Keyboard layout problem

Hi,

I have a problem with keyboard layouts on a Windows Server 2003 with SP2
(all updates installed). Regardless of which keyboard layout a user
selects, either on the server console or in a terminal session on the
server, it is still the US English keyboard layout when typing on the
keyboard.

The keyboard layout indicator in the system tray shows that the user has
changed layouts, it for example switches between EN, SV, DA if the user
has these layouts installed and swithes between them with Alt+Shift, but
still the US English layout when typing.

I even tried to install MS Keyboad Layout creator and create a new
keyboard layout. Everything fine, no errors or warnings, but still after
installing the new layout and selecting it, it is still the US English
layout. An interesting thing maybe is that if I on this machine try to
import an existing keyboard layout into MSKLC it always gives me the US
English layout, regardless of which layout I select in the list of
installed layouts. That happens even if I import keyboard layouts I have
created myself.

If I open the source file for the layout it is correct however. If I
have opened a MSKLC source file I can test the keyboad layout in the
test dialog within the program and the keyboard layout works as expected
there, but not when I actually install it in Windows.

I am a little lost about what to do here actually, anyone have any idea
about what could have gone wrong on this server?


--
Olof Lagerkvist
ICQ: 724451
Web: http://here.is/olof

"Olof Lagerkvist" wrote:
| Hi,
|
| I have a problem with keyboard layouts on a Windows Server 2003 with SP2
| (all updates installed). Regardless of which keyboard layout a user
| selects, either on the server console or in a terminal session on the
| server, it is still the US English keyboard layout when typing on the
| keyboard.

Do you use the built-in Language bar or a third party application to change
the layouts? I use the built-in and it usualy works, and eventually stops
working from time to time. But even then I can always use the alternative
ALT+SHIFT+1,2,3 to change the layout.

| The keyboard layout indicator in the system tray shows that the user has
| changed layouts, it for example switches between EN, SV, DA if the user
| has these layouts installed and swithes between them with Alt+Shift, but
| still the US English layout when typing.

This looks strange, can you try to remove all layouts and reinstall them
again?
Also please note that for instance I can select English UK input language,
but assign the German Keyboard layout/IME to it, so that it will display EN,
but work like a German keyboard layout.
I use this config because I mostly use English and Bulgarian layouts (I
change it with CTRL+SHIFT). But when I am on English layoyt, I can press
ALT+SHIFT (change between english layouts) where in my case my secondary
English layout is defacto German.
That way I do not have to cycle through German layout every time I change
EN-BG.

| I even tried to install MS Keyboad Layout creator and create a new
| keyboard layout. Everything fine, no errors or warnings, but still after
| installing the new layout and selecting it, it is still the US English
| layout. An interesting thing maybe is that if I on this machine try to
| import an existing keyboard layout into MSKLC it always gives me the US
| English layout, regardless of which layout I select in the list of
| installed layouts. That happens even if I import keyboard layouts I have
| created myself.

Where can I get the MS keyboard Layout creator from?

| If I open the source file for the layout it is correct however. If I
| have opened a MSKLC source file I can test the keyboad layout in the
| test dialog within the program and the keyboard layout works as expected
| there, but not when I actually install it in Windows.
|
| I am a little lost about what to do here actually, anyone have any idea
| about what could have gone wrong on this server?

As a backup variant: Try setting ALT+SHIFT+1=EN; ALT+SHIFT+2=SV;
ALT+SHIFT+3=DA...
Sometimes on my computer the main switch (you use ALT+SHIFT and I use
CTRL+SHIFT) will stop working, but the alternative keyboard layout change
shortcuts: ALT+SHIFT+(1,2,3) always work for me.

When such a problems occures, I must go to:
Regional and Language Options >> Languages >> [Details] >> Advanced, then
Turn off advanced text services, and then turn back on. -- In order to make
the main swith work again.

Another problem is that sometimes I press CTRL+SHIFT but it won't change the
layout and I have to press it again, until it finally changes the layout.
Microsoft should really redesign the keyboard input change shortcut
handling! The current one is very problematic.

Another bug in the "Language Bar" (if minimized to task-bar) is only when I
logon to the terminal server on Windows 2003 SP2 Enterprise, there will be 2
language bars:
one is called "Language Bar" - this is the one that works.
the other is called "The Language Bar" - this one empty and only takes space
and couses other problems.

"George Valkov" <> wrote in message
news:...
> "Olof Lagerkvist" wrote:
> | Hi,
> |
> | I have a problem with keyboard layouts on a Windows Server 2003 with SP2
> | (all updates installed). Regardless of which keyboard layout a user
> | selects, either on the server console or in a terminal session on the
> | server, it is still the US English keyboard layout when typing on the
> | keyboard.
>
> Do you use the built-in Language bar or a third party application to
> change
> the layouts? I use the built-in and it usualy works, and eventually stops
> working from time to time. But even then I can always use the alternative
> ALT+SHIFT+1,2,3 to change the layout.

I can use the built-in stuff without problems consistently. Mostly I use
my (built-in but custom configured) hotkeys for each language however.


--
Herb Martin, MCSE, MVP
http://www.LearnQuick.Com
(phone on web site)

> | The keyboard layout indicator in the system tray shows that the user has
> | changed layouts, it for example switches between EN, SV, DA if the user
> | has these layouts installed and swithes between them with Alt+Shift, but
> | still the US English layout when typing.
>
> This looks strange, can you try to remove all layouts and reinstall them
> again?
> Also please note that for instance I can select English UK input language,
> but assign the German Keyboard layout/IME to it, so that it will display
> EN,
> but work like a German keyboard layout.
> I use this config because I mostly use English and Bulgarian layouts (I
> change it with CTRL+SHIFT). But when I am on English layoyt, I can press
> ALT+SHIFT (change between english layouts) where in my case my secondary
> English layout is defacto German.
> That way I do not have to cycle through German layout every time I change
> EN-BG.
>
> | I even tried to install MS Keyboad Layout creator and create a new
> | keyboard layout. Everything fine, no errors or warnings, but still after
> | installing the new layout and selecting it, it is still the US English
> | layout. An interesting thing maybe is that if I on this machine try to
> | import an existing keyboard layout into MSKLC it always gives me the US
> | English layout, regardless of which layout I select in the list of
> | installed layouts. That happens even if I import keyboard layouts I have
> | created myself.
>
> Where can I get the MS keyboard Layout creator from?
>
> | If I open the source file for the layout it is correct however. If I
> | have opened a MSKLC source file I can test the keyboad layout in the
> | test dialog within the program and the keyboard layout works as expected
> | there, but not when I actually install it in Windows.
> |
> | I am a little lost about what to do here actually, anyone have any idea
> | about what could have gone wrong on this server?
>
> As a backup variant: Try setting ALT+SHIFT+1=EN; ALT+SHIFT+2=SV;
> ALT+SHIFT+3=DA...
> Sometimes on my computer the main switch (you use ALT+SHIFT and I use
> CTRL+SHIFT) will stop working, but the alternative keyboard layout change
> shortcuts: ALT+SHIFT+(1,2,3) always work for me.
>
> When such a problems occures, I must go to:
> Regional and Language Options >> Languages >> [Details] >> Advanced, then
> Turn off advanced text services, and then turn back on. -- In order to
> make
> the main swith work again.
>
> Another problem is that sometimes I press CTRL+SHIFT but it won't change
> the
> layout and I have to press it again, until it finally changes the layout.
> Microsoft should really redesign the keyboard input change shortcut
> handling! The current one is very problematic.
>
> Another bug in the "Language Bar" (if minimized to task-bar) is only when
> I
> logon to the terminal server on Windows 2003 SP2 Enterprise, there will be
> 2
> language bars:
> one is called "Language Bar" - this is the one that works.
> the other is called "The Language Bar" - this one empty and only takes
> space
> and couses other problems.
>
>

George Valkov wrote:

> "Olof Lagerkvist" wrote:
> | Hi,
> |
> | I have a problem with keyboard layouts on a Windows Server 2003 with SP2
> | (all updates installed). Regardless of which keyboard layout a user
> | selects, either on the server console or in a terminal session on the
> | server, it is still the US English keyboard layout when typing on the
> | keyboard.
>
> Do you use the built-in Language bar or a third party application to change
> the layouts?


The built-in language bar and selecting directly in Control Panel.

> I use the built-in and it usualy works, and eventually stops
> working from time to time. But even then I can always use the alternative
> ALT+SHIFT+1,2,3 to change the layout.


Yes, but in this case no matter which method I use for changing between
layouts, it does not change anything when I type.

> | The keyboard layout indicator in the system tray shows that the user has
> | changed layouts, it for example switches between EN, SV, DA if the user
> | has these layouts installed and swithes between them with Alt+Shift, but
> | still the US English layout when typing.
>
> This looks strange, can you try to remove all layouts and reinstall them
> again?


I have tried that. Still no change. Even if I remove the US English
layout and only keep, say, a Swedish layout, the problem still persists,
only US English layout keys when I type.

> Also please note that for instance I can select English UK input language,
> but assign the German Keyboard layout/IME to it, so that it will display EN,
> but work like a German keyboard layout.


Yes, in my case it does not matter which IME I assign it either.

> | I even tried to install MS Keyboad Layout creator and create a new
> | keyboard layout. Everything fine, no errors or warnings, but still after
> | installing the new layout and selecting it, it is still the US English
> | layout. An interesting thing maybe is that if I on this machine try to
> | import an existing keyboard layout into MSKLC it always gives me the US
> | English layout, regardless of which layout I select in the list of
> | installed layouts. That happens even if I import keyboard layouts I have
> | created myself.
>
> Where can I get the MS keyboard Layout creator from?


http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...a-e17e51db2223

> | If I open the source file for the layout it is correct however. If I
> | have opened a MSKLC source file I can test the keyboad layout in the
> | test dialog within the program and the keyboard layout works as expected
> | there, but not when I actually install it in Windows.
> |
> | I am a little lost about what to do here actually, anyone have any idea
> | about what could have gone wrong on this server?
>
> As a backup variant: Try setting ALT+SHIFT+1=EN; ALT+SHIFT+2=SV;
> ALT+SHIFT+3=DA [...]


I know this, I have had such problems in the past and solved them but in
this case this does not matter. The language bar changes it's icon
correctly so I think it responds correctly. Any other method to change
keyboard layouts do not work either. It is not a user profile problem
either because all profiles have the same problem, even the logon screen
when server starts have this problem even if I set up in Control Panel
to use another keyboard layout/IME at system logon and even if I create
a new user profile that one gets the same problem too.

None of the kbd*.dll or input.dll files seem to be corrupt or anything.
I have compared them to a backup before this problem started and they
have not changed. As far as I can see no changes to anything
keyboard-related in registry either (I have checked
"HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboar d Layout" and
"HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboar d Layouts").

This is crazy. If reinstall is the only solution we will have several
weeks of work, maybe months, before everything is installed as it used
to be so that is practically not an option. *sigh*


--
Olof Lagerkvist
ICQ: 724451
Web: http://here.is/olof

"Olof Lagerkvist" wrote:
| George Valkov wrote:
|
| > "Olof Lagerkvist" wrote:
| > | Hi,
| > |
| > | I have a problem with keyboard layouts on a Windows Server 2003 with
SP2
| > | (all updates installed). Regardless of which keyboard layout a user
| > | selects, either on the server console or in a terminal session on the
| > | server, it is still the US English keyboard layout when typing on the
| > | keyboard.
| >
| > Do you use the built-in Language bar or a third party application to
change
| > the layouts?
|
|
| The built-in language bar and selecting directly in Control Panel.
|
| > I use the built-in and it usualy works, and eventually stops
| > working from time to time. But even then I can always use the
alternative
| > ALT+SHIFT+1,2,3 to change the layout.

[This is not your case, because ctfmon.exe is working properly on your
server, but just to add this information here]:
some applications like old versions of Sound Forge and Sony Vegas, when
executed cause ctfmon.exe (the user side of keyboard layout switching) to
stop working.

| Yes, but in this case no matter which method I use for changing between
| layouts, it does not change anything when I type.

From what I am learning examining the keyboard switching behaviour in
windows (note:I may not be accurate here) there seem to be three sides:
~ User side - this is ctfmon.exe - handles mouse and CTRL+SHIFT / ALT+SHIFT
commands and sends requests for the system to change the keyboard layout.
[from what I have read, this part is working properly on your srver]
~ System side - ALT+SHIFT+1,2,3 are caught here, probably is related to the
keyboard driver. [this one is probably working too]
~ There should be also a middle layer (call it translation layer) between
the keyboard driver and the applications. This layer should send the proper
char-codes to target use applications, depending on the pressed key and
current keyboard layout. [perhaps something is broken here]

From the general knowledge I have about filters (because I use directShow
filters, there are also other filters like ASPI CD layer, and so on)...
There are slots, where DLL libraries can register/unregister
(DllRegisterServer/DllUnregisterServer). And so if some library is not
registered, there will be missing functionality. Try "regsvr32.exe /?"

Let me give you an example:
rem windows will not be able to extract information and thumbnail preview
for AVI files (result: better speed and stability in explorer). RUN:
regsvr32.exe /u %windir%\system32\shmedia.dll

Now the opposite effect, the filter is registered, but the feature is not
working.
We believe we have A--filter1--B, but instead some third party, poor coded
filter2 got installed in the middle of the chain: A--filter1--filter2--B.
filter2 can cause delays, lock-ups, loss of functionality (particial or
full), instability and so on.

An example of such problem are most ASPI layers. GEARAspi that comes with
iTunes is one example of problematic filter that causes DVD burning problems
and delays reading the media. Unfortunately most DVD authoring software will
install some ASPI filter, instead of using the recommended built-in NT API.

....back to your problem:
Can you think of any software installed on the server that may have
registered a keyboard filter? Perhaps some tool that uses keyboard shortcuts
to run programs or anything else that may be using the keyboard and may
install filters, or interactive services? Some keyboards come with a special
driver and software. I prefer the default that comes with windows. Also, do
check for bad viruses and key loggers!



| > | The keyboard layout indicator in the system tray shows that the user
has
| > | changed layouts, it for example switches between EN, SV, DA if the
user
| > | has these layouts installed and swithes between them with Alt+Shift,
but
| > | still the US English layout when typing.

* this,

| >
| > This looks strange, can you try to remove all layouts and reinstall them
| > again?
|
|
| I have tried that. Still no change. Even if I remove the US English
| layout and only keep, say, a Swedish layout, the problem still persists,
| only US English layout keys when I type.

** this,

|
| > Also please note that for instance I can select English UK input
language,
| > but assign the German Keyboard layout/IME to it, so that it will display
EN,
| > but work like a German keyboard layout.
|
|
| Yes, in my case it does not matter which IME I assign it either.

*** and this
make me think about loss in functionality in the layer that I called
"translation layer". And It does not matter what map you assign, if there is
no translation layer to precess it, the keystrokes will be passed
unmodified.

|
| > | I even tried to install MS Keyboad Layout creator and create a new
| > | keyboard layout. Everything fine, no errors or warnings, but still
after
| > | installing the new layout and selecting it, it is still the US English
| > | layout. An interesting thing maybe is that if I on this machine try to
| > | import an existing keyboard layout into MSKLC it always gives me the
US
| > | English layout, regardless of which layout I select in the list of
| > | installed layouts. That happens even if I import keyboard layouts I
have
| > | created myself.
| >
| > Where can I get the MS keyboard Layout creator from?
|
|
|
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...a-e17e51db2223
|
| > | If I open the source file for the layout it is correct however. If I
| > | have opened a MSKLC source file I can test the keyboad layout in the
| > | test dialog within the program and the keyboard layout works as
expected
| > | there, but not when I actually install it in Windows.
| > |
| > | I am a little lost about what to do here actually, anyone have any
idea
| > | about what could have gone wrong on this server?
| >
| > As a backup variant: Try setting ALT+SHIFT+1=EN; ALT+SHIFT+2=SV;
| > ALT+SHIFT+3=DA [...]
|
|
| I know this, I have had such problems in the past and solved them but in
| this case this does not matter. The language bar changes it's icon
| correctly so I think it responds correctly. Any other method to change
| keyboard layouts do not work either. It is not a user profile problem
| either because all profiles have the same problem, even the logon screen
| when server starts have this problem even if I set up in Control Panel
| to use another keyboard layout/IME at system logon and even if I create
| a new user profile that one gets the same problem too.
|
| None of the kbd*.dll or input.dll files seem to be corrupt or anything.
| I have compared them to a backup before this problem started and they
| have not changed. As far as I can see no changes to anything
| keyboard-related in registry either (I have checked
| "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboar d Layout" and
| "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboar d Layouts").
This is probably where the keyboard maps are, but is not where filters and
COM servers are registered... Here is the big jungle ;-)
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID

| This is crazy. If reinstall is the only solution we will have several
| weeks of work, maybe months, before everything is installed as it used
| to be so that is practically not an option. *sigh*

Aua! I hope you have a fresh backup, the next time you definitely will :-)
.... I must confess that I do not backup my system frequently enough, despite
I have the storage place and it won't take more that 10 min main/ half an
hour full.
Shame on me! ;-)