keyboard gives me funny characters

DaveC426913

This happens occasionally. Never been able to figure out why or how to revert it.

It's often varying causes and effects but right now, when I am in Outlook Express on W7, if I press the ? key, I instead get a É.

I'm sure it's a keystroke combination that activates some obscure language setting such as a French kb, but I don't know how to revert it.

I've gone into Control Panel keyboard and checked to make sure that English US is the only thing listed. No joy.

AlephZero

On my (WinXP) system, "Keyboard" is about the hardware, not the software. Try
Control Panel
Regional and Language Options
Languages tab
Details button for Text services and input languages.

Mark44

Maybe Outlook Express is doing this. In the Tools menu, select Options, and then select the Read tab. In the lower pane, click International Settings. See if there's something amiss there.

DaveC426913

It probably is, as it does not occur in other apps, such as this one (eg.: ??????)

Alas, MS*, in its infinite wisdom has determined that, since this month has a vowel in it, it will completely re-do Outlook's interface. The is no Tools menu anymore. Apparently, their UX team has determined that users no longer want it.


*($*%@!!$%)

Mark44

What version of Outlook Express are you running, Dave? It might be that there is a setting somewhere that turns on or off the Tools menu.

DaveC426913

I found what passes for the Tools menu option.

No effect.

What did work was relaunching Outlook.

Routaran

This issue occurs when you have more than 1 language keyboard enabled. For example, English(canadian) selected as your language. There is a keyboard shortcut that will switch the keyboard type between english and french.

Hold Down Ctrl+Shift (in that order) and continue to hold for 5 seconds.
This will swap between the different types of keyboards
After 5 seconds, release the keys and restart your application.

You can also define the input language though the control panel>Regional & Language>Keyboard and Language
remove all but US English from the list and this will permanently resolve this issue.
BE CAREFUL when removing stuff.

I like Serena

Recommendation: remove all keyboards except US keyboard.
Another keyboard will always function the wrong way.

If you want you can keep more than one language for ease of the use of accents if you are into that.
You'll have to be careful though which one is active.

AlephZero

American cultural imperialism strikes again!

I like Serena

I should have said: "assuming you are from the US and have a US keyboard".
(Which I have, but I'm not from the US! )

Routaran

im not from the US either lol
but i figured its an ok assumption