Special characters using Alt+ on number pad

I frequently use Alt+ numercal keys on the "grey pad" for typing
special characters in programs like Word, Notepad, Wordpad, etc, as
also occasionally on the Internet while posting messages like this
one. E.g., Alt+0147 for the "curved" left double quotation mark.
Suddenly, it is no longer working! For Alt+147, for example, I get /,
the same as for Alt+147 (without the 0 prefix). The "0" key on the
grey pad seems to be working OK because I get 0 typed on hitting it.
Also I can insert the special characters in Word by typing the
corresponding (Unicode?) hexadecimal number, selecting it, and hitting
"Alt+X". This seems to work in this post also (Test 201C, "double left
quotation mark "). However, this method cannot be used in other
programs, like WordPerfect.

Can someone help me get the Alt+(numeral) method working again? Thanks
in advance .

On Nov 28, 5:16 pm, witan <tsr1...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I frequently use Alt+ numercal keys on the "grey pad" for typing
> special characters in programs like Word, Notepad, Wordpad, etc, as
[snip]

Correction: For Alt+0147, for example, I get /, the same as for Alt
+147 (without the 0 prefix). Sorry for the typo.

"witan" <tsr1936@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:385335d8-35a6-4f93-b9b6-c37598f215fc@a39g2000pre.googlegroups.com...
>I frequently use Alt+ numercal keys on the "grey pad" for typing
> special characters in programs like Word, Notepad, Wordpad, etc, as
> also occasionally on the Internet while posting messages like this
> one. E.g., Alt+0147 for the "curved" left double quotation mark.
> Suddenly, it is no longer working! For Alt+147, for example, I get /,
> the same as for Alt+147 (without the 0 prefix). The "0" key on the
> grey pad seems to be working OK because I get 0 typed on hitting it.
> Also I can insert the special characters in Word by typing the
> corresponding (Unicode?) hexadecimal number, selecting it, and hitting
> "Alt+X". This seems to work in this post also (Test 201C, "double left
> quotation mark "). However, this method cannot be used in other
> programs, like WordPerfect.
>
> Can someone help me get the Alt+(numeral) method working again? Thanks
> in advance .

Check if Alt+0 on your numeric keypad still works by typing these sequences:
Alt+065 (A)
Alt+066 (B)
Alt+067 (C)

On Nov 28, 7:11 pm, "Pegasus \(MVP\)" <I....@fly.com> wrote:
> "witan" <tsr1...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:385335d8-35a6-4f93-b9b6-c37598f215fc@a39g2000pre.googlegroups.com...
>
> >I frequently use Alt+ numercal keys on the "grey pad" for typing
> > special characters in programs like Word, Notepad, Wordpad, etc, as
> > also occasionally on the Internet while posting messages like this
> > one. E.g., Alt+0147 for the "curved" left double quotation mark.
> > Suddenly, it is no longer working! For Alt+147, for example, I get /,
> > the same as for Alt+147 (without the 0 prefix). The "0" key on the
> > grey pad seems to be working OK because I get 0 typed on hitting it.
> > Also I can insert the special characters in Word by typing the
> > corresponding (Unicode?) hexadecimal number, selecting it, and hitting
> > "Alt+X". This seems to work in this post also (Test 201C, "double left
> > quotation mark "). However, this method cannot be used in other
> > programs, like WordPerfect.
>
> > Can someone help me get the Alt+(numeral) method working again? Thanks
> > in advance .
>
> Check if Alt+0 on your numeric keypad still works by typing these sequences:
> Alt+065 (A)
> Alt+066 (B)
> Alt+067 (C)

Alt+065 gives A, but Alt+65 (which is the ASCII code for A) also gives
A. Similarly Alt+066 and Alt+66 both give B, Alt+067 and Alt+67 both
give C and so on. Alt+147 and Alt+0147 both give "/", as I mentioned
earlier. Alt+0148, which should give the "right double quotation mark"
gives "0", and so does Alt+148.

I am able to copy and paste characters from the Character Map, e.g. £
(pound sterling) but its code Alt+0163 doesn't work, giving instead
"?", same as Alt+163.

It is perplexing

On Nov 28, 7:11 pm, "Pegasus \(MVP\)" <I....@fly.com> wrote:
> "witan" <tsr1...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:385335d8-35a6-4f93-b9b6-c37598f215fc@a39g2000pre.googlegroups.com...
>
> >I frequently use Alt+ numercal keys on the "grey pad" for typing
> > special characters in programs like Word, Notepad, Wordpad, etc, as
> > also occasionally on the Internet while posting messages like this
> > one. E.g., Alt+0147 for the "curved" left double quotation mark.
> > Suddenly, it is no longer working! For Alt+147, for example, I get /,
> > the same as for Alt+147 (without the 0 prefix). The "0" key on the
> > grey pad seems to be working OK because I get 0 typed on hitting it.
> > Also I can insert the special characters in Word by typing the
> > corresponding (Unicode?) hexadecimal number, selecting it, and hitting
> > "Alt+X". This seems to work in this post also (Test 201C, "double left
> > quotation mark "). However, this method cannot be used in other
> > programs, like WordPerfect.
>
> > Can someone help me get the Alt+(numeral) method working again? Thanks
> > in advance .
>
> Check if Alt+0 on your numeric keypad still works by typing these sequences:
> Alt+065 (A)
> Alt+066 (B)
> Alt+067 (C)

Thanks for your suggestion.
Further to my post a few minutes back, I think I have located the
trouble: the key 1 in the number pad requires to be hit very hard. Its
contact inside the keyboard s probably dirty. I am trying to set it
right.

On Nov 28, 8:09 pm, witan <tsr1...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Nov 28, 7:11 pm, "Pegasus \(MVP\)" <I....@fly.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > "witan" <tsr1...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> >news:385335d8-35a6-4f93-b9b6-c37598f215fc@a39g2000pre.googlegroups.com...
>
> > >I frequently use Alt+ numercal keys on the "grey pad" for typing
> > > special characters in programs like Word, Notepad, Wordpad, etc, as
> > > also occasionally on the Internet while posting messages like this
> > > one. E.g., Alt+0147 for the "curved" left double quotation mark.
> > > Suddenly, it is no longer working! For Alt+147, for example, I get /,
> > > the same as for Alt+147 (without the 0 prefix). The "0" key on the
> > > grey pad seems to be working OK because I get 0 typed on hitting it.
> > > Also I can insert the special characters in Word by typing the
> > > corresponding (Unicode?) hexadecimal number, selecting it, and hitting
> > > "Alt+X". This seems to work in this post also (Test 201C, "double left
> > > quotation mark "). However, this method cannot be used in other
> > > programs, like WordPerfect.
>
> > > Can someone help me get the Alt+(numeral) method working again? Thanks
> > > in advance .
>
> > Check if Alt+0 on your numeric keypad still works by typing these sequences:
> > Alt+065 (A)
> > Alt+066 (B)
> > Alt+067 (C)
>
> Thanks for your suggestion.
> Further to my post a few minutes back, I think I have located the
> trouble: the key 1 in the number pad requires to be hit very hard. Its
> contact inside the keyboard s probably dirty. I am trying to set it
> right.

I have managed to put the key "1" back in working condition by
wiggling it a few times and by repeatedly tapping it fairly hard while
in a Notepad window. Hopefully, it will continue working.