# weird keyboard problem

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-keyboard-problem/197629>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 25, 2003, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-keyboard-problem/197629 "2003-08-25T23:45:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecd19e/32.png) [@Jojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jojo)\
**Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-keyboard-problem/197629/1 "2003-08-25T23:45:16Z")

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I recently reloaded windows 98 and since then the @ symbol and the " symbol seem to have changed places.

ie if I key Shift 2 I _should_ get the " symbol but instead I get the @ symbol

If I key Shift ’ I _should_ get the @ symbol but instead I get the " symbol

The two symbols have switched places. This doesn’t seem to happen with any other symbols.

Is this something I can fix or should I get a new keyboard (my current one is about 4 years old)? Will getting a new keyboard even fix the problem or is this a problem with the computer itself?

I’m flummoxed! Anyone have any ideas?

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**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\
**Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-keyboard-problem/197629/2 "2003-08-25T23:58:00Z")

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I’ve never seen a keyboard like yours. The default for US English keyboards is the default in windows 98 and shift ’ = " and shift 2 = @.

Try going to control panel \>\> keyboard and monkey around with the language settings.

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**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-keyboard-problem/197629/3 "2003-08-26T00:00:02Z")

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Works For Me. That’s the standard keyboard layout; mayhaps you’re wanting to install some international layout?

Try opening the Keyboard control in the Control Panel, and choosing something from the list. It might help if you said where you were, or at least what country you bought the keyboard in.

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**Author:** ![Jojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecd19e/32.png) [@Jojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jojo)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-keyboard-problem/197629/4 "2003-08-26T00:09:32Z")

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Ah I’m in the UK.

I think my keyboard was set for US defaults because I reloaded windows. I need to change it to British default.

Thanks for the help.