Environment
Microsoft Windows XP
Microsoft Windows 2000
Situation
In some host applications or at host logon, Reflection for IBM may cause the PC keyboard to freeze under Windows 2000. If you are experiencing this problem, this technical note explains the cause and provides steps for resolving the issue.
Resolution
Unfreezing the PC Keyboard in Windows 2000
If your keyboard freezes, you can unfreeze the PC keyboard by either rebooting your PC or re-initializing your keyboard. To re-initialize your keyboard, follow these steps:
- Click Start > Settings > Control Panel.
- Double-click Keyboard.
- Click the Input Locales tab, and click OK.
Changing the Reflection Settings
Once your keyboard is unfrozen, you must change the value of two Reflection for IBM settings: Host Numlock Control and Keyboard Error Reset.
Follow the steps below to change the value of Host Numlock Control:
- Start Reflection for IBM. Click Setup > View Settings.
- Scroll and select the Reflection setting Host Numlock Control.
- In the Setting details group box, select No as the value.
- Click OK.
To change the value for the Keyboard Error Reset setting, follow these steps:
- Click Setup > View Settings.
- Scroll and select the Reflection setting Keyboard Error Reset.
- In the Setting details group box, select the value Auto Reset No Message.
- Click OK.
- Save your Reflection for IBM settings by clicking File > Save.
Cause
In Windows 2000, if a key is typed while the state of the Windows Num Lock is being updated, non-USB keyboard drivers may stop responding. The problem is due to a bug in Windows 2000 when using non-USB keyboards that can cause the keyboard driver to stop responding to the keyboard. Microsoft has fixed the issue in Windows XP.
When Host NumLock Control is set to Yes (the default is No), the host controls your keyboard Num Lock setting according to the cursor position and field type. When you move the cursor into a numeric field, Reflection for IBM turns on Num Lock. When you move the cursor into a non-numeric field or a protected area, Reflection for IBM turns off Num Lock. The PC keyboard can hang if you rapidly use tab and cursor-down or cursor-up to move between numeric and non-numeric fields. It is a common occurrence to type these keystrokes in rapid succession, thus triggering the problem.