Num Lock on boot?

[Chiefcrowe]

In Win 7, I've noticed that the num lock is not on at startup and for some it is annoying. Anyone know how to make sure it is on? Not sure if it is a BIOS or OS setting?

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Should be a BIOS setting.

 

[HOSED]

You may also want to check your registry http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000792.htm

 

[corkyg]

In XP, it was ON by default, but could be reset easily. Win 7 is even easier - It is OFF by default, however, if you turn NUM LOCK on (via keyboard) and then reboot, it will be on by default. There are of course, Registry hacks, but this is the way it is supposed to work.

 

[seepy83]

On all of the PCs I've worked on, it's a BIOS setting.

 

[bbhaag]

In XP, it was ON by default, but could be reset easily. Win 7 is even easier - It is OFF by default, however, if you turn NUM LOCK on (via keyboard) and then reboot, it will be on by default. There are of course, Registry hacks, but this is the way it is supposed to work.

This is how my Win8 install works to. I know the op asked about 7 but I just wanted to throw it out there for anyone looking.

 

[Ichinisan]

On all of the PCs I've worked on, it's a BIOS setting.

Even Windows XP would override your BIOS preference as soon as you get to the Welcome screen and it would always turn Numlock off. The reason is because you might not know its on and some people would never figure out why their password doesn't work on those laptops where the number pad keys share the same keys where you type regular letters. After logging-in, it would remember the numlock state for that user.

It was a registry hack where you change the numlock state for user "default."

I don't remember what exactly, but the reghack conflicts with something in Windows 8.1 if you have certain sleep / power saving features enabled.

 

[bruceb]

On my XP machine, I installed a very small program called AutoHotKey to do just this. Keep Num Lock on at all times, so I do not turn it off by mistake. Very easy to set up.
Here is the .ahk script used for NumLock

; NumLock Enforcer
; To monitor and switch on the NumLock key
; Date: 01/07/2007 ;Last Updated: 01/07/2007
; Refer: hxxp://www.donationcoder.com/Forums/bb/index.php?topic=9018
; Changes since:
; *****
;
#SingleInstance force
;#NoTrayIcon ;if you don't need a tray icon
#InstallKeybdHook
#Persistent

;Menu, tray, Icon, %A_WinDir%\System32\shell32.dll, 105
appname=NumLock Enforcer
SetTimer, EnforceNumLock, 500
Return

EnforceNumLock:
NumLockStatus := GetKeyState("Numlock", "T")
IfEqual, NumLockStatus, 0
{
SetNumLockState, On
;Uncomment the below line if you want some kind of feedback.
;TrayTip,%appname%,NumLock Status = On,,1
}
Return

;Win+p pauses the script,just in case you need the NumLock.
#p:😛ause

;Win+q exits...
#q::ExitApp

 

[Ichinisan]

On my XP machine, I installed a very small program called AutoHotKey to do just this. Keep Num Lock on at all times, so I do not turn it off by mistake. Very easy to set up.
Here is the .ahk script used for NumLock

; NumLock Enforcer
; To monitor and switch on the NumLock key
; Date: 01/07/2007 ;Last Updated: 01/07/2007
; Refer: hxxp://www.donationcoder.com/Forums/bb/index.php?topic=9018
; Changes since:
; *****
;
#SingleInstance force
;#NoTrayIcon ;if you don't need a tray icon
#InstallKeybdHook
#Persistent

;Menu, tray, Icon, %A_WinDir%\System32\shell32.dll, 105
appname=NumLock Enforcer
SetTimer, EnforceNumLock, 500
Return

EnforceNumLock:
NumLockStatus := GetKeyState("Numlock", "T")
IfEqual, NumLockStatus, 0
{
SetNumLockState, On
;Uncomment the below line if you want some kind of feedback.
;TrayTip,%appname%,NumLock Status = On,,1
}
Return

;Win+p pauses the script,just in case you need the NumLock.
#p:😛ause

;Win+q exits...
#q::ExitApp

I don't think that would help with the Welcome screen where you have to log-in.

 

[Dude111]

You may also want to check your registry http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000792.htm

Thats interesting..... Im on Win98se and mine is set to 0 (OFF by default) but the NUM LOCK key is ON when I boot up. (Which means I probably changed the default setting by enabling it @ some point)

Interesting!

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

I wish MSI mobos would have the BIOS option to disable numlock on boot.
Fricking hate it.

 

[Dude111]

If you turn your num lock OFF and then shut down,its back on NEXT BOOT UP??

 

[John Connor]

I've only see the option in BIOS. On my laptop it starts all the time and I don't use it so it's annoying.

I just turned it off after months of being lazy. lol