PRB: Extended Keyboard Arrow Keys Do Not Work as Expected

ID: Q88292

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft FoxPro for MS-DOS, versions 2.0, 2.5, and 2.5a

SYMPTOMS

The free-standing arrow keys on an extended keyboard act the same as the arrow keys on the numeric keypad. For example, with NUM LOCK on, the arrow keys shade text and cause other strange effects. The only time the arrow keys behave as arrow keys is when NUM LOCK is off.

CAUSE

There are two reasons for this condition to occur:

• The computer was designed before the extended keyboard was standardized.
• The ROM BIOS is outdated.

RESOLUTION

To address this problem, do one of the following:

• Contact your hardware dealer or manufacturer to obtain an upgrade for the ROM BIOS.

  -or-

• Use the KEYBOARD command, provided by MS-DOS versions 3.3 and later. At the MS-DOS command prompt, specify the enhanced (/e) option as follows:

        keyb us,437,c:\dos\keyboard.sys /e
  

  On a PC/XT-compatible computer, the enhanced (/e) option often enables the extended keyboard to function as expected.

  For more information about the KEYBOARD command, see the MS-DOS "User's Guide."

Last Reviewed: April 17, 1995