XCCC: Certain Characters on Eastern European and United States-International Keyboards May be Blocked When You Use the Right-Alt Key (288695)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server

This article was previously published under Q288695

SYMPTOMS

If a computer that is running Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5.0 Service Pack 1 (SP1) and Microsoft Windows 2000 or Microsoft Windows 98 has a Polish Programmers keyboard installed and set as active, the keyboard may not print Polish-language characters properly. This problem may occur when you use either Internet Explorer version 5.0 or later or Netscape to gain access to Microsoft Outlook Web Access (OWA).

CAUSE

This problem can occur if the blocked characters were created by using the right-ALT key. This is registered as a CTRL+ALT key combination. Keystrokes for RightAlt are transmitted internally as CTRL-ALT. But the CTRL key is also used for the shortcuts. When the shortcut is handled, care needs to be taken to distinguish between CTRL-letter (the shortcut) and CTRL-ALT-letter (an international character).

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

301378 XGEN: How to Obtain the Latest Exchange 2000 Server Service Pack

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, use the tilde key (~) instead of RightAlt. If you use the tilde key, all of the letters work as expected.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server.

This problem was first corrected in Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server Service Pack 1. BOILERPLATE ID="nospstat" P1="Service Pack 1"/>

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:4/28/2005
Keywords:kbbug kbfix KB288695