If your keyboard is not working, and its status is listed as “Code 39” in device manager, there is a good chance a simple registry edit can fix the issue. Here is what you need to do:
***UPDATE: I’ve created a REG file that when run should fix the problem. However, I’ve only tested the REG file on my computer and I cannot guarantee it will work for you. I would recommend you read the manual solution steps below and follow them if you feel comfortable. If not, or if the manual steps don’t solve your problem then try the automatic steps.
Automatic fix:
- Download this file [1]to your desktop.
- Close down all open programs.
- Double click the file “kb_code39_fix.reg” on your desktop. If you receive a security warning, go ahead and select the option to run.
- When asked if you are sure you want to add the information into the registry, click “Yes.”
- You will be notified that not all data was successfully written to the registry, this is OK.
- Restart your computer and your keyboard should work.
Manual fix:
Note: Obviously, you probably can’t type as instructed in some of the steps below. Try using your mouse to copy and paste what you need to type from this post to the field it needs to be typed into.
- Go to your Start menu and click “Run…”
- In the Run box that opens, type “regedit” and press Enter.
- In the new window that opens, click the “Edit” menu, then “Find.”
- In the find filed, type “kbdclass” and press enter.
- The registry editor will now search for any key that has “kbdclass” in it. What you are looking for is any that have a name of “UpperFilters” and a data of ” something_random_here kbdclass” You may need to go to “Edit,” “Find Next” if the search finds something else first.
- Once you find the key, double click on it, and edit the text so that it includes only “kbdclass”. Press OK.
- Continue searching (using the “Edit” and “Find Next” menu) until you have found and edited all of the “UpperFilters” keys. Again, all should have a data filed that includes only “kbdclass”.
- Close the registry editor.
- Go to the device manager, find your keyboard in the list (which should still be reporting a “Code 39” error), and uninstall it.
- You should then restart your computer, and with any luck, your keyboard will work upon rebooting.
If that doesn’t work, your keyboard may be physically damaged, or the drivers on your computer may actually be corrupt.
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