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Control the keyboard numlock state at startup

March 6, 2004 by Snakefoot | 8 Comment

It is possible to configure whether Numlock should be enabled after logging in. The activation is controlled by setting this registry STRING value:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Control Panel \ Keyboard]
InitialKeyboardIndicators = "0"

"0" - All Keys off
"1" - Caps Lock on
"2" - Num Lock on
"4" - Scroll Lock on

For multiple keys, add their values:
"3" - Caps Lock and Num Lock on
"5" - Caps Lock and Scroll Lock on
"6" - Num Lock and Scroll Lock on
"7" - Caps Lock, Num Lock, and Scroll Lock on

"2147483648" - Honor the motherboard BIOS setting (Vista only)

More info MS KB101898

Note it is also possible to configure Numlock state at startup before actually performing the login at the Welcome Screen, by setting the value for the default user:

[HKEY_USERS \.Default \Control Panel \Keyboard]
InitialKeyboardIndicators = "0"

More info MS KB154529 (Merged with MS KB315468)

Note if numlock is turned off before Windows has reached the login screen, then it might be caused by numlock not being activated in the motherboard BIOS.

Credits OneComputerGuy.com
Tags:
  • keyboard, numlock, windows-login
Category:
  • Tips,
  • Tips,
  • Tips,
  • Tips,
  • Tips

Comments:

  1. ludolf says:
    11 October 2004 at 2:44

    It's type is REG_SZ instead of REG_DWORD ;)

    Reply
  2. snakefoot says:
    11 October 2004 at 11:20

    ludolf
    It's type is REG_SZ instead of REG_DWORD ;)

    Have updated the page. Thank you for pointing it out :)

    Reply
  3. Tony OS says:
    8 February 2009 at 12:49

    I now have my keyboard working properly - relieves much frustration - thanks for your good advise.

    Reply
  4. ghiorsi says:
    5 January 2010 at 2:19

    It´s work fine, but the num lock ligth is off...

    Reply
  5. Nanette says:
    24 May 2010 at 1:49

    recent problems w/computer.. number lock is off at start up...how do I turn it back on w/o going through a whole lot of technical jargon and trouble???????

    Reply
  6. Spider says:
    27 September 2010 at 14:05

    How can I configure NumLock ON before user settings be loaded (Windows XP)? Need to be ON at Logon Screen.

    Reply
  7. Snakefoot says:
    29 September 2010 at 21:47

    Spider wrote:
    How can I configure NumLock ON before user settings be loaded (Windows XP)?

    Read the article-section about how to set the Numlock status for the default user.

    Reply
  8. NotGettingAnyWhere says:
    1 January 2013 at 23:31

    if the value is 2147483648 change that to 2147483650, otherwise change it to 2.

    Reply

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