Num Lock on Startup Anomaly

[Wynona]

HP 500-056 pre-installed Windows 8, 1 TB HDD, 8 GB RAM, UEFI: On Startup, I have to press the Num Lock key to enter numbers from the numeric keypad.

Intel DG33BU mobo, 4 GB RAM, 1 TB HDD vanilla BIOS: On Startup, the Num Lock key is active and I can immediately enter numbers from the numeric keypad.

I'm going to start exploring to see if I can figure out why this is happening, but I'm pretty sure it's going to be the difference between UEFI and BIOS.

Anybody care to join me in poking around to see what gives? It might just be fun and maybe one of us (prolly not moi) just might figure the thing out.

 

[David Bailey]

In my bios you can shut it off or turn it on.
Boot into bios look around & you'll probably find the setting.

 

[David Bailey]

Boot into bios.
Choose Advanced tab.
Choose Miscellaneous.
Bootup Num-Lock is there.

 

[Wynona]

In my bios you can shut it off or turn it on.
Boot into bios look around & you'll probably find the setting.

Been there, done that on the 500-056 and she no worky.

 

[Wynona]

Boot into bios.
Choose Advanced tab.
Choose Miscellaneous.
Bootup Num-Lock is there.

I've been into the UEFI BIOS on this machine and turned Num Lock on, but she still no worky. In the regular BIOS, it's easily turned on or off.

There are quite a few people who have this problem, but can't solve it.

 

[David Bailey]

How about this:

 

[Wynona]

I wish, I wish, I wish . . .





As you can see, the keyboard's set on 2, which means it should be on after boot. But it ain't, not no how, not no way.

I even went into the BIOS and turned Num Lock off, booted the computer, then turned the computer off again and then booted to BIOS and reset Num Lock to on and still nothing.

 

[David Bailey]

I'm out of ideas.

 

[Wynona]

I'm out of ideas.

Me too. I guess it's Microsoft's turn now, since I'm not the only one with this problem. I searched it awhile back and there are lots of folks with it. And, I don't think updating to 8.1 will solve the problem either.

I wonder if it may be a Hewlett Packard specific problem?

 

[Wynona]

Hmmmmmm, I'm gonna try one more thing . . . I'll go back into the Registry and turn Num Lock off, shut down, reboot, etc. to see if that might work.

 

[Wynona]

Didn't work. I still have to whap the num lock key for numbers.

 

[David Bailey]

I think I got it !

Go to Windows Ease of Access.
Choose On-Screen Keyboard.
Click Num-Lock.

The light will come on for Num-Lock.

Close On-Screen Keyboard.

Turn off Num-Lock by pressing the keyboard key.

Restart & Num-Lock should be on automatically.

I just tested it & it works for me.

Give it a shot.

 

[David Bailey]

After further testing, it still works.

 

[Wynona]

After further testing, it still works.

Thanks, David, but still doesn't work. I followed your instructions and it still doesn't work. After that, I tried every combination I could think of and still no joy.

Do you have UEFI or the old fashioned BIOS (for want of a better term)? I'm still of the opinion that may have something to do with it.

 

[David Bailey]

After further testing, it still works.

Thanks, David, but still doesn't work. I followed your instructions and it still doesn't work. After that, I tried every combination I could think of and still no joy.

Do you have UEFI or the old fashioned BIOS (for want of a better term)? I'm still of the opinion that may have something to do with it.

I have UEFI.
Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center.

It's time for someone else to chip in with ideas.

 

[my2cents]

Hi Wynona,

I am going to suggest something that may leave you with a choice if successful:

Turn off fast startup and retest:

 

[David Bailey]

I found another way that works for me.

With computer on, press Num-Lock key to turn it on.

Either restart or shut down & press power button to restart.

Either way,when the computer is finished starting,the Num-Lock light is on.

If this doesn't work for you,I really don't know,unless there is a third party program that will do it.

 

[Wynona]

Thanks, you guys. I really appreciate all the ideas you're throwing my way.

2 Cents, I tried your suggestion and no dice.

David, in order to sign in, I have to press the Num Lock key in the beginning because my password begins with numbers, so Num Lock is on when I shut down or restart. Still no joy.

And li'l ole Wynona hasn't been sitting on her laurels either . . . I started thinking about the fact that this is a Logitech Wave Combo MK550 keyboard/mouse, so I went out to Logitech just to see if there were new drivers for Windows 8. Yup, but after installing new drivers, the blasted thing still won't work.

Not only that, but after installing 8.1 on the old Dual Boot regular BIOS system, Num Lock is no longer turned on at startup.

Gonna go look at msconfig next, but I'm not holding out much hope.

Can we do a 180 and look at Logitech keyboards? We all know that Microsoft doesn't make it easy for the competition.

 

[David Bailey]

Hah !

This works on my computer.

Download this vbs script:

View attachment numblock.vbs

Click it twice to activate it.
When activated your numlock light will come on.

Now restart the computer & the numlock light should come on automatically.

 

[David Bailey]

I carefully watched the numlock light when restarting.

It became active at the Welcome screen where I need to type in my password.