The numeric key pad does not do numbers when num lock is on, when it is off the arrows work. I have a ps2 keyboard Itried another ps2 board then bought a new USB board, all with same results. Any ideas?

There's usually a Numlock key that turns off the cursor movement and turns on the numeric keys. If it doesn't say "Num Lock" or something similar, you might need to press the Fn key with the F1-F12 key that looks like a numeric keypad. Pressing the Shift key while pressing a number on the numeric keypad should give a number output if the Num Lock is turned off, the cursor movement if Num Lock is on.

For laptops that don't have a Num Lock key on the Key board, go to
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-xp/help/on-screen-keyboard

You can pull up an onscreen KB that does have a Num Lock key and mouse click it....fixit
To open On-Screen Keyboard using your keyboard

1. Display the Start menu by pressing Ctrl+Esc (or the Windows logo key). Move to All Programs by pressing P. Move to Accessories by pressing the Down Arrow key and then Enter. Press Enter again to move to Accessibility. Move to On-Screen Keyboard by pressing the Down Arrow key and then Enter.
   

This is either the Num Lock or the Scroll Lock. To turn off the Num Lock, look at the top left of your number pad on the right side of the keyboard, and press the Num Lock key. To turn off the Scroll Lock, press that key in the middle of the top row of 3 keys above your arrow keys.

check fo te num lock key.. If only it is turned on you will be able to type the numbers.. or else you cannot..
so please try turning on the on the number lock by pressing the num lock key on your key board

your laptop should have a blue FN key (Function) that will work in conjunction with other blue keys on teh keyboard. most laptops this is located in the lower left, next to the ctrl key. Look to the right top on your keyboard for a one labeled numlk. hold down teh left FN key and tap the right num lk key and you just turned off the numbers lock.

There is another option that is a little more intense - if interested let me know that laptop type you have.

Look for a key labelled Num Lock or something similar (perhaps an arrow with a number inside). You may have to use shift or the fn key to toggle it. please vote.

This means the number lock is on - in the upper right hand corner of the keyboard is a series of 4 keys.  Far right is delete, then (from the right) insert, Prnt Scrn, and Num Lk.  Hit the Num Lk key, and the number 9 with the padlock should shut off.  Your keyboard should now work normally.  
Any more problems, let me know!

NumLock is on. Look for the Fn key in the lower left corner, and lookint in the top right, the NumLock key.

The Numeral Lock mode is turned on by pressing the key named "NUM LOCK" which is usually located on the top of the number keypad (on far right side of keyboard).

However, laptop keyboards are different. Most laptops do not have a separate numeral keypad set. Those laptops usually use a blue (or other color-coded) "Fn" key, on the bottom left. You must press that Fn key at the same time as the "Num Lock" key of same colr. Then a light comes on to indicate the mode change, and some alpha-numeric keys on the keyboard now become your numeral keypad. On mine, it is 789, UIO (456), JKL (123) and M (which is zero).

If this is too confusing, you can plug in a cheap full size desktop keyboard, using the USB or PS2 port on your laptop. That is what I prefer, because the funky integrated dual-key deal interferes with all the touch-typing I learned 37 years ago.

i got it!! hold down the 2 shift keys for a few seconds then bamm!!