The Hindu Business Line : Language and Keyboard Layout

For the past one month, my computer keyboard has been giving trouble. If I type @ symbol (shift 2) it shows " (double quotes) symbol. This is happening with Internet Explorer.

The second problem is, if I right-click My network places and select search, if I type \\hrd1, it appears as ##hrd1. Both the @ symbol and \\ symbol work fine in Word 2003. This trouble arises only with Internet Explorer and My Network Places. Is this a keyboard problem or are any system files corrupted? Please suggest a solution.

Saravana Kumar

More than one language for text input is installed in your computer.

Generally, the default language installed in computers is English (American) and the keyboard layout is US. It is possible to install more than one language and select the required keyboard layout for each language. Some of the keys change for each language and layout combination

The input language is language used to insert text. If more than one language is installed in the computer, then all the languages are loaded into memory when the computer is started. One language is made the default input language.

When multiple languages are installed, an icon is displayed in the task bar. When you click this icon, it lists the languages installed and the currently selected language is indicated with a tick mark. The language bar can be displayed on the desktop or taskbar. If you want to change to another language, please click the language bar and select the required one. The key sequence, Shift and Alt, will switch between the languages.

The procedure to install additional language and layout is follows. In Windows XP, click start, click settings. Open “Control Panel”. If you are in “category view” switch to “classic view”. Open “Regional and Language Options”. Click the languages tab. In the “Text services and input languages box”, click “Details” button. Under the settings tab, in the “Default input language” box, please select the language. Only the installed language is listed in this drop-down box. A new language can be added by clicking the Add button in the “Installed services” box. The display of the language bar is as per the selection available in “Regional and Language Options”, Details, “Language Bar” button in the Preferences box. The keyboard shortcut key to toggle between the languages can be set by clicking the “Key Settings” button in the same Preferences box.

In Vista, please Open the control panel. Open the “Regional and Language options”. There, go to the “Keyboards and Languages” tab. Click “Change Keyboards” button. Click “Add” button in Installed services. In the “Add input language” dialog box, select the keyboard layout and add from the list below.

To set a keyboard layout as default, select the required one from the dropdown list under “default input language” on general tab and Click ok to save changes.

In Word 2003, there is an option to select the language. In Tools menu, Language, Set Language will display the list of languages and also the default language.

To solve your keyboard problem, you can make English (US) the default language and US as the keyboard layout. Or you can also remove the other language

Solution by P. Natarajan

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