All school computers have a built-in on-screen keyboard which can help users work around any missing keys.
The On-Screen Keyboard is usually found at Start > Programs > Accessibility > On-Screen Keyboard.
If you’re using it a lot, you can make it easier to find by dragging the On-Screen Keyboard to the Taskbar, next to the Start button, to create a shortcut.
This is very much a temporary work-around. Any laptops with missing keys should be reported to the IT Helpdesk for repair as soon as possible.
2 replies on “Working round missing keys with the On-Screen Keyboard”
Hi David,
Can one get this on a home computer? My letter B is playing hard to get.
Yes, it’s standard Windows functionality.
Alternatively, impress your friends with this geekery. You’ll need a keyboard with a keypad at the right, with Num Lock switched on (top left key).
– For “b”: hold down Alt while pressing 9 then 8
– For “B”: hold down Alt while pressing 6 then 6
These are known, not surprisingly, as Alt Key Codes, and are easily found on the web, example here: http://archive.tlt.psu.edu/suggestions/international/accents/codealt.html