How to keep numeric keypad constantly locked/engaged

I am on an Acer Aspire V Nitro, running Windows 10 (with latest updates) and am experiencing an issue with the numerical keypad that is extremely tiring.

The problem is, that every time the laptop goes into idle mode (lock screen) or is being turned off and then on again, the numerical keypad has to be locked/engaged again. This is done by pressing the "NumLock" key on the numerical keypad but due to using the lock screen feature on a regular basis for security, this is becoming a nuisance of higher dimensions.

Before the Acer I had an Asus laptop and the same happened back then, running Windows 8. When I complained about this in the shop, they employee stated (probably having limited knowledge) that this was "normal". Back then, I found out, that the settings for the numerical keypad to be locked or not locked could be tweaked in the Windows registry by changing that setting from 0 to 1. However, that didn't work back then with the Asus after all and thus, I am turning to this forum for help (I haven't tried the same with the Acer but it's still a Windows-setting and it would surprise me, if the outcome would be different from what it was on the Asus).

As a side note, I remember that when I still had a desktop computer, running Windows 7, that the numerical keypad could be pressed (the key physically that is) after which the NumberLock would just stay that way. Either on or off, whatever you liked.

So, the question is basically..., how do I get it the numerical keypad to do the same on my Acer/Windows 10?

Any input is greatly appreciated and welcome, no matter how big or small.

Thanks in advance.

 

Is there an option in the BIOS that says something to the effect of "Numlock boot state?"

If so, try setting that to enabled.

 

How to enable Num Lock automatically in Windows 10

No matter what value is set in the computer BIOS, num lock will not be enabled automatically on the logon screen. If you have a number in your password or use a PIN to login to your account, having to press the Num Lock key every time you want to logon is annoying.

To enable the Num Lock automatically everytime you reboot do the following:

1) Press the Windows + R key to launch the Run Dialogue Box

2) Type regedit then press ENTER

3) Navigate to the following key:

Code:

HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Keyboard

4) Edit the value of InitialKeyboardIndicators and set it to a value of 2.

 

I have a Nitro myself. There's no BIOS setting and editing the regkeys usually only work for a bit - I think it'll survive a reboot but not sleep mode.

Eventually I figured out that the problem is caused by the Acer utilities - Launch Control IIRC. If you can live without them, just uninstall it. Never bothered installing any of the utils on my latest reinstall and the only time my numpad has shut off is when I miss the backspace key and accidentially hit the numlock instead

 

Thanks for your reply. I am not aware of that as I usually never had to fool around with the BIOS. As far as I remember, this Acer laptop uses UEFI and doesn't have a BIOS. But on the other hand, there is nothing that suggests it wouldn't be available in UEFI as well.

I'll try to have a look if anything else fails.

Thanks again.

Thanks also here for your input.

This is what I was talking about in my initial post. I used this on my ASUS ealier but it didn't work. I could try again but there is just one minor issue with that.

The InitialKeyboardIndicators is set to eight random numbers, not 1 or 2. I am not sure if you are maybe thinking about the "Standard" key instead of which is right above the InitialKeyboardIndicators as that one just states (value is not defined).

Did you mean that one instead?

Hi and thanks to you, too!

Now this sounds interesting! When you say "Acer utilities - Launch Control IIRC" is that only a part of the Acer utilities that come preinstalled with the laptop?

I am asking this as I am using something called "Acer Care Center" which is needed in order to keep the firmware for drivers such as touchpad, chipset, audio etc. up-to-date, used to clean disk, for recovery management, control of battery, WLAN/LAN status and so on and so forth. But I have never heard or seen the one you mentioned here before.

Looking forward to your reply.

 

I know it's only a single digit number in this case the value of 2 in this worked for me

 

Launch Control is/was a service part of Care Centre - at least I think that's how it worked. Had a quick look at Acer's site and there are 2 utilities available: care centre and power management. The Care Centre is pretty much useless for my needs (my Nitro is the 592g and hasn't seen a meaningful driver update in a year). Windows internal power management works well enough that I don't need a 3rd party util for the same reason.
Both the utils can be downloaded from the Acer site, so there is no harm in uninstalling them to see if it works for you. Honestly the only thing I'm possibly missing is the fan cleaning function - but I've also never heard if/how effective it is to begin with

 

Thanks for letting me know. I guess, it's not a huge problem as I can fairly quickly google the details on that setting in the registry. I'll have a look if the other options fail.

Thanks again though for your time and help. Greatly appreciated.

 

I agree to what you said about the lack of recent updates in terms of firmware etc. I am just not keen on losing something that I might need later and cannot get back. I am also thinking of the possibility of unexpected issues when trying to reinstall Acer Care Centre software. I had this type of problems previously and thus, am a bit reluctant to change what works.

However, I would be willing to give it a try but are you sure, that an uninstall of this software would help fix the issue with the numerical keypad lock that I was mentioning earlier?

I checked on my local Acer website for that software but wasn't able to find my laptop model in the list. I'll give it a try again with the exact serial-number within the next days.

Looking forward to your reply.

 

When I was troubleshooting un/installed Care Centre a few time. Never had an issue on that front.
My latest reinstall - using the stock MS iso - never had any of the Acer utilities installed. Like I first mentioned, the only time the number pad switched off was when I accidentally hit NumLock key.
One thing I should mention though, not having Care Centre may axe some of the Fn keys (Fn+F3 - airplane mode, Fn+F8 - mute, no longer work on my machine). I'll happily live with that miniscule issue just to keep my numpad on. Of course it's up to you to decide, but IIRC I've never had a problem uninstalling/reinstalling Care Centre so I can't see any downside to giving it a try

 

Well, I guess I could give it a try. Just a quick question...

Would you mind, posting the link to the Acer Care Centre software that you found on Acer's website? Just to be on the safe side, should I be getting tired of having lost functionality for other features such as the mute-button etc. and not be able to locate it again.

Thanks for your help.

 

https://www.acer.com/ac/en/GB/content/drivers

Just enter your model info and it'll show what's available

 

Great, thanks for the link. I'll give it a try in the nearest future.

 

Praise the Lord and Hallelujah! It works!!! I could kiss you right now (well, you know what I mean).

After uninstalling Acer Care Center, the "NumLock" key on the numeric keypad stays locked no matter what happens. Reboot, shutdown and turning on laptop again, sleepmode..., it remains locked. This is might seem like such a tiny thing but this is such a HUGE relieve!

Just wondering, how on earth did you figure out back then, that it was Acer Care Center that caused the problem?

 

Ah well, not entirely anyway.

When unlocking from Windows lock mode, it goes back to unlocked numerical keypad again. Don't know why there would be a difference for just that one case.

Any thoughts on this one...?

 

Figured this out this through Google-fu. Found some threads that mentioned that launch management (or something like that) was the problem. Disabling the service killed the rest of the Care Centre funtionality. Since I didn't use any of it, I just never bothered installing it again.

As far as windows lock… never use it, so I can't help you there

 

I have tried to read through your recent posts again to find out, what else could be causing the Windows Lock mode problem. While doing so, I noticed a few things that made me wonder. For instance, you mentioned that you - after removing Acer Launch Management (or Acer Care Centre in my case) - lost some functionality, such as the Airplane mode or Mute button shortcuts for the relevant function keys. After I removed Acer Care Centre on my laptop I haven't lost that functionality which in term makes me wonder if there is still some service or software by Acer that the uninstall missed. I also uninstalled Acer Power Management as you did, but I still have something on my machine called "Acer Quick Access" which basically is there to provide a "Bluelight Shield" and then some Bluetooth and WLAN connectivity. I don't know if there could be something build into that software which still would be able to mess with the Windows Lock mode settings for the numerical keypad.

You also mentioned something about a service for Launch Management if I recall that correctly but I cannot find that one under the Windows Services. Did you disable something here I should have done as well?

There is something else I wanted to ask you about. For about 6-9 months I'd say (maybe a bit more) and after a certain Windows 10 update, from time to time I have my Acer Aspire Nitro's processor working extremely hard with the fan blowing loudly. This usually happens at random intervals but in particular when using websites with a lot of video content, advertisement gizmos or other animated heavy media content. But recently, that also happens when I visit yahoo's website and sometimes, just while the laptop is standing next to me on my bedside table in Windows Lock Mode or similar. Sometimes - for instance just like now while I write on this forum - it is completely quiet for a long time and doesn't use processor nor fan (which makes sense) just to start all over again on other occasions and websites or usage. I have read reports from users on Microsoft forums and other numerous similar private tech forums, that decribed this very same issue which apparently was related to the "Windows 10/Windows Modules Installer" and some update. In a local forum I found a thread of someone who had this issue with Windows 8 back in 2016 and who was advised to visit the following link...

http://www.tweaking.com/content/page/windows_repair_all_in_one.html

...from which he was to download the application "Portable - Direct Download", to make a backup of registry and recovery point first and then to run a complete Windows Repair with that tool. I haven't tried that yet but was considering. Usually, the latest heavy processor load is shown for Google Chrome, hovering at around 30-35% but the Windows Modules Installer hasn't done that for some time now (as far as I can tell).

Can you recognize any of these issues I described here on your own Acer Aspire Nitro? Do you know of a solution to this behavior?

 

I don't have anything Acer on my machine - other than drivers.
My last install was done with a clean MS iso, and I never bothered to any of the Acer utilities.
I imagine if you unstalled all of it on your machine (using geek uninstaller or such) you should end up with the same result.

As for your other questions… hasn't happened on my machine, so I really can't help. MAybe something to look into is a doing clean install sometime after the fall update

 

I see. Unfortunately, I am unable to do a fully clean install of MS iso because I for one do not have the Windows 10 software (Windows 8 was preinstalled on this laptop which I then upgraded) and for the other because I am unable to do a reinstall since I am having some professional version of developer software on this laptop that I am no longer eligible for and don't want to lose.

You mentioned "Geek Uninstaller" and I had a look at that one. Are there any risks in using this software?

And what do you think about the Windows Repair Free/Pro that I linked to in my last post? Do you by any chance know if that could be recommended?

 

Check out the install guides @Phoenix has done. That'll tell how to get an ISO - better yet check out his bloatware free edition. Not sure of a workaround for your pro software though
Risks for using GU… you may get genital warts, but nothing serious

Never heard of the program you linked. Maybe somebody with more knowledge can toss an opinion - @Phoenix Any thoughts?

 

Just format and reinstall the same edition you had without entering any product key when prompted. Windows will be activated after a few mins of going online since it was activated before. you won't lose your license or activation.

 

I'm not keen on getting any STDs but I'll take a risk with your software...

Thanks for the info on where to find the install guides from @Phoenix and the ISO, but there is still the issue of losing my Pro Developer Tools if I format and reinstall again.

If anybody could still throw in their fifty cents about Windows Repair Free/Pro at some point though, that would be swell. Thanks in advance.

Thanks for letting me know about this. That knowledge could be coming in handy in the future no matter what!

The only issue here is - as mentioned in my last post to Token CDN - that I am having some Pro Developer Tools on my current Windows 10 and don't want to lose them. Thus, I guess I'll settle with some alternative and will try out the two programs for maintenance that I mentioned earlier to see, if that will yield the desired results for the NumLock issue and the processor working heavy from time to time.

But thanks for letting me know about the activation process if needed sometime.