Can I enable Num Lock on boot up via a VBScript in Win 8.1 with Update 1?

Hope this is the correct place for this - someone directed me to the TechNet Forums from the Windows 8.1 general forum, and then from the 'Windows Forms General' forum to this one (not sure if my thread has been copied/moved to this forum already by one of the moderators; if it has, my apologies, but I am not am regular forum user and I don't understamnd most of the shorthand being used by others, whether something is something someone has written as part of a repsonse or an action they have taken, or just part of their sign off or what).

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In the good old days of Windows XP, I was able to ensure Num Lock was on at boot up by the use of a small VB Script file, which was this:

set WshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
WshShell.SendKeys "{NUMLOCK}"

It is really annoying with Win 8.1 that on Boot Up, AND every time I want to switch user, Num Lock goes off (even if it was on before switching user).  I want Num Lock to be on at Boot Up AND stay on when switching user.

I have seen the suggested remedies in other forums about changing the appropriate value in the Registry (which does not work until after logon) and changing the BIOS setting (which does not work because Windows overrules the BIOS setting).  The question is whether the VBScript solution will work with Win 8.1?

If it will, in which folder do I put the Script file in order for it to work for all Users?

And do I have to make the any changes to Group Policy to make it work, and if so what chnages, as seems to be the case if the OS was Win 7 (mine is Win 8.1 Update 1, and NOT Win 8 Pro).

Thanks in advance for all technical help on this one.

August 31st, 2014 12:10pm

Please post in GP forum fir assistance with GP settings.

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August 31st, 2014 2:58pm

Also a simple search will answer all of you questions:

https://www.google.com/#newwindow=1&q=group+policy+turn+on+numlock

August 31st, 2014 3:03pm

Please, what is the "GP Forum"?  There are hundreds of forums on this TechNet site and as a total novice to this set of forums (as mentioned in my original post), I have no way of knowing what that Forum is..
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September 1st, 2014 11:44am

Group Policy

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/winserverGP/threads

Numlock is considered a user control so it is not normally managed by admins.

September 1st, 2014 11:54am

You could also try using search to get information:

http://superuser.com/questions/496845/how-to-have-num-lock-enabled-by-default-on-log-on-screen

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September 1st, 2014 11:58am

Um, no actually, it doesn't!

As I said in my post, I have already tried most of the things suggested by doing that search, such as editing Registry keys and changing the BIOS settings, which do NOT work.  Some answers refer to a VBScript but it is not at all clear:

1 whether it will work in Win 8.1 Uodate 1

2.  in which part of the User files I place the VB Script file;

3.  whether I also have to chnage Group Policy and, if so, how.

Hopefully that explains my problem and questions more clearly (and please don't just tell me to post this question somewhere else yet again)?

Neil

September 1st, 2014 12:01pm

The article is pretty clear about what works and what doesn't.  If you are using an MS linked account it won't work.  IF you are in a Domain then follow the instructions which are clear about what to do.

If you continue to have problems you will have to contact support for assistance. 

For assistance with using Group Policy you will have to post in the GP forum. THis forum is for scripting and is not a general support forum.

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September 1st, 2014 4:40pm

Hope this is the correct place for this - someone directed me to the TechNet Forums from the Windows 8.1 general forum, and I have posted this question in various forums, with no luck to date.  Maybe this one will work for me to help answer the question below, which is driving me nuts.

__________________________________________________

In the good old days of Windows XP, I was able to ensure Num Lock was on at boot up by the use of a small VB Script file, which was this:

set WshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
WshShell.SendKeys "{NUMLOCK}"

It is really annoying with Win 8.1 that on Boot Up, AND every time I want to switch user, Num Lock goes off (even if it was on before switching user).  I want Num Lock to be on at Boot Up AND stay on when switching user.

I have seen the suggested remedies in other forums about changing the appropriate value in the Registry (which does not work until after logon) and changing the BIOS setting (which does not work because Windows overrules the BIOS setting).  The question is whether the VBScript solution will work with Win 8.1 with Update 1?

If it will, in which folder do I put the Script file in order for it to work for all Users?

And do I have to make the any changes to Group Policy to make it work, and if so what changes, as seems to be the case if the OS was Win 7 (mine is Win 8.1 Core, Update 1, and NOT Win 8 Pro).

Thanks in advance for any help on this one.  Please note, I am NOT an expert user, so please try and explain any shorthand you use that you take for granted but which I won't understand!!

Perghaps I need to add that this is a single, standalone, home PC, with 2 users, running Win 8.1 Core/Basic.  Also, I cannot find the Group Policy Editor on the PC; when I type either 'gpedit' or 'gpedit.msc' into Run, I get a message saying that the file canot be found on the PC.  This when logged on as user with administrator powers.  It is not found either from a Command prompt.  And there does not seem to be a GP Snap-in available via the MM Console.

September 10th, 2014 7:59am

I entered a search for "set numlock command line". This search turned up the following program:

http://www.rjlsoftware.com/software/utility/numlock/

So you could try putting a shortcut to this program in the startup folder such that when a user logs on, you can set the numlock state.

I'm afraid that's about the best we can do at this point. Your question isn't really a scripting question, and this isn't a custom consulting forum.

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September 10th, 2014 8:38am

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Keyboard "KeyBoardIndicators"  0 or 2

September 10th, 2014 9:05am

Thanks Bill.

I have followed the link, but it seems to say that the program does not work with Win8 - the list of operating systems it will work with stops at Win7.

And not sure why this is nto a scripting question?  I started with a Script that worked in XP and I am trying to get that Script (or a version of it) to work in Win 8.1.  Isn't that a Scripting question?  The fact that MS have made everything so much harder for users to achieve in Win 8 compared to XP (i.e. needing to amnend other things like GP or MMC instead of just saving a file in the users folder in XP) is hardly my fault?

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September 10th, 2014 11:20am

Try the program first before giving up. Windows has an good track record of backward compatibility in most cases.

Regarding whether this is a scripting question: The script you posted uses the SendKeys method to try to turn numlock on. The SendKeys method is deprecated, and in general, the advice is "don't use that method."

Rather than use that script, try the program noted in the URL I posted above.

September 10th, 2014 11:31am

Hi jrv

OK, I have found a partial solution.

It maynot need a Script, it seems.

I tried changing the Initial Keyboard Indicator in the Registry under HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Control Panel/Keyboard for both users to 2 (actually, they were alrady set at 2) but that doesn't work.

But changing that same Keyboard Initial Indicator under HKEY_ALL_USERS/Default/Control Panel/Keyboard to 2 (mine did say 2147483648) solves it - now Num Lock is on at Restart and whenever I change user.

HOWEVER, Num Lock is not on Start/Initial Boot Up.  So something else is needed to get Num Lock on BEFORE the first user logs on on Start up
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September 10th, 2014 11:49am

On many computers, this is an option you can set in the system

September 11th, 2014 8:40am

On many computers, this is an option you can set in the system

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September 11th, 2014 8:40am

Hello again Bill

I have downloaded and installed that little program you mentioned in your posts of 10th September - no effect on the NumLock setting on Bootup.

I have also checked the BIOS setings and it says that NumLock is On.  However, on Bootup, Num Lock is initially off, thus confirming that Windows overrides the BIOS settings.

As mentioned earlier, I have sorted out NumLock after first Logon - but there seems no way to get Windows to set NumLock to on BEFORE initial Logon.

When my PC boots up, it goes straight to the 'choose user' screen, I select the User and it goes to their Logon screen.  NumLock does not come on until AFTER I have successfully entered the password for that user. I want NumLock to be on BEFORE entering that initial password, that is what I am trying to achieve.

Thanks again.

September 16th, 2014 5:28am

Hello again Bill

I have downloaded and installed that little program you mentioned in your posts of 10th September - no effect on the NumLock setting on Bootup.

I have also checked the BIOS setings and it says that NumLock is On.  However, on Bootup, Num Lock is initially off, thus confirming that Windows overrides the BIOS settings.

As mentioned earlier, I have sorted out NumLock after first Logon - but there seems no way to get Windows to set NumLock to on BEFORE initial Logon.

When my PC boots up, it goes straight to the 'choose user' screen, I select the User and it goes to their Logon screen.  NumLock does not come on until AFTER I have successfully entered the password for that user. I want NumLock to be on BEFORE entering that initial password, that is what I am trying to achieve.

Thanks again.

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September 16th, 2014 5:28am

The numlock cannot be set for a specific user before they logon on any version of Windows.  You can set it for ALL users.

Yes - on Windows Vista and later Windows takes control of the Numlock no matter how the BIOS is set.  Numlock is considered a user personal setting.  It is part of the user configuration and profile. THe initial setting of this is taken from the default profile when the user is first created.

September 16th, 2014 7:23am

Here is a discussion about keyboard key states: http://www.askvg.com/force-capslock-numlock-and-scrolllock-keys-behavior-using-windows-registry/

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September 16th, 2014 7:29am

On Windows 8 and 8.1 setting the default user keyboard setting turns on the numlock on the lock screen.

A little testing will show you that this works.

September 16th, 2014 7:38am

I initially posted that this was a GP issue and should be asked in the GP forum. This is what we get when asking about GP.

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windowsserver/en-US/99718385-6787-45bd-b0f4-ec97db7a2a50/use-gpo-to-enable-or-disable-numberlock

Which would have had your issue fixed two weeks ago.  Learning how to ask a question and in which forum is an art.  Very few seem to be willing to figure that out.

Don't just get frustrated - think.

Group Policy fixed this issue years ago.  It is not a scripting issue.

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September 16th, 2014 7:48am

Hi jrv

As I said in my post of 10th September above, I have already done this, and yes, it works AFTER the first person logs on, but NOT before.

September 16th, 2014 8:40am

Hi jrv

I want the NumLock state to be on for all users, and not user specific.

But as I have said before, all the fixes so far opnly work AFTER the first user - whoever it is - logs on.  None of them seem to work to be able to set NumLock to On BEFORE the first user - whoever it is - logs on.

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September 16th, 2014 8:43am

Hi jrv

As I said in my post of 10th September above, I have already done this, and yes, it works AFTER the first person logs on, but NOT b

September 16th, 2014 8:44am

Hi jrv

Fine, and I followed your advice straight away (I posted exactly the same question on the GP Forum) and recived one reply about creating a script and using GP to do something.......

BUT

as my post above dated 10th September states very clearly:

"Perhaps I need to add that this is a single, standalone, home PC, with 2 users, running Win 8.1 Core/Basic.  Also, I cannot find the Group Policy Editor on the PC; when I type either 'gpedit' or 'gpedit.msc' into Run, I get a message saying that the file canot be found on the PC.  This when logged on as user with administrator powers.  It is not found either from a Command prompt.  And there does not seem to be a GP Snap-in available via the MM Console."

Given that situation, how on earth do I use Group Policy?

I am not frustrated with the people who are trying to help me and I have tried everything that people have suggested.  But I am frustrated that people do not seem to be reading my contributions to this debate which are trying, as clearly as I know how, to explain what is actually happening at my end.  All I can truthfully say is that NONE of those suggestions that I am able to implement turn NumLock on at initial Bootup before anyone logs on.

And I do not have access to Group Policy to change or add a new Script of any sort there.  If you are able to tell me how I can do that, then I might well be able to achieve what I want.  But it now seems that, without that, I cannot achieve what I want.  If that is the case, then end of.

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September 16th, 2014 8:53am

Hi jrv

I want the NumLock state to be on for all users, and not user specific.

But as I have said before, all the fixes so far opnly work AFTER the first user - whoever it is - logs on.  None of them seem to work to be able to set NumLock to On BEFORE the first user - whoever it is - lo

September 16th, 2014 8:55am

Hi jrv

Fine, and I followed your advice straight away (I posted exactly the same question on the GP Forum) and recived one reply about creating a script and using GP to do something.......

BUT

as my post above dated 10th September states very clearly:

"Perhaps I need to add that this is a single, standalone, home PC, with 2 users, running Win 8.1 Core/Basic.  Also, I cannot find the Group Policy Editor on the PC; when I type either 'gpedit' or 'gpedit.msc' into Run, I get a message saying that the file canot be found on the PC.  This when logged on as user with administrator powers.  It is not found either from a Command prompt.  And there does not seem to be a GP Snap-in available via the MM Console."

Given that situation, how on earth do I use Group Policy?

I am not frustrated with the people who are trying to help me and I have tried everything that people have suggested.  But I am frustrated that people do not seem to be reading my contributions to this debate which are trying, as clearly as I know how, to explain what is actually happening at my end.  All I can truthfully say is that NONE of those suggestions that I am able to implement turn NumLock on at initial Bootup before anyone logs on.

And I do not have access to Group Policy to change or add a new Script of any sort there.  If you are able to tell me how I can do that, then I might well be able to achieve what I want.  But it now seems that, without that, I cannot achieve what I want.  If that is the case, then e

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September 16th, 2014 9:02am

Sorry - I just noticed that this thread has been moved into the Windows 8.1 General Forum.  This is a better place and others here may be able to help you if you continue to have issues.

Be sure "Hybrid" sleep is not enabled.

I have tested the above change on a Windows 8.1 system with Hybrid sleep disabled and it works as required.

September 16th, 2014 9:06am

It may also be the case that the specific behavior you want is simply not possible to achieve, and you will just have to make do with the closest equivalent. (Wishful thinking does not somehow cause features to spring into existence.)
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September 16th, 2014 10:51am

Thanks Bill

Realism at last.  That is the conclusion I have reached - Windows will not let a home user have NumLock on at boot up, you have to turn it on manually every time you start the PC.

Very annoying, but probably an invevitable conclusion.

Thanks a lot for trying.

September 16th, 2014 1:52pm

Realism at last.  That is the conclusion I have reached - Windows will not let a home user have NumLock on at boot up, you have to turn it on manually every time you start the PC.

As already noted, some system BIOSes have a setting that let you enable Num Lock at bootup. If your computer's BIOS doesn't have such a setting, then you can use the aforementioned command-line tool to turn on Num Lock by putting a shortcut to it in the Startup group (which will run when you log on and turn on the Num Lock).

If those suggestions don't work for you, then it sounds like you have a unique use case and you'll just have to adjust your expectations to how things actually work rather than how you want them to work. (After all, if you want Num Lock turned on, just toggle it on the keyboard. It's worked that way for the last 35+ years at least.)

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September 16th, 2014 3:49pm

8.1 overrides the BIOS setting always.

My 8.1 works with the default profile setting.

Disable Hybrid-Sleep if you are having an issue as the setting won't work if Hybrid sleep is enabled.  Hybrid sleep is disable by default on laptops and enabled by default on Desktops.  Hybrid sleep will prevent the NumLock setting from being honored for some unspecified reason,

September 16th, 2014 4:02pm

Windows will not let a home user have NumLock on at boot up

Try creating a PIN for a login.  There is a NumLock icon in there.  Do you always have to use it?

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September 16th, 2014 5:55pm

Hi Bill

I have been sent the solution from another forum, and it is to turn off Fast Startup in the Power Options section of Control Panel (plus then the changes to the relevant Registry settings, which I had done weeks ago)

As I said before, that little progam did not work and my BIOS is already set to have NumLock on, but Windows overrides this.

Thanks again for all your efforts and perseverance.

September 17th, 2014 10:47am

Hi Bill

I have been sent the solution from another forum, and it is to turn off Fast Startup in the Power Options section of Control Panel (plus then the changes to the relevant Registry settings, which I had done weeks ago)

As I said before, that little progam did not work and my BIOS is already set to have NumLock on, but Windows overrides this.

Thanks again for all your efforts and perseverance.

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September 17th, 2014 10:47am

If I knew how to find 'Hybrid Sleep' - or knew what it was - then I would certainly try to disable it.

I am using a Desktop.

September 17th, 2014 10:50am

If I knew how to find 'Hybrid Sleep' - or knew what it was - then I would certainly try to disable it.

I am using a De

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September 17th, 2014 10:54am

Call me old-fashioned, but whenever I can, I prefer communicating - even through a keyboard - with another human being rather than the ubiquitous search engine or predefined 'Help' key.  That way, we hopefully can manage to keep the subtleties and nuances of the English language alive (and understood), rather than having them emasculated by machine shorthand.

I am afraid I cannot find a 'Hybrid Sleep' option on my PC under any of the Power Options section as to what the Power Button does (and nor do I seem to have a sleep button).  However, I do have a Fast Start option and, as I mentioned yesterday, I have disabled that, and that action solves the problem - sacrifice speed of Start Up for a NumLock key.

September 18th, 2014 4:35am

Call me old-fashioned, but whenever I can, I prefer communicating - even through a keyboard - with another human being rather than the ubiquitous search engine or predefined 'Help' key.  That way, we hopefully can manage to keep the subtleties and nuances of the English language alive (and understood), rather than having them emasculated by machine shorthand.

I am afraid I cannot find a 'Hybrid Sleep' option on my PC under any of the Power Options section as to what the Power Button does (and nor do I seem to have a sleep button).  However, I do have a Fast Start option and, as I mentioned yesterday, I have disabled that, and that action solves the problem - sacrifice speed of Start Up for a NumLoc

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September 18th, 2014 6:07am

 You don't need to do that. Just allow fast start but disable hybrid sleep. 

This was such a specific response that I followed it to the letter - I researched the issue, eventually found out where the 'Hybrid Sleep' option was buried so deep within some of the Power Option settings that only a person with detailed technical knowledge of the MS OS could possibly find it and think it might be a solution for turning on the NmLock key at Start Up, disabled 'Hybrid Sleep' and re-enabled 'Fast Start'.  I thern turned my PC off at the end of the day and went to bed.

And hey, guess what?  It may work for your Desktop, it may be supposed to work for every desktop, but I can categorically state for a fact that it does NOT work for mine.  On cold boot this morning, with those revised settings, NumLock was NOT on prior to first logon.  So I revert to disabling 'Fast Start' (leaving 'Hybrid Sleep' disabled for good measure), turn the PC off (not a restart) and turn it back on and hey presto, Num Lock is on.

So I have to say that, for my computer, your advice is not correct - disbaling 'Hybrid Sleep' alone without disabling 'Fast Start' does not achieve what I wanted to achieve.

September 19th, 2014 3:33am

 You don't need to do that. Just allow fast start but disable hybrid sleep. 

This was such a specific response that I followed it to the letter - I researched the issue, eventually found out where the 'Hybrid Sleep' option was buried so deep within some of the Power Option settings that only a person with detailed technical knowledge of the MS OS could possibly find it and think it might be a solution for turning on the NmLock key at Start Up, disabled 'Hybrid Sleep' and re-enabled 'Fast Start'.  I thern turned my PC off at the end of the day and went to bed.

And hey, guess what?  It may work for your Desktop PC, it may be supposed to work for every Desktop PC, but I can categorically state for a fact that it does NOT work for mine.  On cold boot this morning, with those revised settings, NumLock was NOT on prior to first logon.  So I revert to disabling 'Fast Start' (leaving 'Hybrid Sleep' disabled for good measure), turn the PC off (not a restart) and turn it back on and hey presto, Num Lock is on.

So I have to say that, for my computer, your advice is not correct - disbaling 'Hybrid Sleep' alone without disabling 'Fast Start' does not achieve what I wanted to ac

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September 19th, 2014 10:26am

 You don't need to do that. Just allow fast start but disable hybrid sleep. 

This was such a specific response that I followed it to the letter - I researched the issue, eventually found out where the 'Hybrid Sleep' option was buried so deep within some of the Power Option settings that only a person with detailed technical knowledge of the MS OS could possibly find it and think it might be a solution for turning on the NmLock key at Start Up, disabled 'Hybrid Sleep' and re-enabled 'Fast Start'.  I thern turned my PC off at the end of the day and went to bed.

And hey, guess what?  It may work for your Desktop PC, it may be supposed to work for every Desktop PC, but I can categorically state for a fact that it does NOT work for mine.  On cold boot this morning, with those revised settings, NumLock was NOT on prior to first logon.  So I revert to disabling 'Fast Start' (leaving 'Hybrid Sleep' disabled for good measure), turn the PC off (not a restart) and turn it back on and hey presto, Num Lock is on.

So I have to say that, for my computer, your advice is not correct - disbaling 'Hybrid Sleep' alone without disabling 'Fast Start' does not achieve what I wanted to ac

September 19th, 2014 10:26am

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