CAPS LOCK Key Behavior with 16-Bit VDM Is Incorrect for French MultiLanguage Versions of Windows

View products that this article applies to.

This article was previously published under Q304622

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SYMPTOMS

The CAPS LOCK key does not affect the work with the numeric keys that are above the letter keys on your keyboard when you are using a 16-bit Virtual DOS Machine (VDM) program and you select the French keyboard layout feature.

Specifically, when you press a numeric key, the special character is always displayed, regardless of whether or not you have pressed the CAPS LOCK key. You can, however, press the SHIFT key to type the numeric characters.

Note that while this problem with the MultiLanguage Version occurs by default on the French version of the products that are listed at the beginning of this article, teh problem may also occur on other language versions of Windows when you select the French input locale and keyboard layout features.

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CAUSE

This problem occurs because the Keyboard.sys VDM keyboard driver does not correctly map the CAPS LOCK state for the numeric keys.

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RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, view one of the following sections, depending on the operating system that you are using.

Windows XP

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows XP. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

322389 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322389/EN-US/ ) How to Obtain the Latest Windows XP Service Pack

The English-language version of this fix should have the following file attributes or later:

   Date         Time   Size    File name
   ----------------------------------------
   03-Oct-2001  13:05  42,537  Keyboard.sys

Windows 2000

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows 2000. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

260910 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/260910/EN-US/ ) How to Obtain the Latest Windows 2000 Service Pack

The English-language version of this fix should have the following file attributes or later:

   Date         Time   Size    File name
   ----------------------------------------
   20-Aug-2001  16:27  42,537  Keyboard.sys

Windows NT

A supported fix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Apply it only to computers that are experiencing this specific problem.

To resolve this problem, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the fix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;en-us;cntactms)

NOTE: In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

The English-language version of this fix should have the following file attributes or later:

   Date         Time   Size    File name     Platform
   --------------------------------------------------
   21-Aug-2001  18:53  40,841  Keyboard.sys  Intel
   21-Aug-2001  18:49  40,841  Keyboard.sys  Alpha

NOTE: Due to file dependencies, this hotfix requires Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 6a (SP6a).

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STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article. This problem was first corrected in Windows XP Service Pack (SP) 1 and Windows 2000 SP3.

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MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about how to obtain a hotfix for Windows 2000 Datacenter Server, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

265173 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/265173/EN-US/ ) Datacenter Program and Windows 2000 Datacenter Server Product

For additional information about how to install multiple hotfixes with only one reboot, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

296861 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/296861/EN-US/ ) Use QChain.exe to Install Multiple Hotfixes with One Reboot

For additional information about how to install Windows 2000 and Windows 2000 hotfixes at the same time, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

249149 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/249149/EN-US/ ) Installing Microsoft Windows 2000 and Windows 2000 Hotfixes

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