set system keyboard to dvorak

[ratman]

Hello sevenforums,

I use a dvorak keyboard (it is great and everyone should learn it) as my only keyboard on my computer. The actual physical keyboard is a qwerty, and i have changed it to a dvorak through the keyboards and languages section. I am the only person to use my computer, and therefore there is only one account on it.

My dilemma is that the password screen for the account still remains in qwerty, and i can't find out how to change the keyboard system-wide. I know there is a help link under change keyboards that tells you to click on the language button on the welcome screen, but i would like the default to be dvorak.

If any of you use Ubuntu, you can do this with 'apply system wide' and through the terminal, but I was wondering if there is a Windows alternative to this.

Thanks,
Ratman

 

[gomzi]

Hello Ratman,
This would be my very first reply to any of the "sevenformus" posts.

I just found out how to set your onscreen keyboard layout to DVORAK.

Steps are as follows :
1.Click on Start, control panel, "Region and Language".
2. After that, click on the "keyboards and languages" tab.
3. Then, click on the "Change keyboards" button.
4. If you have already added a DVORAK keyboard layout in the installed services field(Where you actually add a keyboard layout), then you need to simply select "United States-DVORAK" as the "default input languages" in the same page.

And, here you are.
You can now enjoy the DVORAK onscreen keyboard layout in your computer.

 

[ratman]

already done

hello gomzi

thank you for that, although i have already done what you said. It didn't change the welcome screen's layout though.

 

[gomzi]

Hey Ratman,
I found some registry keys modification which can help you with the same.
Try it and let me know the result.

HKEY_USERS\.Default\Keyboard Layout\Preload

Whatever the named value "1" is set to will be the keyboard layout present when you login. By default on my computer this is the standard English keyboard (#00000409). By setting this value to Dvorak (#00010409), the dvorak keyboard will now be used when do a fresh login. You can find the keyboard layout code you are using by looking under the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Keyboard Layout\Preload and Substitutes keys.

Let us hope it works!!!

 

[ratman]

Thanks gomzi! That worked like a charm. But, i was wondering how did you know that dvorak was number 00010409?

 

[ratman]

actually, doesn't matter. I found the codes.

 

[gomzi]

I just googled down the codes..Thanks for sharing the result..

 

[dsprung]

Thank you for this information. I was beginning to think that I was the only nutcase in the world who uses the Dvorak keyboard. Every time I upgrade to a new computer and/or a new OS I am nervous about being able to get the Dvorak keyboard going, so I am relieved that on my new machine which arrives either Monday or Tuesday I will be able get my beloved Dvorak going. Thanks again!!

 

[n2ueg]

For new PC's and servers upgrades and installs, during the initial setup process, setup will ask you what keyboard/language/time zone you want to use. The keyboard option set at this screen is the one that is in use at login. On all my personal machines I set it to dvorak during the install process. So if you just unboxed your computer or are installing Windows, just specify it there and save the hassle of going into regedit. From the looks of it, the instructions left above should work on all 3 of the OS I have installed here (XP, Win7, Server2k3 and I'll try it out as well on Server2k8 this weekend when I upgrade my lab at home.