Problems With Computer Keyboard (Full Size

[chokkie]

Hi techie Abers out there. All of a sudden I've got a problem with the computer keyboard.

Firstly, the English pound sign has completely disappeared. Then when I press the shift key needing an ampersand, I get quotation marks. And vice versa. And when I press the shift key needing quotation marks, I get an ampersand. Get my drift? Thought it might be because it's suddenly switched to an USA keyboard, but it didn't work. Have unplugged my wired keyboard from the system and tried another wired keyboard, but same thing. Can anyone help, please? I suspect that I might have accidentally pressed a key somewhere recently, but have had some automatic updates very recently, so perhaps that's the answer? Hope someone can help, cheers, TIA, Chox.

[Togo]

Try pressing the windows key and space bar together.

[chokkie]

Thanks, tried that, get a little mini window with US keyboard at the top and UK keyboard at the bottom, but it just flickers and I can't do anything to change it to UK keyboard. Any other ideas?

[Buenchico]

As Togo indicates, if you hold the Windows key down and then keep hitting the space bar you'll cycle through all of the available keyboard options. Keep going through it until you find the British one. (It's actually quite easy to accidentally get those keys pressed down together - especially if you've got a cat! - which can sometimes account for an unexpected change in your keyboard layout).

[Buenchico]

Crossed posts but, from what I've just read, you might need to press the space key one more time.

[Old_Geezer]

Can't one just delete the US option ? It's not like anyone ever needs it.

[Buenchico]

>>> Can't one just delete the US option ?

Yes, that should be possible. Indeed, it was exactly what I suggested here:
https://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Technology/Computers/Question1608349.html

[chokkie]

Just tried pressing the space bar again, but i'm still getting the US version. Should the blue or the black be on UK keyboard?

[Buenchico]

The current keyboard should be shown in blue.

[chokkie]

Dear All, many thanks for your help with my little keyboard problem yesterday - thanks to you all I eventually managed to get the keyboard properties back to the UK version - and I've got my "£" sign back!. Phew, phew and more phew! Appreciate your help. Cheers again, Chox.

[Gromit]

It would be good to hear how you resolved the problem, if other people search for an answer if the keyboard goes wonky for them.
Please post how you mended it yourself.