JasonRiley

Q: Equals key on numeric keypad does not function in Windows 7

Has anyone experienced the equals (=) key on the numeric keypad nto functioning on Windows 7/BootCamp?

 

We have just installed 43 dual-boot iMacs. Keyboards are set in Windows Control Panel > BootCamp to use function keys as function keys. All keys on teh numeric keypads work fine, except the = key which does nto respond.

 

We're running Mac OS X Lion and Windows 7. Both OS's have teh latest software updates.

Posted on Jun 12, 2012 12:27 AM

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Q: Equals key on numeric keypad does not function in Windows 7

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  • by Fahrwahr,

    Fahrwahr Fahrwahr Apr 6, 2015 2:43 PM in response to JasonRiley
    Level 1 (37 points)
    Windows Software
    Apr 6, 2015 2:43 PM in response to JasonRiley

    I can't believe I've been using Windows 7 on an iMac for five or six years and never realized the equals key doesn't work until today.  It's really frustrating to be in Excel and unable to start a formula from the numeric keypad.  Has anyone figured out a way to activate this key?

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Apr 6, 2015 3:39 PM in response to Fahrwahr
    Level 7 (23,543 points)
    Safari
    Apr 6, 2015 3:39 PM in response to Fahrwahr

    What happens if you use Fn and = (The "=" is the key below F17 on the Apple Key USB keyboard - http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB110LL/B/apple-keyboard-with-numeric-keypad-e nglish-usa?fnode=56 ).

  • by Fahrwahr,

    Fahrwahr Fahrwahr Apr 7, 2015 3:51 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (37 points)
    Windows Software
    Apr 7, 2015 3:51 PM in response to Loner T

    I just tried the combination of fn + numeric keypad equal sign key, and it doesn't do anything.  I also went into the Boot Camp control panel and flipped the function keys back to their assigned functions (volume, brightness), and I got the same result.  The regular equal sign key (to the left of delete) works fine.  In Yosemite, both equal sign keys work correctly.  The numeric keypad equal sign key on my old Apple Pro Keyboard at home works fine in Windows 7, so it's something wrong with this particular keyboard.

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Apr 7, 2015 3:55 PM in response to Fahrwahr
    Level 7 (23,543 points)
    Safari
    Apr 7, 2015 3:55 PM in response to Fahrwahr

    As a test, enable on-screen keyboard, press each of the "=" keys on the keyboard (not on the on-screen keyboard) and check which symbol is generated by the "=" below F17.

  • by Fahrwahr,

    Fahrwahr Fahrwahr Apr 7, 2015 6:57 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (37 points)
    Windows Software
    Apr 7, 2015 6:57 PM in response to Loner T

    The Windows 7 on-screen keyboard doesn't visually show any keystrokes other than the modifier keys (e.g., shift).  This is true both on my office computer with the problematic keyboard and my home computer with an Apple Pro Keyboard (with a working numeric keypad equal sign key).

  • by Fahrwahr,

    Fahrwahr Fahrwahr Jul 7, 2016 1:38 PM in response to Fahrwahr
    Level 1 (37 points)
    Windows Software
    Jul 7, 2016 1:38 PM in response to Fahrwahr

    I don't know what happened, but now the numeric keypad equal sign is working in Windows 7.  I don't know if I was having the problem on my old office iMac (2007) and it's never been a problem on my new office iMac (2013, with a slightly updated version of the keyboard), or if it was a problem on the new iMac and was resolved at some point.

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Jul 7, 2016 7:48 PM in response to Fahrwahr
    Level 7 (23,543 points)
    Safari
    Jul 7, 2016 7:48 PM in response to Fahrwahr

    On a 'full' Apple USB keyboard, the Clear key changes the num-lock behavior.

     

    Please also see Re: Is there a Windows 10 driver for the Apple USB numeric keyboard?

  • by BigGee42,

    BigGee42 BigGee42 Jul 7, 2016 7:59 PM in response to JasonRiley
    Level 2 (253 points)
    Jul 7, 2016 7:59 PM in response to JasonRiley

    I use the Apple USB fullsize keyboard on a Windows 10 PC and the "=" doesn't work. I think it's a Windows thing, and nothing to do with Bootcamp.

     

    I have to use the "=" sign next to the backspace / delete key. No big deal.

     

    I'm guessing the ASCII code sent by the keyboard is not recognized by Windows as a standard function.

     

    You could spend time looking for something to get it working, but is it really worth it? It's one key and there is an alternative available without having to press Shift or Alt etc.

  • by Fahrwahr,

    Fahrwahr Fahrwahr Jul 7, 2016 8:49 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (37 points)
    Windows Software
    Jul 7, 2016 8:49 PM in response to Loner T

    When I had the issue of a non-working equal sign key, the rest of the keys on the numeric keypad worked, so I don't think the Clear key was a factor at the time.

  • by sbbr,

    sbbr sbbr Aug 30, 2016 3:41 PM in response to JasonRiley
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Aug 30, 2016 3:41 PM in response to JasonRiley

    Windows recognizes the (=) key on the mac numpad as the equivalent of the "Clear" key on a windows numberpad (while the mac "Clear" is recognized as NumLock.)  You can use Autohotkey (AHK) or something similar to remap the key to mirror the other (=) key.  The AHK code for the key is "NumpadClear."