Article ID: 101898 - Last Review: February 20, 2007 - Revision: 2.1

Keyboard Light Indicator Disabled when User Logs On

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This article was previously published under Q101898

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
256986  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/256986/EN-US/ ) Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry
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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: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

To change this value, perform the following three steps:
  1. Start Registry Editor (REGEDT32.EXE).
  2. 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.
  3. 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: 154529  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/154529/EN-US/ )
TITLE: How to Enable the NUM LOCK Key for the Logon Screen
APPLIES TO
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Edition
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.5
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.51
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
  • Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.5
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.51
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Standard Edition
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Keywords: 
kbenv kbhardware KB101898