USB Numeric Keypads & Numlock

I've just got a USB numeric keypad (ione Scorpius-K7) which is great, but when I turn on Numlock to use the numbers on the numpad, it also activates the numpad built onto my keyboard over uio, jkl etc.

Is there a way to have numlock on for my numeric keypad, but not for the keyboard? I'm using an Acer 1810TZ with Win 7.

 

In my experience, laptops with embedded numeric keypads (the 789-UIO-JKL stuff), activating Num Lock enables the keypad, but you have to hold Fn to actually use the numbers. Is that not the case with your 1810TZ?

 

It is not.

With numlock on, the embeded numeric keypad produces numbers.
With numlock on and Fn held down, it produces 789-UIO-JKL.

With numlock off, it produces 789-UIO-JKL
With numlock off and Fn held down, I get cursor keys, home, end, pgup, pgdn.

Is there perhaps some way to disable the embeded numeric keypad entirely, making it just act like a regular keyboard?

 

That seems rather backwards to me...is there an option in your BIOS that lets you control that? My old Dell laptop had a similar thing; the F1-F12 keys doubled as media controls (play, pause, stop, volume, disk eject, etc.), and by default they would do that job when pressed, and you had to hold the Fn key to make them work as F-keys. In the BIOS, however, you could reverse that, so they would be F-keys by default, and media controls with Fn held down. Perhaps your Acer has something similar?

 

I always thought USB Numeric Keypads will work as numeric instantly?? is it not?

 

I've checked the BIOS (InsydeH20 Setup Utility Rev 3.5) but there's nothing in there to change these settings. There's just some system info, boot, security and HDD options.

crayonyes: Note with this one (ione Scorpius-K7) - it even has a numlock key built in.

Thanks for the help so far - any more suggestions?

 

Might help to know which USB keypad.

I have a Logitech one - and I think it switches on Numlock for every key press and then switches it off again - at least it doesn't stay on.

(That's on Vista)

 

ione Scorpius-K7

 

I've just found that the packaging mentions 'Num Lock works independently with the host keyboard after installing the software' - but no software is provided, and I can't find any on google/manufacturer's website.

Emailed the manufacturer...

 

hope you get the software and that works things out for you

 

Just looked at the company website... its rather - ehm... simple.

Let's hope that e-mail yields results.
Its pretty much the only way of getting a driver that I can see.

 

Support responded within 24hrs and told me to google and download a program called 'Numlock Commander'. The progam looks okay, but won't install on 64-bit Windows 7! Tried compatability mode to no avail.

Emailed support again but not hopeful. Do you think I'll have better luck with a different make numpad?

 

Potentially.

Try Logitech - google them first to check for 64Bit support.

 

I had a Logitech wireless USB numeric keypad, which worked great until it was stolen, and presumably works great for whoever has it now.