hp notebook embedded numeric keypad

Hello,

I have a new HP dv6700 notebook running Vista Home Premium. It seems to
have a flaw in the way the embedded numeric keypad works. If the num lk
light is off, and I hold down the fn key and press the 'k' key (for
example), according to the user manual it should type the numeral '2'. But
it doesn't. Instead (working in Excel) the cell pointer moves down one
cell. The only way to type a number using the embedded numeric keypad is to
press fn + num lk (to light up the num lk light) and then press 'k' (for
example). The problem is that this is not very convenient when you are
entering a lot of letters and numbers.

I thought I wasn't using the feature properly, so I called HP tech support,
and it turns out that the notebook the support person was using worked the
same (wrong) way as mine. I'm still working with tech support to try to
resolve this, but in the meantime I went to Circuit City today and tested
some of the different notebooks. Two of the HP notebooks there worked the
same (wrong) way as mine. A Sony and a Gateway also failed to produce the
number 2 when pressing fn + 'k' with the num lk light off. Only a Dell
seemed to get it right.

I'm surprised, because the embedded keypad has been a standard feature of
notebook computers for years now, and I thought that the functionality of
being able to press fn + one of the embedded keypad keys (with the num lk
light off) to produce a number was pretty much standard at this point. And
according to the HP user guide it is SUPPOSED to work that way...

I'm not sure if the Sony and Gateway are supposed to work that way too, but
it seems only logical to me that they would. What good is it to be able to
press fn + 'k' and have the cell pointer move down one cell? The computer
has a very convenient, dedicated down arrow key for that.

Does anybody know what's going on here? I would really like to be able to
type a number using the embedded key pad without turning on the num lk
light. Any advice about fixes, alternate drivers, or who (e.g., HP,
Microsoft, other...) might ultimately be responsible for this bug would be
greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Joe

"JoeM" <> wrote in message
news:E1wpj.2293$eD3.1157@trndny05...
> Hello,
>
> I have a new HP dv6700 notebook running Vista Home Premium. It seems to
> have a flaw in the way the embedded numeric keypad works. If the num lk
> light is off, and I hold down the fn key and press the 'k' key (for
> example), according to the user manual it should type the numeral '2'.
> But it doesn't. Instead (working in Excel) the cell pointer moves down
> one cell. The only way to type a number using the embedded numeric keypad
> is to press fn + num lk (to light up the num lk light) and then press 'k'
> (for example). The problem is that this is not very convenient when you
> are entering a lot of letters and numbers.
>
> I thought I wasn't using the feature properly, so I called HP tech
> support, and it turns out that the notebook the support person was using
> worked the same (wrong) way as mine. I'm still working with tech support
> to try to resolve this, but in the meantime I went to Circuit City today
> and tested some of the different notebooks. Two of the HP notebooks there
> worked the same (wrong) way as mine. A Sony and a Gateway also failed to
> produce the number 2 when pressing fn + 'k' with the num lk light off.
> Only a Dell seemed to get it right.
>
> I'm surprised, because the embedded keypad has been a standard feature of
> notebook computers for years now, and I thought that the functionality of
> being able to press fn + one of the embedded keypad keys (with the num lk
> light off) to produce a number was pretty much standard at this point.
> And according to the HP user guide it is SUPPOSED to work that way...
>
> I'm not sure if the Sony and Gateway are supposed to work that way too,
> but it seems only logical to me that they would. What good is it to be
> able to press fn + 'k' and have the cell pointer move down one cell? The
> computer has a very convenient, dedicated down arrow key for that.
>
> Does anybody know what's going on here? I would really like to be able to
> type a number using the embedded key pad without turning on the num lk
> light. Any advice about fixes, alternate drivers, or who (e.g., HP,
> Microsoft, other...) might ultimately be responsible for this bug would be
> greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> Joe
>

I tried it on my Toshiba and it works the way you state. There are actually
2 symbols associated with each embedded key. In the regular mode, one
function can be used by holding the Fn key and pressing that key. In the
Numlock mode, the Fn key disables the number and gives the letter instead.
Does your keyboard not have a row of numbers across the top? The embedded
numbers pad if for people that enter numbers and are used to using a numeric
pad. That's why there is a bump on the J key.
Terry

[Removed bogus newsgroups comp.laptops and comp.sys.hp.]

JoeM <> wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I have a new HP dv6700 notebook running Vista Home Premium. It seems to
> have a flaw in the way the embedded numeric keypad works. If the num lk
> light is off, and I hold down the fn key and press the 'k' key (for
> example), according to the user manual it should type the numeral '2'. But
> it doesn't. Instead (working in Excel) the cell pointer moves down one
> cell. The only way to type a number using the embedded numeric keypad is to
> press fn + num lk (to light up the num lk light) and then press 'k' (for
> example). The problem is that this is not very convenient when you are
> entering a lot of letters and numbers.
>
> I thought I wasn't using the feature properly, so I called HP tech support,
> and it turns out that the notebook the support person was using worked the
> same (wrong) way as mine. I'm still working with tech support to try to
> resolve this, but in the meantime I went to Circuit City today and tested
> some of the different notebooks. Two of the HP notebooks there worked the
> same (wrong) way as mine. A Sony and a Gateway also failed to produce the
> number 2 when pressing fn + 'k' with the num lk light off. Only a Dell
> seemed to get it right.
>
> I'm surprised, because the embedded keypad has been a standard feature of
> notebook computers for years now, and I thought that the functionality of
> being able to press fn + one of the embedded keypad keys (with the num lk
> light off) to produce a number was pretty much standard at this point. And
> according to the HP user guide it is SUPPOSED to work that way...
>
> I'm not sure if the Sony and Gateway are supposed to work that way too, but
> it seems only logical to me that they would. What good is it to be able to
> press fn + 'k' and have the cell pointer move down one cell? The computer
> has a very convenient, dedicated down arrow key for that.
>
> Does anybody know what's going on here? I would really like to be able to
> type a number using the embedded key pad without turning on the num lk
> light. Any advice about fixes, alternate drivers, or who (e.g., HP,
> Microsoft, other...) might ultimately be responsible for this bug would be
> greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> Joe

FWIW, my HP Pavilion dv6570[ed] with Windows Vista Home Premium
Edition works the same 'strange' way you describe. I.e. have to turn on
'num lk' (i.e. light is on) with 'fn + 'num lk' for the embedded keypad
to work and then the lower and uppercase letters don't work anymore.

I thought it might have something to do with MouseKeys, StickyKeys,
etc., but they are all set to off and the problem still persists.

I noted that the embedded keypad '/', '*', '-' and '+' (), P, : and ?
keys, all in the same (slanted) 'column') *do* work with num lk *off*
and just using fn+<key>, but the embedded keypad '.', which is in a
*different* slanted column, does *not* work that way. Strange!

Also FWIW, my wife's HP Pavilion dv4205 with Windows XP Home Edition
works the 'normal' way. I.e. turn on the the embedded keypad with 'fn
+ 'num lk', and then <key> gives the numeric key, fn+<key> gives the
lowercase letter and fn+shift+<key> gives the uppercase letter.

So it would be interesting to hear from others if this is an HP thing,
or a Vista thing.

"JoeM" <> kirjoitti
viestissä:E1wpj.2293$eD3.1157@trndny05...
> Hello,
>
> I have a new HP dv6700 notebook running Vista Home Premium. It seems to
> have a flaw in the way the embedded numeric keypad works. If the num lk
> light is off, and I hold down the fn key and press the 'k' key (for
> example), according to the user manual it should type the numeral '2'.
> But it doesn't. Instead (working in Excel) the cell pointer moves down
> one cell. The only way to type a number using the embedded numeric keypad
> is to press fn + num lk (to light up the num lk light) and then press 'k'
> (for example). The problem is that this is not very convenient when you
> are entering a lot of letters and numbers.
>
> I thought I wasn't using the feature properly, so I called HP tech
> support, and it turns out that the notebook the support person was using
> worked the same (wrong) way as mine. I'm still working with tech support
> to try to resolve this, but in the meantime I went to Circuit City today
> and tested some of the different notebooks. Two of the HP notebooks there
> worked the same (wrong) way as mine. A Sony and a Gateway also failed to
> produce the number 2 when pressing fn + 'k' with the num lk light off.
> Only a Dell seemed to get it right.
>
> I'm surprised, because the embedded keypad has been a standard feature of
> notebook computers for years now, and I thought that the functionality of
> being able to press fn + one of the embedded keypad keys (with the num lk
> light off) to produce a number was pretty much standard at this point.
> And according to the HP user guide it is SUPPOSED to work that way...
>
> I'm not sure if the Sony and Gateway are supposed to work that way too,
> but it seems only logical to me that they would. What good is it to be
> able to press fn + 'k' and have the cell pointer move down one cell? The
> computer has a very convenient, dedicated down arrow key for that.
>
> Does anybody know what's going on here? I would really like to be able to
> type a number using the embedded key pad without turning on the num lk
> light. Any advice about fixes, alternate drivers, or who (e.g., HP,
> Microsoft, other...) might ultimately be responsible for this bug would be
> greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> Joe


With Fn-NumLock=off, it works like a standard numeric pad with NumLock=off,
ie. cursor keys?????

--
Tumppi
=================================
A lot learned from these newsgroups
Helsinki, FINLAND
(translations from/to FI not always accurate
=================================

I tried a Toshiba yesterday at Best Buy. As you indicate, it has two
optional uses indicated on each key in the keypad. And you can configure it
so that you can type the letters as default, but then press just the fn key
+ one of the keypad keys to get a number. Of the brands I've investigated
so far, only Toshiba and Dell offer this functionality, which surprises me.
I would think it would be standard on all notebooks at this point. It gives
the most flexibility in terms of switching between typing letters and typing
numbers. Clearly someone at HP saw this and wanted to put it into their
product. It made into the user guide, but not into the product
unfortunately. I hope they will fix it.
J.

"tc" <> wrote in message
news:qmwpj.5511$cc3.2395@edtnps82...
>
> "JoeM" <> wrote in message
> news:E1wpj.2293$eD3.1157@trndny05...
>> Hello,
>>
>> I have a new HP dv6700 notebook running Vista Home Premium. It seems to
>> have a flaw in the way the embedded numeric keypad works. If the num lk
>> light is off, and I hold down the fn key and press the 'k' key (for
>> example), according to the user manual it should type the numeral '2'.
>> But it doesn't. Instead (working in Excel) the cell pointer moves down
>> one cell. The only way to type a number using the embedded numeric
>> keypad is to press fn + num lk (to light up the num lk light) and then
>> press 'k' (for example). The problem is that this is not very convenient
>> when you are entering a lot of letters and numbers.
>>
>> I thought I wasn't using the feature properly, so I called HP tech
>> support, and it turns out that the notebook the support person was using
>> worked the same (wrong) way as mine. I'm still working with tech support
>> to try to resolve this, but in the meantime I went to Circuit City today
>> and tested some of the different notebooks. Two of the HP notebooks
>> there worked the same (wrong) way as mine. A Sony and a Gateway also
>> failed to produce the number 2 when pressing fn + 'k' with the num lk
>> light off. Only a Dell seemed to get it right.
>>
>> I'm surprised, because the embedded keypad has been a standard feature of
>> notebook computers for years now, and I thought that the functionality of
>> being able to press fn + one of the embedded keypad keys (with the num lk
>> light off) to produce a number was pretty much standard at this point.
>> And according to the HP user guide it is SUPPOSED to work that way...
>>
>> I'm not sure if the Sony and Gateway are supposed to work that way too,
>> but it seems only logical to me that they would. What good is it to be
>> able to press fn + 'k' and have the cell pointer move down one cell? The
>> computer has a very convenient, dedicated down arrow key for that.
>>
>> Does anybody know what's going on here? I would really like to be able
>> to type a number using the embedded key pad without turning on the num lk
>> light. Any advice about fixes, alternate drivers, or who (e.g., HP,
>> Microsoft, other...) might ultimately be responsible for this bug would
>> be greatly appreciated.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Joe
>>
>
> I tried it on my Toshiba and it works the way you state. There are
> actually 2 symbols associated with each embedded key. In the regular mode,
> one function can be used by holding the Fn key and pressing that key. In
> the Numlock mode, the Fn key disables the number and gives the letter
> instead.
> Does your keyboard not have a row of numbers across the top? The embedded
> numbers pad if for people that enter numbers and are used to using a
> numeric pad. That's why there is a bump on the J key.
> Terry
>
>
>

Are you saying that neither your machine nor your wife's will produce a '2'
if you press the 'k' key while holding down the fn key with the num lk light
off?


"Frank Slootweg" <> wrote in message
news:47a7349d$0$57124$...
> [Removed bogus newsgroups comp.laptops and comp.sys.hp.]
>
> JoeM <> wrote:
>> Hello,
>>
>> I have a new HP dv6700 notebook running Vista Home Premium. It seems to
>> have a flaw in the way the embedded numeric keypad works. If the num lk
>> light is off, and I hold down the fn key and press the 'k' key (for
>> example), according to the user manual it should type the numeral '2'.
>> But
>> it doesn't. Instead (working in Excel) the cell pointer moves down one
>> cell. The only way to type a number using the embedded numeric keypad is
>> to
>> press fn + num lk (to light up the num lk light) and then press 'k' (for
>> example). The problem is that this is not very convenient when you are
>> entering a lot of letters and numbers.
>>
>> I thought I wasn't using the feature properly, so I called HP tech
>> support,
>> and it turns out that the notebook the support person was using worked
>> the
>> same (wrong) way as mine. I'm still working with tech support to try to
>> resolve this, but in the meantime I went to Circuit City today and tested
>> some of the different notebooks. Two of the HP notebooks there worked
>> the
>> same (wrong) way as mine. A Sony and a Gateway also failed to produce
>> the
>> number 2 when pressing fn + 'k' with the num lk light off. Only a Dell
>> seemed to get it right.
>>
>> I'm surprised, because the embedded keypad has been a standard feature of
>> notebook computers for years now, and I thought that the functionality of
>> being able to press fn + one of the embedded keypad keys (with the num lk
>> light off) to produce a number was pretty much standard at this point.
>> And
>> according to the HP user guide it is SUPPOSED to work that way...
>>
>> I'm not sure if the Sony and Gateway are supposed to work that way too,
>> but
>> it seems only logical to me that they would. What good is it to be able
>> to
>> press fn + 'k' and have the cell pointer move down one cell? The
>> computer
>> has a very convenient, dedicated down arrow key for that.
>>
>> Does anybody know what's going on here? I would really like to be able
>> to
>> type a number using the embedded key pad without turning on the num lk
>> light. Any advice about fixes, alternate drivers, or who (e.g., HP,
>> Microsoft, other...) might ultimately be responsible for this bug would
>> be
>> greatly appreciated.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Joe
>
> FWIW, my HP Pavilion dv6570[ed] with Windows Vista Home Premium
> Edition works the same 'strange' way you describe. I.e. have to turn on
> 'num lk' (i.e. light is on) with 'fn + 'num lk' for the embedded keypad
> to work and then the lower and uppercase letters don't work anymore.
>
> I thought it might have something to do with MouseKeys, StickyKeys,
> etc., but they are all set to off and the problem still persists.
>
> I noted that the embedded keypad '/', '*', '-' and '+' (), P, : and ?
> keys, all in the same (slanted) 'column') *do* work with num lk *off*
> and just using fn+<key>, but the embedded keypad '.', which is in a
> *different* slanted column, does *not* work that way. Strange!
>
> Also FWIW, my wife's HP Pavilion dv4205 with Windows XP Home Edition
> works the 'normal' way. I.e. turn on the the embedded keypad with 'fn
> + 'num lk', and then <key> gives the numeric key, fn+<key> gives the
> lowercase letter and fn+shift+<key> gives the uppercase letter.
>
> So it would be interesting to hear from others if this is an HP thing,
> or a Vista thing.
>

Not sure I understand you. If you're trying to confirm how my embedded
numeric keypad is acting: with num lk light on it works as a standard
numeric keypad (no need to hold down the fn key). With num lk light off it
seems that it will not produce a number under any circumstance.
J.

"Thomas Wendell" <> wrote in message
news:47a878d9$0$14992$...
> "JoeM" <> kirjoitti
> viestissä:E1wpj.2293$eD3.1157@trndny05...
>> Hello,
>>
>> I have a new HP dv6700 notebook running Vista Home Premium. It seems to
>> have a flaw in the way the embedded numeric keypad works. If the num lk
>> light is off, and I hold down the fn key and press the 'k' key (for
>> example), according to the user manual it should type the numeral '2'.
>> But it doesn't. Instead (working in Excel) the cell pointer moves down
>> one cell. The only way to type a number using the embedded numeric
>> keypad is to press fn + num lk (to light up the num lk light) and then
>> press 'k' (for example). The problem is that this is not very convenient
>> when you are entering a lot of letters and numbers.
>>
>> I thought I wasn't using the feature properly, so I called HP tech
>> support, and it turns out that the notebook the support person was using
>> worked the same (wrong) way as mine. I'm still working with tech support
>> to try to resolve this, but in the meantime I went to Circuit City today
>> and tested some of the different notebooks. Two of the HP notebooks
>> there worked the same (wrong) way as mine. A Sony and a Gateway also
>> failed to produce the number 2 when pressing fn + 'k' with the num lk
>> light off. Only a Dell seemed to get it right.
>>
>> I'm surprised, because the embedded keypad has been a standard feature of
>> notebook computers for years now, and I thought that the functionality of
>> being able to press fn + one of the embedded keypad keys (with the num lk
>> light off) to produce a number was pretty much standard at this point.
>> And according to the HP user guide it is SUPPOSED to work that way...
>>
>> I'm not sure if the Sony and Gateway are supposed to work that way too,
>> but it seems only logical to me that they would. What good is it to be
>> able to press fn + 'k' and have the cell pointer move down one cell? The
>> computer has a very convenient, dedicated down arrow key for that.
>>
>> Does anybody know what's going on here? I would really like to be able
>> to type a number using the embedded key pad without turning on the num lk
>> light. Any advice about fixes, alternate drivers, or who (e.g., HP,
>> Microsoft, other...) might ultimately be responsible for this bug would
>> be greatly appreciated.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Joe
>
>
> With Fn-NumLock=off, it works like a standard numeric pad with
> NumLock=off, ie. cursor keys?????
>
> --
> Tumppi
> =================================
> A lot learned from these newsgroups
> Helsinki, FINLAND
> (translations from/to FI not always accurate
> =================================
>
>

JoeM <> wrote:
> Are you saying that neither your machine nor your wife's will produce a '2'
> if you press the 'k' key while holding down the fn key with the num lk light
> off?

I wasn't saying that, but it *is* the case.

However the important difference between the two systems is that - as
I wrote - on my wife's dv4205 with XP Home, the embedded numeric keypad
*does* work 'normally' with num lk *on*, where 'normally' means:

- <key> gives the numeric key ('2')
- fn+<key> gives the lowercase letter ('k')
- fn+shift+<key> gives the uppercase letter ('K')

I.e. exactly as documented in the User Guide.

But on the dv6570ed with Vista Home Premium with num lk on, *only*
the numeric keys work, i.e. you can get '2', but not 'k' nor 'K' (fn+k
gives '2', fn+shift+k gives nothing).

> "Frank Slootweg" <> wrote in message
> news:47a7349d$0$57124$...
> > [Removed bogus newsgroups comp.laptops and comp.sys.hp.]
> >
> > JoeM <> wrote:
> >> Hello,
> >>
> >> I have a new HP dv6700 notebook running Vista Home Premium. It seems to
> >> have a flaw in the way the embedded numeric keypad works. If the num lk
> >> light is off, and I hold down the fn key and press the 'k' key (for
> >> example), according to the user manual it should type the numeral '2'.
> >> But
> >> it doesn't. Instead (working in Excel) the cell pointer moves down one
> >> cell. The only way to type a number using the embedded numeric keypad is
> >> to
> >> press fn + num lk (to light up the num lk light) and then press 'k' (for
> >> example). The problem is that this is not very convenient when you are
> >> entering a lot of letters and numbers.
> >>
> >> I thought I wasn't using the feature properly, so I called HP tech
> >> support,
> >> and it turns out that the notebook the support person was using worked
> >> the
> >> same (wrong) way as mine. I'm still working with tech support to try to
> >> resolve this, but in the meantime I went to Circuit City today and tested
> >> some of the different notebooks. Two of the HP notebooks there worked
> >> the
> >> same (wrong) way as mine. A Sony and a Gateway also failed to produce
> >> the
> >> number 2 when pressing fn + 'k' with the num lk light off. Only a Dell
> >> seemed to get it right.
> >>
> >> I'm surprised, because the embedded keypad has been a standard feature of
> >> notebook computers for years now, and I thought that the functionality of
> >> being able to press fn + one of the embedded keypad keys (with the num lk
> >> light off) to produce a number was pretty much standard at this point.
> >> And
> >> according to the HP user guide it is SUPPOSED to work that way...
> >>
> >> I'm not sure if the Sony and Gateway are supposed to work that way too,
> >> but
> >> it seems only logical to me that they would. What good is it to be able
> >> to
> >> press fn + 'k' and have the cell pointer move down one cell? The
> >> computer
> >> has a very convenient, dedicated down arrow key for that.
> >>
> >> Does anybody know what's going on here? I would really like to be able
> >> to
> >> type a number using the embedded key pad without turning on the num lk
> >> light. Any advice about fixes, alternate drivers, or who (e.g., HP,
> >> Microsoft, other...) might ultimately be responsible for this bug would
> >> be
> >> greatly appreciated.
> >>
> >> Thanks,
> >> Joe
> >
> > FWIW, my HP Pavilion dv6570[ed] with Windows Vista Home Premium
> > Edition works the same 'strange' way you describe. I.e. have to turn on
> > 'num lk' (i.e. light is on) with 'fn + 'num lk' for the embedded keypad
> > to work and then the lower and uppercase letters don't work anymore.
> >
> > I thought it might have something to do with MouseKeys, StickyKeys,
> > etc., but they are all set to off and the problem still persists.
> >
> > I noted that the embedded keypad '/', '*', '-' and '+' (), P, : and ?
> > keys, all in the same (slanted) 'column') *do* work with num lk *off*
> > and just using fn+<key>, but the embedded keypad '.', which is in a
> > *different* slanted column, does *not* work that way. Strange!
> >
> > Also FWIW, my wife's HP Pavilion dv4205 with Windows XP Home Edition
> > works the 'normal' way. I.e. turn on the the embedded keypad with 'fn
> > + 'num lk', and then <key> gives the numeric key, fn+<key> gives the
> > lowercase letter and fn+shift+<key> gives the uppercase letter.
> >
> > So it would be interesting to hear from others if this is an HP thing,
> > or a Vista thing.

Mine works like your dv6570ed. The dv4205 functionality you describe seems
better to me, although I'm not sure that I would use it much. HP offered to
replace my keyboard to see if that would get it to work like that. I think
it would be awkward when typing letters to have to remember that whenever I
wanted to type a 'u', 'i', 'o', 'j', 'k' or 'l' I have to hold down the fn
key... but not for the other 20 letters. Seems only marginally useful to
me. I'm more interested in being able to press fn + keypad key with the num
lk light off to produce a number. That seems like the most intuitive and
flexible functionality to me. So far in the notebooks that I've
investigated at Best Buy only Dell and Toshiba had this. Gateway and Sony
did not.
J.



"Frank Slootweg" <> wrote in message
news:47a8e19c$0$91547$...
> JoeM <> wrote:
>> Are you saying that neither your machine nor your wife's will produce a
>> '2'
>> if you press the 'k' key while holding down the fn key with the num lk
>> light
>> off?
>
> I wasn't saying that, but it *is* the case.
>
> However the important difference between the two systems is that - as
> I wrote - on my wife's dv4205 with XP Home, the embedded numeric keypad
> *does* work 'normally' with num lk *on*, where 'normally' means:
>
> - <key> gives the numeric key ('2')
> - fn+<key> gives the lowercase letter ('k')
> - fn+shift+<key> gives the uppercase letter ('K')
>
> I.e. exactly as documented in the User Guide.
>
> But on the dv6570ed with Vista Home Premium with num lk on, *only*
> the numeric keys work, i.e. you can get '2', but not 'k' nor 'K' (fn+k
> gives '2', fn+shift+k gives nothing).
>
>> "Frank Slootweg" <> wrote in message
>> news:47a7349d$0$57124$...
>> > [Removed bogus newsgroups comp.laptops and comp.sys.hp.]
>> >
>> > JoeM <> wrote:
>> >> Hello,
>> >>
>> >> I have a new HP dv6700 notebook running Vista Home Premium. It seems
>> >> to
>> >> have a flaw in the way the embedded numeric keypad works. If the num
>> >> lk
>> >> light is off, and I hold down the fn key and press the 'k' key (for
>> >> example), according to the user manual it should type the numeral '2'.
>> >> But
>> >> it doesn't. Instead (working in Excel) the cell pointer moves down
>> >> one
>> >> cell. The only way to type a number using the embedded numeric keypad
>> >> is
>> >> to
>> >> press fn + num lk (to light up the num lk light) and then press 'k'
>> >> (for
>> >> example). The problem is that this is not very convenient when you
>> >> are
>> >> entering a lot of letters and numbers.
>> >>
>> >> I thought I wasn't using the feature properly, so I called HP tech
>> >> support,
>> >> and it turns out that the notebook the support person was using worked
>> >> the
>> >> same (wrong) way as mine. I'm still working with tech support to try
>> >> to
>> >> resolve this, but in the meantime I went to Circuit City today and
>> >> tested
>> >> some of the different notebooks. Two of the HP notebooks there worked
>> >> the
>> >> same (wrong) way as mine. A Sony and a Gateway also failed to produce
>> >> the
>> >> number 2 when pressing fn + 'k' with the num lk light off. Only a
>> >> Dell
>> >> seemed to get it right.
>> >>
>> >> I'm surprised, because the embedded keypad has been a standard feature
>> >> of
>> >> notebook computers for years now, and I thought that the functionality
>> >> of
>> >> being able to press fn + one of the embedded keypad keys (with the num
>> >> lk
>> >> light off) to produce a number was pretty much standard at this point.
>> >> And
>> >> according to the HP user guide it is SUPPOSED to work that way...
>> >>
>> >> I'm not sure if the Sony and Gateway are supposed to work that way
>> >> too,
>> >> but
>> >> it seems only logical to me that they would. What good is it to be
>> >> able
>> >> to
>> >> press fn + 'k' and have the cell pointer move down one cell? The
>> >> computer
>> >> has a very convenient, dedicated down arrow key for that.
>> >>
>> >> Does anybody know what's going on here? I would really like to be
>> >> able
>> >> to
>> >> type a number using the embedded key pad without turning on the num lk
>> >> light. Any advice about fixes, alternate drivers, or who (e.g., HP,
>> >> Microsoft, other...) might ultimately be responsible for this bug
>> >> would
>> >> be
>> >> greatly appreciated.
>> >>
>> >> Thanks,
>> >> Joe
>> >
>> > FWIW, my HP Pavilion dv6570[ed] with Windows Vista Home Premium
>> > Edition works the same 'strange' way you describe. I.e. have to turn on
>> > 'num lk' (i.e. light is on) with 'fn + 'num lk' for the embedded keypad
>> > to work and then the lower and uppercase letters don't work anymore.
>> >
>> > I thought it might have something to do with MouseKeys, StickyKeys,
>> > etc., but they are all set to off and the problem still persists.
>> >
>> > I noted that the embedded keypad '/', '*', '-' and '+' (), P, : and ?
>> > keys, all in the same (slanted) 'column') *do* work with num lk *off*
>> > and just using fn+<key>, but the embedded keypad '.', which is in a
>> > *different* slanted column, does *not* work that way. Strange!
>> >
>> > Also FWIW, my wife's HP Pavilion dv4205 with Windows XP Home Edition
>> > works the 'normal' way. I.e. turn on the the embedded keypad with 'fn
>> > + 'num lk', and then <key> gives the numeric key, fn+<key> gives the
>> > lowercase letter and fn+shift+<key> gives the uppercase letter.
>> >
>> > So it would be interesting to hear from others if this is an HP thing,
>> > or a Vista thing.

"tc" <> wrote in message
news:qmwpj.5511$cc3.2395@edtnps82...
>
> "JoeM" <> wrote in message
> news:E1wpj.2293$eD3.1157@trndny05...
>> Hello,
>>
>> I have a new HP dv6700 notebook running Vista Home Premium. It seems to
>> have a flaw in the way the embedded numeric keypad works. If the num lk
>> light is off, and I hold down the fn key and press the 'k' key (for
>> example), according to the user manual it should type the numeral '2'.
>> But it doesn't. Instead (working in Excel) the cell pointer moves down
>> one cell. The only way to type a number using the embedded numeric
>> keypad is to press fn + num lk (to light up the num lk light) and then
>> press 'k' (for example). The problem is that this is not very convenient
>> when you are entering a lot of letters and numbers.
>>
>> I thought I wasn't using the feature properly, so I called HP tech
>> support, and it turns out that the notebook the support person was using
>> worked the same (wrong) way as mine. I'm still working with tech support
>> to try to resolve this, but in the meantime I went to Circuit City today
>> and tested some of the different notebooks. Two of the HP notebooks
>> there worked the same (wrong) way as mine. A Sony and a Gateway also
>> failed to produce the number 2 when pressing fn + 'k' with the num lk
>> light off. Only a Dell seemed to get it right.
>>
>> I'm surprised, because the embedded keypad has been a standard feature of
>> notebook computers for years now, and I thought that the functionality of
>> being able to press fn + one of the embedded keypad keys (with the num lk
>> light off) to produce a number was pretty much standard at this point.
>> And according to the HP user guide it is SUPPOSED to work that way...
>>
>> I'm not sure if the Sony and Gateway are supposed to work that way too,
>> but it seems only logical to me that they would. What good is it to be
>> able to press fn + 'k' and have the cell pointer move down one cell? The
>> computer has a very convenient, dedicated down arrow key for that.
>>
>> Does anybody know what's going on here? I would really like to be able
>> to type a number using the embedded key pad without turning on the num lk
>> light. Any advice about fixes, alternate drivers, or who (e.g., HP,
>> Microsoft, other...) might ultimately be responsible for this bug would
>> be greatly appreciated.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Joe
>>
>
> I tried it on my Toshiba and it works the way you state. There are
> actually 2 symbols associated with each embedded key. In the regular mode,
> one function can be used by holding the Fn key and pressing that key. In
> the Numlock mode, the Fn key disables the number and gives the letter
> instead.
> Does your keyboard not have a row of numbers across the top? The embedded
> numbers pad if for people that enter numbers and are used to using a
> numeric pad. That's why there is a bump on the J key.
>

I don't think the bump on the 'J' key is anything to do with the embedded
numeric keypad (but it may be why the numeric keypad is at that position).
A bump on the 'F' and 'J' key is normal fitment on any alpha only keyboard.