Take Control Over Your Keyboard's Number Lock

Having a number lock turned off, or on, automatically can be a great time saver. It could also be a huge annoyance when the number lock is enabled on a laptop as normal lettered keys may function as numbers with the lock enabled.

To enable or disable the number lock setting for a keyboard during Windows logon, follow the steps below.

1) Go to Start, then Run and type: regedit
!!This will open up the Windows registry. Be VERY careful when editing as incorrect changes can damage your computer!!
2) Navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Control Panel \ Keyboard
3) Double click the InitalKeyboardIdicators option
4a) To enable the number lock on startup, enter the value data of 2
4b) To disable the number lock on startup, enter the valud data of 0
5) Click OK on the Edit String Window
6) Navigate to: HKEY_USERS \ .DEFAULT \ Control Panel \ Keyboard
7) Double click the InitalKeyboardIdicators option
8a) To enable the number lock on startup, enter the value data of 2
8b) To disable the number lock on startup, enter the valud data of 0
9) Click OK on the Edit String Window

You have now change the startup settings for the number lock on your keyboard. Once you restart your computer and log back in, the settings will be applied.

Fixing the Active Desktop Recovery Error

If you live/work in an area where the power just isn't too great, possibly gets knocked out by wind say 7 times in one day or even just every now and then, you probably have seen this error. The dreaded "Active Recovery Desktop" white background with a button that SAYS it will restore your Desktop back to normal.... but never works. This can be annoying as most people think there is something terribly wrong with their machine and they've lost everything. Turns out the background just goes away and you get the wonderful white screen with a big exclamation point on it. It's an easy fix, as long as you are comfortable editing the registry. And if you're still reading this I'm pretty sure you are. So here's the fix:

1) Open up the registry by running regedit from the run box

2) Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\SafeMode\Components

3) Change the value of the HTMLDesktopVersion from whatever it is currently set to to 0

4) Right click the Desktop and click Refresh

5) Your wallpaper and icons should now be back to normal