Alt Keys Not Working Properly

• Windows 10 Pro Version 1909 OS Build18363.657
• Edge Version 80.0.361.50 (Official build) (64-bit)

I often use ALT + 0151 to create an em dash (long dash). Now, when I using my browser, I get this symbol instead: ☺.

It doesn't matter whether I use Edge, Firefox, and Chrome, all have the same result. If I use other apps, the results seem to be mixed. For example, UltraEdit, Outlook, and Word all work as expected. I get an em dash. Yet when I use Excel, I get the happy face symbol again.

I have a hunch that something happened in one of the recent Windows or Office updates. I am not sure, however.

Is there anyway I can begin to try to solve this issue?

I'm guessing here but what happens in safe mode?

See if turning on the numbers lock using Alt + number, works.

The Pool Man said:

I'm guessing here but what happens in safe mode?

I tried getting into Safe Mode, but when I tried, I got many different options. I didn't want to mess around UEFI (spelling?), so I tried another "fix" setting. It left a bunch of txt files in this following directory: C:\Windows\System32\LogFiles\Srt

I looked at a few of them, and the files seemed to indicate that everything passes.

I tried using Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > RestartI was hoping that Safe Mode would be clearly displayed but it isn't.

My biggest fear is that I make a much bigger problem than the currently small problem that I now have.

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Jacee said:

See if turning on the numbers lock using Alt + number, works.

Yeah, when I first encountered this problem, that's the first thing I did. I toggled the Num Lock on and off. When it's OFF, nothing works. But when it is ON, I can get my em dash on UltraEdit, Word, and Outlook, but not any of the browsers or Excel. This seems weird because I would expect that apps would either work or fail. I would not expect some to work and not others.

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Berton said:

— Seems to be okay with me on a Desktop.

Yeah, for some strange reason, I seem to have the magic combination of factors that is causing my grief. I know it worked a short while ago. Now it doesn't.

Stecyk said:

I tried getting into Safe Mode, but when I tried, I got many different options.

Since I'm still a rookie at supporting PCs I put "I'm guessing" because, yeah, I'm guessing. Maybe one of the Windows Warriors here knows what to make of those results. Me? Mr. Mag-lueless.

:)

Best of luck!

Just as a test see if this might work:
1. type an ampersand followed by a pound sign (&#) first. Then
2.Type the number of the code for the character you want to add.
3.Type a semicolon ; to finish.

Yes, it's just another way to use ASCII in html

Jacee said:

Yes, it's just another way to use ASCII in html

It's an odd problem. I would expect everything to fail or everything to work. As it is now, I just have to try to enter the codes in an application to find out whether it works in that specific application. And I have no clue how to go about troubleshooting this issue. I have a hunch I am just going to have to learn to live with it.