Keyboard Light Indicator Disabled when User Logs On

ID: Q101898

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.1, 3.5, 3.51, 4.0
Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.1, 3.5, 3.51, 4.0
Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

SUMMARY

Microsoft Windows NT and Windows NT Advanced Server turn NUM LOCK off when you log off or shutdown the system to preserve the state of the key at that time. The system automatically saves the machine state in the HKEY_CURRENT_USERS subtree in the Registry database. To change this behavior, you can change the HKEY_CURRENT_USERS value.

MORE INFORMATION

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys and Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it. If you are running Windows NT, you should also update your Emergency Repair Disk (ERD).

To change this value, perform the following three steps:

Start Registry Editor (REGEDT32.EXE).

Choose the HKEY_USERS subtree and search for the DEFAULT\Control Panel\Keyboard subkey.

The default value is InitialKeyboardIndicators:REG_SZ:0x80000000.

If this key has the value 0, Windows NT turns off NUM LOCK when the user logs off; if this key has the value 2, Windows NT turns on NUM LOCK when the user logs off.

Choose the HKEY_CURRENT_USER subtree and search for the Control Panel\Keyboard subkey.

The InitialKeyboardIndicators:REG_SZ: value corresponds to the HKEY_USERS value: 0 turns NUM LOCK off when the user logs on and 2 turns NUM LOCK on when the user logs on.

For more information on enabling the NumLock key in Windows NT 3.51 and 4.0, please refer to the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

ARTICLE: Q154529
TITLE: How to Enable the NUM LOCK Key for the Logon Screen

Additional query words: prodnt caplocks

Keywords : kbenv kbhw nthw ntregistry
Version : WINDOWS:2000; winnt:3.1,3.5,3.51,4.0
Platform : WINDOWS winnt
Issue type :