Member Avatar for boanerges

I recently had to reformat my PC due to Trogens. Since then my keyboard is not right.The @ is on the " button and vice versa; my pound button has also gone and I have this # where # should be I have this \......Why? and how do I get it back to what it should be? I am on windows xp

I am told this is quite common but havn't found the answer yet.

Hope you can help.

Thanx
Boanerges

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This is almost always a keyboard-layout mismatch (what Windows thinks the layout is vs what the physical keycaps show). , and already pointed to layout switching and shortcut keys as likely culprits; the notes below add diagnostics and recovery steps that were not covered in the replies.

Use the On‑Screen Keyboard to see what Windows believes each key should produce. Run osk.exe (or open Accessibility / On‑Screen Keyboard in XP) and press keys on the physical keyboard while watching the OSK. If the OSK shows the wrong characters, the problem is in Windows settings or the keyboard driver; if OSK shows the expected characters but the keycaps differ, the keyboard is a different physical layout (UK vs US) or the wrong keyboard model is attached.

Try a different keyboard or boot from a Live Linux/USB environment and type in a text editor. If the other OS shows the same wrong mapping, the keyboard hardware or its scancode set is the issue. If the other OS shows correct mapping, the issue is confined to Windows XP and its drivers/settings. In XP, reinstalling the keyboard driver via Device Manager (uninstall the keyboard entry and reboot) often clears driver-level mismatches.

For persistent, key-specific problems consider mapping fixes rather than layout swaps: Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator or a small registry/remap tool (SharpKeys) can permanently swap individual keys. Also note whether the problem appears at the logon screen (system-wide) or only after logging in (per‑user). Those facts, plus whether the keyboard is PS/2 or USB and its manufacturer/model, narrow the cause quickly.

Recommended Answers

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Member Avatar for Member #46692

You've obviously changed the setting from american style keyboard to english style or vice versa.

Go to control panel > regional and language settings.

Member Avatar for Anonymusius

Try pressing shift + control, that works for me. I think it's some sort of shortcut to changing the keyboard.

Member Avatar for DMR

You've obviously changed the setting from american style keyboard to english style or vice versa.

Go to control panel > regional and language settings.

From English (UK/Ireland) to US, judging from boanerges' description (a US keyboard has no monetary "pound" sign).

Try pressing shift + control, that works for me. I think it's some sort of shortcut to changing the keyboard.

Yes- it's a shortcut to switch between available keyboard layouts.

Member Avatar for boanerges

Hi
thanxs for your help, but the suggestions offered dont help
I thoiught myself that it was the regional settings, so reset this earlier.
Any more suggestions please.
Boanerges

Member Avatar for DMR

I thoiught myself that it was the regional settings, so reset this earlier.

Did you dig deeply enough in to those settings?:

* Open the Regional and Language options Control Panel.
* Click on the Languages tab.
* In the Text services and input languages section, click the Details... button.
* In the Settings tab, set the default input language to your language.
* In the Installed services section, configure the keyboard options such that only the keyboard device and input language listed are those which are correct for your particular system.
* Click OK to apply your changes and close the Details window.
* Click OK again to close the Control Panel window.

Member Avatar for boanerges

Thank you for your assistance. It was bad enough (after 4 weeks) taking the decision to reformat my PC after my many problems battling against and loosing with the Trogens, but to find my settings disturbed when I re-booted was just the last straw. Thanks again for your help. It also resolved the problem I had with my Microsoft software funnily enough.
Boanerges

Member Avatar for DMR

Glad we could help :)

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