happened in Microsoft Word. And to cap it off, I found the key combination that was turning it off/on. For me, it was left ctrl+shift.

Searching for "control + shift" and "dvorak" brought me here and the posted information helped me find the issue. I removed the dvorak option from my settings and I no longer have the issue.

Posted by: Mike Cooper at December 27, 2007 8:56 AM

i dont get my normal keyboard on my laptop.i have to use Fn key to Get normal Keys on my laptop?
help me

Posted by: Ramesh at July 31, 2008 1:15 AM

Solution XP: Remove Dvorak
Ctrl Panel -> Regional and Language Settings -> Languages(tab)-> Details (Button) -> Select Dvorak from installed services and click Remove (Button)-> Click OK

Posted by: Shine at August 30, 2008 4:07 AM

Shine's solution doesn't actually take effect until you reboot.
Windows sure can be annoying.

Posted by: Bill at November 13, 2008 7:43 AM

Try holding 'alt' and pressing 'shift' three times.
alt+shift+shift+shift

Posted by: Jim at November 17, 2008 10:41 PM

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