Fucking retarded Dell computer problem

Thanatos

So, my roommate bought a new Dell laptop (Inspiron 1545), that apparently doesn't come with their weird-ass number-lock thing that lets you use several letters on the keyboard as a number pad. So, you can't do unicode with the keyboard. There are apparently a couple of other Dell models that do let you do this. If I download the keyboard driver for one of the other models that does let you do that, will that fix the problem, or just break the computer (I'm betting on the latter)?

Is there any other way to work around this other than buying an external number pad (which he refuses to do)?

exoplasm

You mean there is no numlock?

Sounds like you're screwed for making ASCII art, man.

Thanatos

exoplasm wrote: »

You mean there is no numlock?

Sounds like you're screwed for making ASCII art, man.

That's correct, there's no numlock.

Is there no software for enabling that functionality?

tofu

I don't think so, you'll have to buy an external keyboard.

ZackSchilling

KeyTweak?
http://webpages.charter.net/krumsick/

I don't know, I've never used it, but you could create a remapping that simulates this functionality. I don't know how easy it is to swap remaps or turn them on and off. If you could map THAT to a key, then you'd be all set.

Malkor

There's no 'num lk' button bwtween 'F12' and 'Prnt Scrn'?


That is retarded.

I have a 1520.

Thanatos

Malkor wrote: »

There's no 'num lk' button bwtween 'F12' and 'Prnt Scrn'?


That is retarded.

I have a 1520.

Yes, it is, in fact, retarded. Dell tech support has basically told him that it's on all of their other models, but not this one, for reasons unknown. I can't picture it adding a huge expense to the laptop.

ecco the dolphin

Is the main problem that he can't enter Unicode and needs to, or that he needs the numpad (and that Unicode is just an example of something that he can't do)?

If it's entering Unicode, there are at least two solutions which might work:

1.) Using a Unicode IME - shown here.

or, also mentioned in that blog post:

2.) If he's typing Unicode in Word or Wordpad (and maybe some other apps - I just tried in Opera, oddly enough, it works there too), type in the Unicode number into the document and then push "Alt-X" to have it convert the number to its equivalent Unicode character. So, for example, to generate the character 'A', type 41 into the document and then push Alt-X.

underdonk

External keyboard, FTW.

Also, pics or it didn't happen.

MagicPrime

The functionality has to be buried in there somewhere, right? Its a fucking numlock.

underdonk

MagicPrime wrote: »

The functionality has to be buried in there somewhere, right? Its a fucking numlock.

My thoughts exactly. Can't ever remember seeing a (modern) keyboard without numlock.

wunderbar

even my $350 netbook has fucking numlock. That's stupid.