The Computer Oracle

Apostrophes and double quotes don't show up until I type the next letter

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Chapters
00:00 Question
00:41 Accepted answer (Score 69)
01:56 Answer 2 (Score 262)
02:34 Answer 3 (Score 18)
02:59 Answer 4 (Score 11)
03:52 Thank you

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Full question
https://superuser.com/questions/122625/a...

Question links:
[dumb/typewriter quote]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quotation_m...

Accepted answer links:
https://superuser.com/a/343483
[Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator]: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download...

Answer 2 links:
[control intl.cpl]: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/192806
[control international]: http://www.computerhope.com/control.htm

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Tags
#windows #windowsxp #keyboard

#avk47


ACCEPTED ANSWER

Score 71


Edit: since people are complaining that this answer does only answer the "Why" question, and does not provide a solution to the problem (which wasn't the question asked by the OP), please find the solution to the problem in the next answer https://superuser.com/a/343483

This is because you have a keyboard where ' ~ " are set to be a dead-key.

The behaviour of a dead key is ... well... to be dead! So no reaction when you press it.

A dead key is gonna be waiting for the next key to be pressed, to alter what that key is gonna print. For example ' + a might produce รก if the quote key is configured as a dead key.

Usually, when a keystroke has no meaning after a dead key, it defaults to printing the character of the dead key, followed by the new character that has been typed.

So you can follow advice of other posters on how to change your keyboard (look at which KB you have configured). You can also get the Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator to map a new keyboard and see how you can program dead keys.

Update: with the keyboard editor, you can also load the current keyboard and modify the dead key setting



ANSWER 2

Score 19


I checked my settings and they are set to English/US but the problem persisted. Then after closing the dialogue an icon appeared on the task bar allowing me to change from EN/International keyboard to EN/US Keyboard - Problem fixed!



ANSWER 3

Score 12


The problems lies in the Input Language. To change between Input Languages, press Left Alt+Shift. This should solve your problem. If this doesn't work, do it this way:

  1. Search for Language in the Start menu
  2. Click Change keyboards or other input methods
  3. Click the Keyboards and Languages tab
  4. Click Change Keyboards...
  5. Click the Advanced Key Settings tab
  6. Click Change Key Sequence
  7. Assign a shortcut to Switch Input Language


ANSWER 4

Score 8


Check your keyboard settings in Region/Language. If it is set to non-English/US it may be expecting accented characters, formed by pressing the accent (', ", ^, etc) and then a character.