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    Can I use AZERTY keyboard as QWERTY in Windows?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Starlight5, Dec 19, 2015.

  1. Starlight5

    Starlight5 Yes, I'm a cat. What else is there to say, really?

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    I'm looking for a replacement keyboard for my X220 tablet, and one with US layout costs 1.5x of French, which ain't cheap either. I don't care what is written on the keys because I don't look at keyboard when I type. Can I make French AZERTY keyboard work as a standard US QWERTY keyboard in Windows 10? How?
     
    Starlight5, Dec 19, 2015
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  2. John Ratsey

    John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator

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    Yes, just tell Windows it's a QWERTY keyboard - the keys function according to their physical location, not the lettering on the key. Try telling Windows that your current keyboard is AZERTY to see how this works.

    However, AZERTY might be the European keyboard with an extra key compared to the US layout and with various other layout changes (different sizes of Enter and Shift keys, for example). Can you find AZERTY with the same number of keys as the US QWERTY?

    John
     
    John Ratsey, Dec 19, 2015
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  3. kosti

    kosti Notebook Virtuoso

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    Yeah you can. Just make sure the layout you want is chosen in your OS.

    You can try it by selecting French for your keyboard layout and pressing the QWERTY buttons, AZERTY will appear on your screen.

    Try to find a UK keyboard if you can't find a US layout keyboard. What laptop is this for?

    EDIT: lol, posted same time as John
     
    kosti, Dec 19, 2015
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  4. KLF

    KLF NBR Super Modernator Super Moderator

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    Workaround would be setting the keyboard to UK english to match physical key layout of french kb.
     
    KLF, Dec 20, 2015
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  5. John Ratsey

    John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator

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    It will work, but is not ideal for a touch typist because some of the characters are in completely different places on the UK and US layouts eg £ is where # was, # moves to near the Enter key, \ also does a big jump, etc.

    John
     
    John Ratsey, Dec 20, 2015
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  6. KLF

    KLF NBR Super Modernator Super Moderator

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    Since the letters in the keys would not correspond to anything anyways, I believe the keyboard could be customized to resemble US layout as much as possible? Write the letters with permanent ink on the keys :)
     
    KLF, Dec 20, 2015
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  7. Starlight5

    Starlight5 Yes, I'm a cat. What else is there to say, really?

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    @John Ratsey @kosti @KLF thank you! I'll buy it, then. I'd rather remove the lettering completely, but guess I'm too lazy for that.
     
    Starlight5, Dec 20, 2015
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