If you have problems using the keyboard in programs run from the command line (cmd.exe), then you might need to change your codepage, so it fits with your national settings.

This is can be done with this STRING value in the registry:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \SYSTEM \CurrentControlSet \Control \Nls \Codepage]
OEMCP = "850" (Default = 437)

One can also change the codepage from the command prompt (Will only have effect for the current session):

mode con cp select=850

To see current codepage from the command prompt:

mode con

Country	Codepage
United States, UK	437
Multilingual	850
Slavic	852
Portuguese	860
Icelandic	861
Canadian, French	863
Scandinavian/Nordic	865

Note it is possible for an application to change the codepage by using the setLocale function. There is also SetConsoleCP / SetConsoleOutputCP, but they don't work with the default raster font, but requires that the console is using a truetype font like Lucida Console. More Info MS KB99795.

More Info MS KB314010