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Q: I have a Dell Inspiron laptop running Windows 7 with Outlook 10, also use Logitech wireless keyboard and mouse. Strangely, the characters I type are converted to random numbers instead of letters, and it only happens on the “internet” (web sites) but not on the Outlook or financial (Quicken) or MS Office applications that are on the computer itself. It seems to be happening with increasing frequency, and the only way to correct seems to be to shut down or restart the computer.

– Jack R.
Destin, Florida

A: The only thing I can guess is wrong is that you have Number Lock engaged.  I base that on what I know about how keyboards work.  They return key scan codes that correspond to physical positions on the keyboard, and barring some wonky electrical interference, or some heretofore unheard of keyboard scrambling software, what you described just doesn’t happen.  What does happen, however, is that laptop manufacturers assign multiple functions to keys, because they don’t have enough space for a separate numeric keypad on a compact laptop.  In these cases, the laptop is probably equipped with a numeric keypad that is integrated with the letter keys.  On such systems, certain letter keys share their function with numbers, but only when Num Lock is engaged.  If you’re unaware of the presence of an integrated number pad, it could certainly appear that you’re getting numbers when you expect letters.  You said “random numbers” which implies that with every press of a key (even the same key) you get a different number.  I’m going to speculate that is not actually the case, and that only certain keys produce numbers, and that those numbers are not at all random.  Rather, they correspond to numbers that are actually printed right on the key caps, perhaps, but not always, in a different color than the normally-white key markings.  A typical integrated numeric keypad uses the 7, 8, 9 keys as 7, 8, 9; the U, I, and O keys as 4, 5, and 6; J, K, L, as 1, 2, 3; and M as 0.  This layout is very common, but not necessarily universal, and there might also be other keys that change function when Num Lock is engaged.  If so, they too will have alternate markings.

So, the next time this problem occurs, instead of rebooting, try toggling the Num Lock state.  If your laptop doesn’t have indicator lights telling you that it’s engaged, you may have to guess.  You may also need to use an extra key, usually marked “Fn” in conjunction with the Num Lock key if the Num Lock key itself has a shared functionality.

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