Keyboard Help

[Sark79]

This morning when I woke my laptop up and switched him on, there was a problem.  When I press the shift button and 2 key in order to get inverted comma's ( Think they are inverted comma's ) I get the @ sign instead. 

When I press the shift key and the @ sign , I get inverted comma's.  They have changed places on my keyboard.

I have not used my laptop since last night. He has been asleep on my shelf. However I suspect he may have sneaked out the window during the night and paid a visit to the local town hall. There is a computer jumble sale on there this afternoon and he must have known this. 

I remember when I bought my laptop, I had to change the settings from US to UK.  This seems like the same problem that has occurred here

Can anyone offer advice please   and how could this happen?

thanks

[SuffolkPunch]

Have you accidentally activated something called Sticky Keys (or something like that). I think ithappens when you press enter several times in a row and it changes some of the keyboard settings. Try hittjng enter lots of times and see if the option to change back comes up. Or search for sticky keys on Microsoft hep and it will tell you how to revert back.

I'm sure some techies will soon give you a more considered diagnosis! Good luck.

[Trace]

Pressing the spacebar 5 times activates sticky keys.


I think your laptop flew to the States, played a game of poker in Vegas and flew home again.

[SuffolkPunch]

That's it, spacebar not enter key!

[Sark79]

Thanks folks, I will try that.

[Sark79]

I switched it off and back on again.  It works ok now.  I have no idea what that was all about.  Thanks folks 

[leighton_87]

You get sticky keys by pressing shift five times in a row, at least thats true on a desktop, never used a laptop.  If you want to check your sticky keys settings go into control panel and accessibility options, the box should be unticked.  This wouldn't cause your problems though, sticky keys mean that you don't have to press and hold shift, control or alt, for example to get the £ sign you press shift once then 3 without having to hold both, ie the shift key sticks down.

Your probem sounds more like keyboard changing language, to check this go to control panel, then regional and language options, click the languages tab on the top, then click details, this should bring up a new window and where it says default input language select english (UK).  Hope that solves your problem.  How it could have changed itself I have no idea, unless you've had some update or something thats reset the setttings.

Andrew

[leighton_87]

oops too late 

[Sark79]

You get sticky keys by pressing shift five times in a row, at least thats true on a desktop, never used a laptop.  If you want to check your sticky keys settings go into control panel and accessibility options, the box should be unticked.  This wouldn't cause your problems though, sticky keys mean that you don't have to press and hold shift, control or alt, for example to get the £ sign you press shift once then 3 without having to hold both, ie the shift key sticks down.

Your probem sounds more like keyboard changing language, to check this go to control panel, then regional and language options, click the languages tab on the top, then click details, this should bring up a new window and where it says default input language select english (UK).  Hope that solves your problem.  How it could have changed itself I have no idea, unless you've had some update or something thats reset the setttings.

Andrew

Thanks mate,  I really appreciate your post.  It seems to have sorted itself now. But at least,  I have your post as a guide should it happen again.  Thanks everyone for their help .

[Bainn]

If you accidentally set keyboard ettings to US, then @ swaps with " i think, although never had this myself.